The South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) and Coca-Cola South Africa have launched a new Under-16 annual tournament, along similar lines as the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week.
The Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week, named after a sporting legend who earned Springbok colours before rugby unity, as an African Springbok, represents a major step forward in the implementation of Sarfu’s new approach to talent identification.
Following an in-depth analysis of the youth rugby programmes and structure in 2002, Sarfu identified the Under-16 age-group as the first level of national talent identification. The next level is Under-18, feeding into the Under-19 national squad.
At a function in Johannesburg today, Coca-Cola, long-standing sponsors of rugby national youth weeks, also announced their continued involvement in the Coca-Cola Craven Week Under-13 and Under-18 tournaments.
Commenting on the tournaments, Sarfu CEO Mveleli Ncula said he was excited with the continued partnership of Coca-Cola, as it is vital for the development of the game at grassroots level whilst ensuring optimum results from talent identification initiatives.
”Youth rugby is a critical part of our plans to make South Africa a winning nation,” said Ncula. ”It is no coincidence that South Africa is currently the World Cup holders for both the Under-19 and Under-21 age groups. What we are seeing are the fruits of the labour both Sarfu and Coca-Cola have invested in youth rugby over the years. It is the basis on which we build future Springbok sides.”
Ncula said the introduction of the Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week should be seen as a major step forward.
”In terms of our new blueprint, this is the age group that will help us identify future national players, whom we will groom in a systematic way. It’s appropriate that it has been named after a legend who maintained high levels of excellence, under the most trying circumstances.
”Over the years, the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks have served a great purpose in helping Sarfu spread the game of rugby to communities around the country, in terms of our ”Make It Your Game” marketing programme. The tournaments have become a vehicle to make rugby accessible to everyone in South Africa.”
”The Coca-Cola Company is committed to rugby at all levels, but most importantly the development of our young players. The superb skills displayed at these weeks prove that events of this nature are paramount in identifying and showcasing our future provincial and national players,” commented Chris Couchman, Marketing Assets Manager for Coca-Cola southern and east Africa.
”We believe that sport is one means of providing opportunities to all youth in South Africa and our continued relationship with Sarfu is a means to develop the enormous talent in our country,” he added.
At the function, Sarfu also announced that from 2004, the Coca-Cola Under-13 Craven Week will change format, from a national to a provincial tournament, held around the country.
The 2003 Coca-Cola Under-13 Craven Week will take place in Witbank at the Johann van Riebeck Stadium from June 30 – 4 July.
The Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week will be held in Johannesburg at the Johannesburg Stadium from June 30 – 4 July while the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week will be in Wellington at the Wellington Stadium from July 6-12. – Sapa