South Africa

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#339900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="3fa285a1dwnjun.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Aussie Rules Global Invasion</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aussie Rules Global Invasion"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>South Africa</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id141.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other"><U>Other</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=9.375% BGCOLOR="#339900" TEXT="#080000" background="3f9d4fe0dwnjun.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFCC33" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>South Africa</I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="258" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 97 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="4816e5b0.png" border=0 width="110" height="91" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B>International Results</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B>Photo Gallery</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B>History</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>News</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="704" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="698"><div> <B>Africa cricket link is AFL's big pitch</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 583 WIDTH="698"><div> June 22 2006</div> <div> From the Age</div> <div> AUSTRALIAN football has entered into a partnership with cricket in South Africa's north-west in a step that could be the most significant in the code's attempt to establish a meaningful presence beyond these shores.</div> <div> The arrangement, recently agreed to by AFL South Africa and the North-West Cricket Association, gives Australian football access to the cricket fields of one of the country's biggest provinces — a breakthrough that has the AFL contemplating a significant increase in development funding to AFLSA.</div> <div> Beyond the access to suitably sized playing fields — the absence of which is one of the biggest impediments to the game's international prospects — the two sports will share office space and training facilities. They can enter into joint commercial deals to share sponsorship and income from signs at grounds and even co-host AFL exhibition games in South Africa in the future.</div> <div> The chief executive of the North-West Cricket Association, Jacques Faul, spent two days in Melbourne last week and was a guest of the AFL at last Friday night's match between St Kilda and Adelaide at Telstra Dome.</div> <div> The AFL's general manager of game development, David Matthews, said South Africa represented the most promising international opportunity for Australian football and that the partnership between AFLSA and cricket provided a genuine opening for strong grass-roots development.</div> <div> "At the moment, there is something like 2500 locals, not expats, playing the game across 18 leagues. The participation base of the North-West Cricket Association is about 50,000 — people who through the arrangement can be exposed to and encouraged to play Australian football," Matthews said.</div> <div> "There's no doubt that with an enormous population, cricket grounds everywhere, a favourable exchange rate and local government investment that the AFL has an opportunity that it should explore further."</div> <div> Matthews said the AFL currently provided $100,000 a year to AFLSA — money that helps fund four full-time employees — but that until now much of the pioneering work in the country had been done by others, such as former Melbourne player Brian Dixon and the gaming company Tattersall's, who worked to have Australian football added to the North West Academy of Sport curriculum in 2001.</div> <div> "The AFL itself hasn't had to put significant money in so far because of the amount of local investment but certainly there will be a debate over the next month or so about how much more we put in," Matthews said.</div> <div> "As long as we're investing substantially and appropriately in our domestic position, why wouldn't we also invest, on a relatively small scale, in an international opportunity? I would think that fans of Australian football, from club presidents to volunteers, would like nothing more than to see another country embrace the game as the South Africans are."</div> <div> Football's partnership with cricket in South Africa comes months after a three-match tour of the country by a squad of junior indigenous players, led by Michael Long, Adam Goodes and former Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham.</div> <div> An exhibition match between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle was played at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town in 1998 and St Kilda held a pre-season camp in Potchefstroom in 2004.</div> <div> It is understood that Fremantle and West Coast have expressed interest in training and playing pre-season or practice matches there in the near future.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="707" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="701"><div> <B>AFL to go hunting in South Africa</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 419 WIDTH="701"><div> Jan 24 2006</div> <div> From the Herald Sun</div> <div> Andrew Demetriou has predicted South Africa could be the next breeding ground for AFL footballers after announcing an under-age indigenous tour to the country.