TonyK
CibbuanoAFL to work with clubs to boost game in SA
October 12th 2006 02:35
The AFL will this week seek the direct support of AFL clubs in a bid to develop the game of Australian football in South Africa.
The expansion follows the initial strong growth of the game in the North West Province of South Africa where about 3000 people are already playing Australian Football in over 100 teams spread across under 13, under 16 and open-age levels.
The AFL estimates the number of people playing Australian Football in South Africa will grow to well beyond 20,000 by the end of 2009 and is looking for AFL clubs to join in partnering the development of the game.
AFL Talent and International Manager, Kevin Sheehan, said the AFL was looking for four clubs to work with the AFL, South African groups and government, business supporters in the expansion of the game in North West Province and taking the game to communities in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
While the clubs will not have exclusivity over talented players, those that move in early will have access to identifying talent that could come to Australia through the International Scholarship Scheme.
The AFL will also advertise this week for a Football Operations Manager for AFL South Africa, who will oversee the expansion of staff from four to 20 over the next 12 months.
“Australian football as a game has shown great growth among communities with very little support. We think we can really accelerate the growth by joining in partnership with clubs, business and governments,” Sheehan said.
“Australian football has great appeal to kids across South Africa and they have quickly fallen in love with our game. With more investment, more support, more resources and more exposure, we think it will really take off over the next few years,” he said.
In other developments:
The AFL grand final and the pre-match entertainment was shown live on South African television for the first time in 2006.
Supersport, a Pay TV channel with 1.4 million subscribers, is expected to show a weekly Australian football highlights package in 2007.
A South African under-16 team competed for the first time ever last week in the Ronald Barassi Cup.
SA Kick – a local adaptation of the highly-successful Auskick program - will be expanded into over 200 centres in South Africa by 2009.
The expansion follows the initial strong growth of the game in the North West Province of South Africa where about 3000 people are already playing Australian Football in over 100 teams spread across under 13, under 16 and open-age levels.
The AFL estimates the number of people playing Australian Football in South Africa will grow to well beyond 20,000 by the end of 2009 and is looking for AFL clubs to join in partnering the development of the game.
AFL Talent and International Manager, Kevin Sheehan, said the AFL was looking for four clubs to work with the AFL, South African groups and government, business supporters in the expansion of the game in North West Province and taking the game to communities in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
While the clubs will not have exclusivity over talented players, those that move in early will have access to identifying talent that could come to Australia through the International Scholarship Scheme.
The AFL will also advertise this week for a Football Operations Manager for AFL South Africa, who will oversee the expansion of staff from four to 20 over the next 12 months.
“Australian football as a game has shown great growth among communities with very little support. We think we can really accelerate the growth by joining in partnership with clubs, business and governments,” Sheehan said.
“Australian football has great appeal to kids across South Africa and they have quickly fallen in love with our game. With more investment, more support, more resources and more exposure, we think it will really take off over the next few years,” he said.
In other developments:
The AFL grand final and the pre-match entertainment was shown live on South African television for the first time in 2006.
Supersport, a Pay TV channel with 1.4 million subscribers, is expected to show a weekly Australian football highlights package in 2007.
A South African under-16 team competed for the first time ever last week in the Ronald Barassi Cup.
SA Kick – a local adaptation of the highly-successful Auskick program - will be expanded into over 200 centres in South Africa by 2009.
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