The South African Deaf Rugby Association (SADRA) staff administration has revealed the boys’s elite coaching squad for the 2023 World Deaf Sevens Championship in Cordoba, Argentina.
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The event will happen from 5-9 April 2023, and marks the primary event that South Africa has competed in a World Deaf Rugby event since 1995, having missed the 2003 and 2018 editions.
The squad shall be competing towards hosts Argentina, in addition to Kenya, Ghana, Australia, New Zealand, England, Japan and the reigning Champions, Wales.
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The squad has been chosen off the again of 5 grueling teaching clinics that have been held by Peter de Villiers (head coach and former Springbok head coach), Marlize van der Merwe (assistant coach, Free State Women’s Rugby coach), and Andy Daniel (staff supervisor, Founder of Scrum5Rugby). Two clinics have been held in Gauteng, two within the Western Cape, and one in KwaZulu-Natal.
Head coach Peter de Villiers is greater than happy with the broader squad that has been chosen: “We have managed, after a tough training program, to settle on a squad which I think with the necessary support will be prepared and ready to represent our country with pride and dignity. Thanks to all for your input from the very least to the plenty, we value your input and support. To the chosen ones of this Elite Squad; now the hard work begins. Let us find the will to prepare to put a marker down as we don’t want simply just want to turn up, we want to compete.”
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Marlize van der Merwe added: “Being part of Deaf rugby as a match official and coach was one of the most humbling highlights of my 20 year involvement in rugby. The inability to hear takes nothing away from your ability to perform as these men are proving. I am extremely excited to see the combination of skills, ability and heart displayed to the world. These men are worthy of our support. I believe in each and every player and we encourage the rest of South Africa to rally behind our team for the upcoming World Deaf Sevens.”
Many questions have been requested about how the gamers and coaches talk successfully however for Team Manager Andy Daniel, this hasn’t confirmed to be too troublesome.
“Working with these players has been an incredible eye opener for all involved but for me personally I have never worked with a team of sportsmen that have been so focused on the job in hand. Because of their hearing impediments, it means other forms of communication are incredibly important and if that focus isn’t consistently at 100% then important messages will be easily missed. As for their abilities on the field, they are as good as any rugby players I have seen at this level and we are confident we are assembling a team that can go and win this tournament. We now just need the rest of South Africa to back us on this.”
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Mining group ArcelorMittal has joined SADRA as an affiliate sponsor for the event.
“We are thrilled to be able to support this South African sports team as they ready themselves to compete against the best in the world at next year’s tournament,” stated Kobus Verster, Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal South Africa.
The firm’s R350 000, year-long sponsorship will go in the direction of overlaying the prices of the groups’ journey, lodging, and different bills whereas in Argentina; in addition to to make sure that the groups are adequately outfitted for the event.
“We are still on the hunt for a naming sponsor, and one more associate sponsor, and we are calling on South African companies or brands to assist our boys in green to bring home the gold,” says Lauren Terras, SADRA vice-president.
Interested entities can contact vp@sadeafrugby.co.za to acquire the sponsorship proposal which neatly aligns itself within the CSI house for sports activities and disabilities.
Seventeen gamers have been chosen for the boys’s elite coaching squad, which shall be minimize to 12 gamers forward of the event.