</div> <div> The AFL boss yesterday unveiled plans to send a team of 23 teenage indigenous players to South Africa in February and March as part of a broader strategy to expand the game's appeal internationally. </div> <div> Essendon champion Michael Long, Sydney Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and former Dockers coach Gerard Neesham will head the tour from February 19. </div> <div> The team of 15 and 16-year-olds will play three games, including one international rules match, against a South African representative team from the North West Province. </div> <div> The AFL has added an international rules match to the schedule in the hope South Africa will one day join Ireland and Australia in a three-nation series of the hybrid game. </div> <div> Demetriou said there was talent on tap in South Africa and it was inevitable the country would produce AFL footballers. </div> <div> "We think South Africa is a place that will provide great opportunity for the AFL in its international expansion," Demetriou said. </div> <div> "I'm on the record as saying whether it's a South African or an African player playing, the skill set and the natural affinity to our game is extraordinary. </div> <div> "The athletes show incredible potential and a lot of similarities with our indigenous players in the way they take to the game." </div> <div> AFL game development manager Dave Matthews said AFL South Africa had an objective to have a South African player in the AFL in the next three to four years. </div> <div> He said the AFL hoped to have South Africa playing in an under-17 international rules series against Australia and Ireland "within the next few years". </div> <div> The indigenous trip has been organised to coincide with the Australian cricket team's tour of South Africa in February and March. </div> <div> The AFL hopes the South African tour will become a bi-annual event to continue its promotion of the game overseas.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="706"><div> <B>South Africa finds union in Aussie rules</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 888 WIDTH="706"><div> Aug 14 2005</div> <div> From the Age by Caroline Wilson</div> <div> It is not so many years since a talented South African athlete by the name of Mtutuzeli Hlomela trawled the internet in search of a football scholarship.</div> <div> And by "football", the teenager from the rural North West Province was referring, of course, to the world game - soccer.</div> <div> Hlomela found a chance via the web at a football club by the name of Sturt and it was only upon his arrival in Australia that the adventurous soccer hopeful realised he had stumbled upon an Australian football team.</div> <div> "Tutu", as he has been generally known during this International Cup series, finished up playing under-19 and reserve grade football for Sturt and more recently captained South Africa to its vastly improved performance in the series that finished yesterday.</div> <div> Tutu is now 25 and was one of two South Africans named for the first time in the International team at the end of the International Cup - the other was a 22-year-old Zulu, Steven Malinga - and has been placed upon the AFL's payroll.</div> <div> He will spend a month working for the league over grand final week and the subsequent draft camp and trade period. Then he will head home to run the South African Football Academy, which has been established in the North-West Province just eight years after Australian football was introduced to the state by members of the Australian Defence Force.</div> <div> But the bigger victory for Tutu's team lies not in its two victories over Japan and Spain - South Africa was narrowly defeated by Canada at Optus Oval yesterday but did not win a game when it last competed in 2003 - but in the make-up of the side.</div> <div> Nine white footballers joined the team for the first time, all of them western-educated rugby union types, and those behind the integration and those who have seen it over the series say the situation was pretty uncomfortable at first.</div> <div> "They were not ready to live and eat and sing together," was the observation of Kennedy Mosiapoa, the director of sport and recreation in North-Western Province, "but by the end of the series they were a team.</div> <div> "You saw our players being pushed as you often see in this game but then you saw black players and white players going in and defending each other and helping each other. That is unusual in our country.</div> <div> "Now they stand together. They had to come together as black and white players and for us it was such a lovely experience."</div> <div> Mosiapoa will address Andrew Demetriou's AFL executive team tomorrow about the plight of indigenous South Africans, a problem he believes indigenous Australians can relate to.</div> <div> Two days ago he talked to Aboriginal football leader Michael Long and AFL chairman Ron Evans in what has been hailed as a significant move forward in the league's push to promote the game in South Africa.</div> <div> While North-Western Province has 50 junior teams and 2000 young Australian footballers, Mosiapoa believes a touring Australian indigenous team led by Long would advance the game throughout a wider number of South African states.</div> <div> "We have 250 million people in Nigeria and they can't all play soccer and cricket," he said.</div> <div> "Football has already on this tour made a huge contribution to integrating our province. We insisted on coming here and symbolising black and white South Africa.</div> <div> "And we have been inspired by people like Michael Long and by what he has done for indigenous people. What he did in his long walk for indigenous Australians, he did for all indigenous people."