Let's Hear It For The Girls!

It has been a long time coming but we are getting closer to the story...

These are just a couple of snap shots we got of the Chintsa East girls' rugby team at practice this week.  We were down at the Chintsa East Community Sportsfield for the twice-weekly afternoon sports activities and decided to hang back until 5pm when the girls came down for evening practice.  We've arranged an interview with the coaches Zing and Apila as well as the team itself, so as soon as we have that we will write it up and share the story with you!

Our discovery of the team was quite by accident: one evening, as I was leaving home, a trio of shy girls approached my gate with a slip of paper, asking for donations.  I asked what they were raising money for and that was when I heard about the one and only girls' rugby team of our village.  They were asking for donations toward equipment, but after a bit of questioning and conversation I realised that Chintsa was sitting on an unheard of gem!  Two of the girls were Nokuphumla's daughters, Tina (19) and Neziswa (14) (see our 22 June post) and after asking around in Chintsa it seemed no one was even aware that the girls were playing rugby, nevermind that it was happening on a regular basis with two professional and dedicated coaches.   That is why we are investigating this story: with the advent of the Chintsa sportsfield and the netball court just completed, we want to raise more awareness around the empowerment of the girls in our community.  What we can tell you so far is that the girls' rugby team is Official with a capital 'O': The Mighty Warriors Women's Rugby Club have a uniform, practice every evening at 5pm, and compete in local games on a regular basis.  Tina Pakamile, the #10 on the team, has also been selected for the Border Women's Rugby Team and is, this very weekend, taking part in a rugby match in East London with this team.  That's quite an amazing feat for a young woman from this small community!

As for the netball court, well it's not at all short of action!  The girls have access to the court whenever they want, and the twice-weekly afternoon sports sessions are proving to be a huge encouragement to the girls to come out and get their game on.  

Well done girls!  We are proud of you, and proud that we could have a hand in providing you with these much-needed sports facilities.  GAME ON!!