SARU TEST REFEREES AT THE COCA-COLA CRAVEN WEEK

The Coca-Cola SA Rugby youth weeks that take place at this time each year are all about the cream of South Africa’s school rugby players showing their stuff on the rugby field, but it goes a lot further than that in a number of ways.

One of the more important side-activities taking place at each of the four weeks – the Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, the under-16 Grant Khomo Week, the National Academy week and the under-18 Craven Week – is the evaluation and coaching of SA Rugby’s  referee contenders.

SA Rugby’s manager of referees, Andre Watson has been at the under-18 week in Port Elizabeth all week and he says the opportunities offered by these tournaments are ideal for them to have an intensive look at the next generation of provincial panel referees.

“We don’t use the Craven Week as a proving ground for inexperienced newcomers,” Watson stresses. “All of these referees are capable of refereeing at this level, for us it’s about their further development and about identifying which of them are ready to take the next step up.”

The process is managed by veteran refereeing administrator, Gabby Pappas, and it’s quite an operation.

“We have referee evaluators, coaches and mentors here and every decision the referees on the field make, or don’t make, is scrutinised,” Watson says. “We use a sophisticated software package called Fair Play that allows our evaluators to note, with the click of a mouse, every action of a referee that needs to be looked at later.

“Each incident is recorded and the referee receives a package of all of those to do a self-evaluation and they are then discussed with the evaluators and remedial action is taken, if necessary.

The seriousness of the process is illustrated by the involvement, among others, of Watson himself and former Test referee Tappe Henning. South Africa’s latest addition to the international panel, Jaco Pyper is also there, providing peer support to the referees, on a one-to-one basis.

“We believe that exercises like this are what have made South African referees among the best in the game,” Watson says. “We are bringing through as many quality referees each year as our colleagues are producing quality new players,” he says. “The Coca-Cola Youth Week play a massive part in that process.

“All Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, of which there are four, are aimed at identifying and nurturing talent within South Africa,” said Coca-Cola SA Marketing Asset Manager, Craig Van Niekerk.  “Making it possible to develop all aspects of the game through the various Coca-Cola Rugby Youth Weeks is amazing and we are proud to be the sponsor to make it possible.”

FREE STATE SCHOOLS COMPETE FOR A CHANCE TO PLAY FOOTBALL IN POLAND

On 5^th May six primary schools in the Free State will battle it out for the one spot to represent the Province in the Danone Nations Cup National Finals.  The ultimate winner will represent South Africa in the football 13^th Danone Nations Cup World Finals in Poland later in the year.

The Clive Solomon Stadium will be the venue where the six competing teams will converge.  Botle-Ba-Thuto Primary School from Xhariep district will compete in the Free State Provincial finals for the first time.  The team got there after beating Mofulatshepe Primary School 9-1 in the district finals.

”I’m so happy we won and I hope I will continue scoring goals in the Provincial finals,” said Botle-Ba-Thuto striker, Bokang Moneri, who scored 4 of the 9 goals.

The Harasebei township based school has been training 2 hours a day which coach, Mr Mareko, believes is the reason the team did well:  “Our hard work paid off.  I am so proud of my boys.  We are at a disadvantage in that we do not have the necessary equipment and facilities to prepare properly so my strategy was to just focus on team work.  Getting to the Provincial finals in our first attempt at this prestigious tournament is a dream come true,” said Mareko.

Botle-Ba-Thuto Primary will have stiff competition from the likes of Lehakwe Primary School from Lejwelepupswa district, a team that is just as determined to get to the National finals.  Players to look out for include goalkeeper Kamohelo Koporoka, who is well known for his brilliant saves and great ball distribution, defender Mpho Khatlako and midfielders Kamohelo Gabelo and Lebohang Nhlakobe.

“South African football is short of goalkeepers and I believe with the experience that I am getting by playing in the Danone Nations Cup will teach me good habits while I am young which will help me as I progress through the different age groups and one day I hope to play professionally,” said Koporoka.

Fateng Sa Thuto Primary school from Thabo Mofutsanyana district will also participate in the Provincials together with a school from Fezile Dabi district and two schools from the host Region, Mangaung Metro district.

The Free State winner will join Chakaza Primary School (Mpumalanga), Sinamuva Primary School (KwaZulu-Natal), Atamela Primary School (North West) and Kgwahlele Primary School (Limpopo) all of which have already qualified for the National Finals taking place at Central Grounds, Mamelodi, Gauteng on 23 June.

Powerade gives local athlete a chance to ‘Train like an Olympian’

Eugene Strauss from Gauteng, one of the Old Mutual Two Oceans runners, won a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games where he will ‘Train Like an Olympian’ at the Powerade Sports Academy from 5 - 10 August. 

Strauss won the once in a lifetime experience after entering the Powerade ‘Train like an Olympian’ competition at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon Expo. It is not often that someone from the public gets a chance to experience exactly what it is like to be an Olympian. 

“This is an amazing opportunity,” said an excited Strauss who has never been to London.  “I have been an enthusiastic sportsman throughout my life, excelling in the 100m sprint, and played rugby and cricket at Club level. To get the opportunity to train with an Olympic coach as well as meet Olympic athletes is a dream come true. I will also experience the spirit, atmosphere and excitement of an Olympics and perhaps get to meet my favourite athlete, Usain Bolt.”

The 33 year old Accountant, who is married with two young children, started running marathons three years ago.  This year’s Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon was his first and he has identified the New York and London Marathons as races he would like to conquer at some stage.

The Powerade Sports Academy allows athletes a chance to meet and train with Olympic coaches and athletes, focusing on skills in five different Olympic sports including athletics, swimming, football, cycling and basketball.

The coaches will tailor make sessions using techniques from these sports to strengthen condition and help the participants become better all round Sportspeople.

The Academy will deliver experiences and learning’s in technique, fitness, team work, competition, hydration, nutrition and psychology.

Specifically, throughout the Academy the participants will be educated on hydration and how hydrating correctly with Powerade can optimize performance.  There will be both physical and psychological tests carried out throughout the experience to help put these learning’s into perspective.

“Powerade is a performance sports drink, and as such, everything we do around our sporting assets ties back to a scientific approach to hydration and exercise,” said Craig van Niekerk, Coca-Cola South Africa Marketing Assets Manager.”