</div> <div> As guest speaker at the International Cup dinner on Friday night, Mosiapoa compared Long to "our great Nelson Mandela. If we dream together, we can all achieve a better world," he said. "Through sport we can unite nations."</div> <div> Just as Long and his game have inspired a fragmented team of mixed colour from South Africa, their story, not to mention their onfield improvement, has inspired the AFL, which has placed that nation third behind Papua New Guinea and Japan in the list of countries expected to provide the next international AFL footballer.</div> <div> In the coming week, the AFL's development team, led by David Matthews, will front Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's office looking to further fund international Australian football programs - surely yet another reason why the league caved in to the Federal Government over its illegal drug-testing procedures.</div> <div> While the AFL and its 16 clubs continue to debate the issue of just who will pay for the soon-to-be-unveiled apprenticeship scheme, largely focusing upon Sydney, Matthews and his team remain convinced that adolescents in search of a better or more challenging life remain the key to spreading the oval word.</div> <div> How it adds up</div> <div> Where football's development money goes</div> <div> <B>In Australia</B> $29 million</div> <div> <B>NZ</B> $150,000</div> <div> <B>S Africa</B> $100,000</div> <div> <B>US</B> $90,000</div> <div> <B>PNG</B> $45,000</div> <div> <B>Other</B> $115,000</div> <div> (Overseas total $500,000)</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="717" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="711"><div> <B>Buffaloes Announce Squad</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 483 WIDTH="711"><div> July 1 2005</div> <div> From the AFL South Africa Website</div> <div> The South African National team for Australian Football's International Cup to be held in Melbourne in August has been picked. </div> <div> The selection period started in late January when representative teams played a series of three games against The Australian Convicts. Subsequently there have been two training camps, an intra squad practice match and numerous training sessions in Mafikeng/Itsoseng, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. To make the squad the players were required to show the skills, commitment and fitness levels fitting of a national team.</div> <div> The squad was trimmed from 44 players to a traveling group of 29. The team will be traveling to Melbourne in late July. The first of six games in 11 days will be against the USA on Wednesday August 3rd. The team will arrive back in Johannesburg on Monday August 15th.</div> <div> After a lot of discussion and some very hard decisions Head Coach, Steven Harrison and Development Officer, Jack Arnold, together with the selection committee selected the touring squad. The selection committee feel they have picked an even team with players coming from far and wide. The squad showcases the Australian Football talent in South Africa, and this team has the ability to break through for South Africa's first international win. </div> <div> The squad is as follows:</div> <div> <B>Johannesburg; </B>Conrad Janse Van Rensburg, Jacques Steenekamp, Duane Vermeulen, Mtutuzeli Hlomela (C), Matthew Fick, Bryan Mitchell, Odin Williams, Abie Macfarlane, Steven Malinga</div> <div> <B>Mafikeng; </B>Motheo Kesimolotse, Matthews Lenyidi, Lebopo Matoma, Keagile Garenamotse, Soloman Mogorosi</div> <div> <B>Itsoseng;</B> Andries Mangweng, Benji Motuba (VC), Molefi Moletsane, Tumelo Modisane, Tebogo Motlhaoleng</div> <div> <B>Potchefstroom; </B>Willem Jonker, William Van Der Berg, Heino De Jongh, July Machethe</div> <div> <B>Klerksdorp;</B> Lebogang Sekete</div> <div> <B>Christiana;</B> McDonald Mashigo</div> <div> <B>Vryburg; </B>Neo Sambo, Dineo Sambo</div> <div> <B>Ramatlabama; </B>Martin Moeng</div> <div> <B>Stellenbosch; </B>Kobus Smit</div> <div> There are two players gaining valuable footy experience in different parts of the world. Benji Motuba has just begun a three month stint in Australia. He will be playing for the Lyrup Football Club in South Australia. </div> <div> Kobus Smit from Stellenbosch is currently playing footy for the Wimbledon Hawks in the British Australian Rules Football League. Kobus will be arriving back in South Africa in time for the teams departure for Melbourne.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="718" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="712"><div> <B>South Africa look to locals</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 212 WIDTH="712"><div> May 12 2005</div> <div> AFL South Africa has taken a big step towards the future of the game in South Africa by appoining 4 locals in high positions to lead them into the future and help establish football in South Africa. The people appointed are:</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="719" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 138 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="4b0b0840.png" border=0 width="176" height="132" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="531"><div> 1.Mr Mtutuzeli Hlomela-Head Coach</div> <div> 2.Mr Jean Verster-Executive Officer</div> <div> 3.Ms Phindile Khambule-Administrative Assistant</div> <div> 4.Mr July Machethe-Development Officer</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="718" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="712"><div> <B>Buffaloes on the rise</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 242 WIDTH="712"><div> May 7 2005</div> <div> From AFLSA website</div> <div> The Buffaloe's campaign for this August's International Cup hotted up last weekend with the first of three training camps being held at Potchefstroom's Artillery base.  Thirty players and six officials attended the gruelling camp, which culminated in a fantastic inter-squad match. Also in attendance was former Melbourne champion and AFL South Africa Chairperson Brian Dixon, who took part in several of the sessions". </div> <div> A notable difference in the squad from the last time the South Africans visited Melbourne is that the squad is mixed race, with the recent introduction of Afrikaans and Coloured players, together with Tswana, Zulu and Xhosa players. The South Africans are looking for their first win in international competition after having competed in the 2002 International Cup in Melbourne, and the U16 Jim Stynes Cup in Canberra in 1998.</div> <div> The players were put through their paces by Honours Students from the North West University's Sports Science Department in the first round of fitness tests. Some players shone in the 20m and 35m sprints, and others in the notorious beep test. </div> <div> Several training sessions focussing on skills and tactics were put to use on Sunday with a tightly contested game, with players desperate to assert themselves. Several improved players have got the selectors excited. Camp 2 will be held on 20-22 May also in Potchefstroom.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></I></div> <div> <I> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="713" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Africa big picture</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 191 WIDTH="707"><div> Mar 9 2005</div> <div> From the Herald Sun by Michael Stevens</div> <div> BRIAN Dixon has a dream that Australian rules will one day be played across the breadth of South Africa.</div> <div> The former Demon star, now chairman of AFL South Africa, yesterday enlisted the services of fellow visionaries Ron Barassi, Kevin Sheedy and Grant Thomas to try to make that dream a reality. </div> <div> The four are featured on a special painting used to raise funds to help raise the profile of the game in South Africa. </div> <div> The painting is set at the MCG in 2039 and depicts a potential match between a combined South African team and an All-Australian side. </div> <div> Bids for the original artwork can be made on the AFL's website and the piece will be sold at a March 16 dinner. </div> <div> There are also 500 limited edition prints at $750 each. </div> <div> South Africa is one of 12 countries taking part in an international cup carnival in Melbourne later this year. </div> <div> "We've now got 1000 kids playing in about six leagues and by the end of this year in about 11 leagues," Dixon said.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="706"><div> <B>South Africa's face change</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="706"><div> Feb 25 2005</div> <div> AFL South Africa has replaced Footy South Africa as the National Federation for Australian Football. To go along with the name change they have also changed their logo.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="706"><div> <B>The Convict's African Adventure</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 844 WIDTH="706"><div> Feb 10 200<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >5</FONT></div> <div> By Steven Harrison from the Footy South Arfica website</div> <div> The visit of the Australian 'Convicts' football team to South Africa was a hugely successful two weeks which has left a significant impact on South African Aussie Rules participants. The South African senior players had the opportunity to compete against 'genuine Aussies', and the growing number of junior participants could improve their skills at several coaching clinics hosted by the Convicts at Potchefstroom, Itsoseng and Ramatlabama. </div> <div> But it wasn't only the South Africans who got a lot out of the visit. The Convicts, who had been in the country only two days, were blown away by the reception of the 180 school children from the Potchefstroom area at Ikageng stadium. At the end of a two hour footy clinic, the junior players sang traditional African songs which left several of the Aussie boys teary eyed. As well as enjoying participating in Footy activities, the Convicts, made up of players and officials from many parts of Australia, made the most of many other activities South Africa has to offer. As part of their tour, they visited Kruger National Park, Pilanesburg National Park, Sun City Resort, the township of Soweto, and also experienced first hand Potchefstroom's nightlife! </div> <div> The tour marked the first time a visiting team from Australia has played against South African opposition. The Convicts, who toured Europe in 2004, departed South Africa with their clean record still in tact after proving victorious in all three games of the series. </div> <div> Game 1 saw The Convicts take on Gauteng Province at Mohadin Cricket Stadium, outside Potchefstroom. Many of the newer Gauteng players are current Rugby players, and this experience will stand them in good stead come August's International Cup. The introduction of 193cm / 104kg Rudi "The Axeman" in the Ruck for Gauteng was greatly anticipated. Both sides weren't let down as he laid several massive tackles and threw the best Quarterback style 'Hail Mary' Australian Football has ever seen. Still a lot to learn for these newer players, but the potential of these players was very encouraging. Full Back Duane, in his first game, restricted the Convicts forwards by providing excellent aerial contests. He was appropriately awarded the best player for Gauteng. </div> <div> Scores:</div> <div> The Convicts 6.3 13.8 16.11 21.16 (142) </div> <div> vs </div> <div> Gauteng 1.3 1.4 4.5 10.10 (70) Best: Duane Vermeulen </div> <div> Game 2 at the University of North West, Mafikeng, saw The Convicts having to work much harder in the 35 degree heat to outplay the more experienced North West representative team. Most of North West's players represented South Africa at the International Cup in Melbourne in 2002. As was the case at that tournament, they found themselves lacking height and physical strength against the visitors. Despite many of The Convict players claiming that they had been run off their feet by their opponents, the telling difference was The Convict's forward's ability to out-muscle their opponents and take strong marks in front of goal. Some fantastic passages of play from the North West side resulted in good goals. </div> <div> Scores:</div> <div> The Convicts 6.3 12.4 18.6 22.12 (144) </div> <div> vs </div> <div> North West Provine 1.3 4.3 5.8 7.10 (52) Best: Benjamin Motuba </div> <div> Game 3 was held at Eldorado Park Athletic Stadium, which made the SCG look massive. The Convicts had enjoyed a Soweto tour that morning, and were excited about playing Australian Football in what is part of this famous township. South Africa's selected team, made up of players from Gauteng and North West Provinces, will act as the initial squad for August's International Cup. The build up of the game was added to with the knowledge that it was to be the last game of football played by Brian Clarke, Convicts tour organiser. His team rose to the occasion, with a huge first quarter in which they amassed 80 points. The South Africans finally got going in the second quarter and found the goals on several occasions. Ruckman Brian Mitchell showed some toe, slotting through two goals on the run. The scoreline ended respectably for the South Africans, after a strong second half. </div> <div> Scores:</div> <div> The Convicts 13.2 15.8 19.10 24.11 (155) </div> <div> vs </div> <div> South Africa 4.5 9.6 13.9 15.11 (101) Best: Mtutuzeli Hlomela</div> <div> AFL South Africa would like to thank The Convicts for their enthusiasm particularly in the training of the local junior players during the footy clinics. The feedback from their school teachers was very positive. The Convicts will travel to Europe once more in 2005, and we are looking forward to their return visit to South Africa in 2006. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="713" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>South Africa the hidden diamond</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 833 WIDTH="707"><div> Nov 29 2004</div> <div> Mark Stevens of the herald sun</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="683" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 197 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1b5a4b10.png" border=0 width="420" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="251"><div> JOHN Worsfold has his troubles constructing a decent spine at the Eagles, but spare a thought for the man with the job as head coach of AFL South Africa.</div> <div> Most of the 1000 players at Steve Harrison's disposal are under-nourished and under 170cm. </div> <div> Imagine the intimidation when Harrison's best 22 arrived in Melbourne for the first game of the 2003 International Cup and were confronted by the beefcake Kiwis - Haka and </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> all. "They're standing at Sandringham Oval and New Zealand's doing the Haka at them," Harrison said. </div> <div> "They got thrashed, but gee, it was a beautiful story." </div> <div> The South Africans lost by 162 points. There was a roar when Harrison's boys registered their only score -- a behind from a rushed, wobbly snap. </div> <div> "The people playing the game here at the moment are all black and all soccer players," Harrison said. </div> <div> "But honestly speaking, many are malnourished. Food is very scarce in these places. They're very poor. I've been to a lot of their houses and there's six and eight people living in a two-room house." </div> <div> The South Africans went reasonably close against Canada, but finished stone, cold last. </div> <div> Then again, Harrison, a local boy from Sandringham who couldn't resist the romance of a job as joint coach and chief of South Africa footy, has big dreams. </div> <div> The AFL is excited, too. As bad as the African lads were in their first major tournament, there is a genuine feeling that South Africa is a ridgy-didge frontier. </div> <div> Harrison is now being inundated with interest from rugby players who want to represent their country in Aussie rules. With four or five tall athletic types, he reckons South Africa will be far from embarrassing at next year's International Cup. </div> <div> "What's needed is a bit of size and aggro and I reckon we can get it," Harrison said. </div> <div> Harrison, based in Potchefstroom, said the fact St Kilda was spending three weeks in the university town, training and running clinics, had also provided a significant boost. </div> <div> On Thursday, the Saints left the luxury of Sun City resort and hopped on a bus -- minus air-conditioning -- for an eight-hour trek. </div> <div> They stopped at Rustenburg and Mafikeng, where they were shocked to find one youngster wearing a Richmond guernsey dating back to the early 1990s. </div> <div> Last year, Australian rules was admitted as one of 10 official sports in the North West Academy of Sport. </div> <div> Harrison predicts that by the end of 2005 there will be 11 leagues and 50 clubs operating in the province. </div> <div> The AFL is aiming for membership of the South African Sports Commission by 2009. To qualify, the sport must have programs in five of the country's nine provinces. Achieve that and major funding will flow. </div> <div> Former politician and Melbourne premiership player Brian Dixon has been talking up the potential for growth in the region for some time, coming on board as president of AFL South Africa last year. </div> <div> "The AFL's overriding priority is to further develop the game in Australia, particularly New South Wales and Queensland," Dixon said. </div> <div> "While it is appreciated that strong international growth would be very difficult and expensive, one country where Australian football can succeed in the long-term and off a low cost base is South Africa." </div> <div> Dixon and Harrison see the climate as perfect and there's the obvious advantage that South Africa is dotted with cricket grounds ideal for Aussie rules. </div> <div> All Harrison needs now is some more Sherrins. </div> <div> "There's probably four Sherrins in the country, but there's a whole stack of Burleigh footies," he said. </div> <div> "If anyone wants to sponsor us for some Sherrins, we'd be rapt." </div> <div> An African equivalent of the Haka would be nice, too. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="706"><div> <B>Football's African adventure</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 779 WIDTH="706"><div> Nov 18 2004</div> <div> By Dan Oakes of The Age</div> <div> The North West Province has embraced Australian football, but could<B> </B>the game yet conquer the rest of the country? </div> <div> As St Kilda conducts its 10-day training camp in South Africa, starting today, it will discover that one small province in the backblocks of that rugby- and cricket-mad country is fast becoming the world's most unlikely AFL hot spot.</div> <div> A submission by AFL South Africa predicts that within a year, there will be 3000 people in 50 teams playing the game in North West Province, on the border with Botswana. If the projection is realised, the province will have the biggest Australian football-playing population outside Australia and Papua New Guinea.</div> <div> "We need to consider the opportunity that presents itself now and not miss the opportunity by sitting on our hands. We want to embrace what the South African people have been able to demonstrate," said David Matthews, the AFL's game development manager.</div> <div> "The support doesn't always have to be financial. The sort of promotion that St Kilda are undertaking at the moment, we'll top that up with coach education, coaching seminars and promotional clinics over the next </div> <div> The head coach and executive officer of AFL South Africa, Steve Harrison, said yesterday that the enthusiasm in the province for the sport was infectious because of the similarity between the sporting cultures of Australia and South Africa. Harrison said that because the two countries were so competitive in cricket and rugby, many South Africans were curious about Australian football.</div> <div> "The rate of growth really is exceptional," Harrison said. "I've been rounding up kids to come down and see the Saints this week.</div> <div> "I visited four schools. I just went in there and saw the sports teachers. I walked in, had five- or 10-minute meetings, explained a bit about Aussie football - some already knew about it, some didn't - and said, 'Would you be interested in bringing some kids down on Saturday to train with these guys,' and all of them have agreed to bring down 40 or 50 kids."</div> <div> The introduction of Australian football to the area was due to a combination of good fortune and persistence. Although Australian soldiers during the Boer War and miners in the late 19th century are documented as liking a bit of kick-to-kick, the sport took off in modern times after a South African boxing troupe competed at the Arafura Games in Darwin in the late-1990s and became fascinated with the game.</div> <div> Over the next few years, the Crows visited the area and held clinics, as did an Australian Army contingent. But it only took off in 2001 when the AFL and the aid agency Australian Volunteers Abroad combined to send a development officer to the area.</div> <div> Since then, Australian football has become an accredited sport at the prestigious North West Academy of Sport at Potchefstroom (where the Saints will train), and a plan has been put into place to introduce the sport into a further four of South Africa's nine provinces.</div> <div> The AFL's commitment to South Africa is still not massive. The league kicks in $20,000 a year to promote the game, with Tattersalls (which has business interests in the country) and the South African Government contributing $180,000 between them. But Harrison and Matthews agreed that the most significant thing was the government support.</div> <div> "The impressions that we've got are that the South African Government sees it, in some respects, as the sport for the new South Africa. There's no class element to it in terms of the history and politics associated with a lot of the sport in South Africa," Matthews said.</div> <div> "We're excited by the rapid growth and we're excited by the fact that, in this case in particular, locals want to get very involved. I guess the main advantage we have is that there are cricket ovals everywhere. With cricket grounds everywhere and governments supporting us, who knows where we could take it?"</div> <div> Matthews said the AFL's priorities were still in promoting the game at home, but the rate of growth could not be ignored. "South Africa is a very, very interesting possibility for the AFL. Longer term, you never know where this might end up," he said.</div> <div> Harrison estimates there are 1000 people in the province playing in 25 to 30 teams, but he harbours grander dreams. In his submission, he said that the AFL could have membership of the South African Sports Commission by 2009, and the accompanying financial and logistical benefits.</div> <div> "There's just so much to do," he said.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="706"><div> <B>Western Cape Now On The Footy Map</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 310 WIDTH="706"><div> May 21 2004</div> <div> Students from picturesque Stellenbosch University participated in their first ever game of Australian Football last Saturday. Twenty five players participated in an introductory skills session, followed by a well contested match. Australian Football was last played in the Western Cape in 1998 when two Australian professional teams, the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers, played at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, as part of the AFL pre season competition. </div> <div> Saturday's game was Western Cape's first `grass roots' Footy game, played at Stellenbosch University, approximately 50km from Cape Town in Western Cape's winery district. Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa's largest universities, and has produced many Springbok Rugby players. </div> <div> All of last Saturday's participants either play or have played Rugby, and they enjoyed the physical nature of the game. Footy South Africa's Head Development Officer, Mtutuzeli Hlomela was impressed with what he saw. “There is an obvious advantage for those who've played Rugby. The way they attack the ball is very good.” Hlomela said. </div> <div> Kobus Smit, who was `Best On Ground' in his first game of Footy was also the Captain of Western Cape in the 2000 Craven Week Rugby Competition, South Africa's prestigious under age competition. </div> <div> Both the players and the facilitators of last Saturday's event are looking to eventually form the Western Cape Australian Football League, and include the Western Cape in Footy South Africa's Inter-Provincial Championships next year, to compete with Gauteng and reigning champions North West. </div> <div> South African Lawyer Christopher David, who played a major role in attracting players for the event, believes the potential for Footy in this area is strong. “A hostels competition is planned for later this year, and I think we'll see many more players become interested in this game.” He said.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="711" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <B>North West Province Dominates First Inter Provincial Championships</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 81 WIDTH="705"><div> May 7 2004</div> <div> Footy South Africa hosted South Africa's first Australian Football Inter Provincial Championships at ISSA last Saturday 24 April. North West Province were dominant against Gauteng in all three matches (A grade, B Grade and Under 12). </div> <div> Watched by as enthusiastic crowd of 200 spectators including the High Commissioner from Australia, Mr Ian Wilcock, and members of the Footy South Africa Council, the teams gave a wonderful presentation of Australian Football. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="711" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="705"><div> <B>Lotto Funding Success</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 244 WIDTH="705"><div> Apr 22 2004</div> <div> Footy South Africa has been boosted by successfully obtaining South African Lotteries funding for season 2004-2005 for R394,000. The money will be split between the four districts of the North West Province and will provide for equipment and training workshops. </div> <div> The funding will enable a significant growth in the numbers of young people playing Australian Football. At present, 300 hundred people in South Africa play, coach and umpire the great game. </div> <div> The Lotto funding adds to the Tattersalls grant of R150, 000, the AFL Grant of R100, 000 and the North West Academy of Sport R100, 000.</div> <div> There is also significant support from SCORE, Australian Volunteers International, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. </div> <div> Footy South Africa will also prepare a development plan for the AFL to extend in to other provinces. Gauteng already has two teams in Pretoria and Johannesburg and is challenging the North West Province in the first ever Inter Provincial game on Saturday April 24 in Mafikeng. </div> <div> Other provinces Footy South Africa are likely to target are Limpopo, Western Cape and Free State, although all provinces will be considered. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="710" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#339900 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="704"><div> <B>South Africa launch website</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 81 WIDTH="704"><div> Feb 24 2004</div> <div> South Africa now has it's own website <A HREF="http://www.footysouthafrica.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.footysouthafrica.org"><U>www.footysouthafrica.org</U></A>. Check it out it is a great website. It will be interesting to see how they do in the 2005 International Cup, if you browse through the website you will see that they are aiming for a top 4 finish.</div> <div> Good luck to them!</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>