- Collegians Rugby Football Club in Lentegeur has received a R200,000 donation from the Mayoral Fund.
- This was facilitated by Ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies and marks a significant support for the club’s operations and youth development initiatives.
- The club, known for its rich history spanning 47 years and comprising 400 players across various age groups, operates without a principal sponsor and relies heavily on community support.
With a rich history spanning more than four decades, Collegians Rugby Football Club (RFC) has received a donation that will enable them to do even more for sport.
With a R200 000 donation from the Mayoral Fund, thanks to a motivation from Ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies, the Lentegeur-based club says the donation will go a long way.
Playing in the Western Province Super League B division, the community-based club is self-funded.
Despite being seen as somewhat semi-professional, no players, managers or coaches receive any pay.
“This contribution is a significant milestone for the club and the community it serves. The Collegians Rugby Football Club, with its rich history of 47 years, has made a profound impact on players from across the Cape Flats. The club and I have faced numerous challenges together, particularly with the Lentegeur sports ground,” says Plaatjies.
“Despite the adversity of vandalism and land invasion, we remained steadfast in our efforts to rebuild our beloved Griefgat, also known as the Lentegeur sportsground. After a two-year journey, we are proud to celebrate the completion of our Berlin Wall and the near completion of the fencing around our A field. This historic moment not only boosts the confidence of the club but also reaffirms the City of Cape Town’s commitment to sports and recreation.”
No title sponsor
Club president Shamila Sulayman says the club of 400 players ranging in age are from all over Cape Town.
“We are a self-financed club. We do not have a principal sponsor. We haven’t had one for the last 12 years,” she says.
“It’s been extremely difficult to travel. And the costs involved in traveling are quite huge. And these costs are not only on our club, but also on our spectators, because Collegians is arguably and quite possibly the best supported club in Western Province rugby. Our supporters, our spectators travel to wherever we play week in, week out. And they are there supporting us,” says Sulayman.
Plaatjies says the donation solidifies dedication to youth development, providing young people with positive alternatives to the social ills in Mitchells Plain.
“I am incredibly proud of the Collegians Rugby Football Club and will continue to support their efforts to nurture young talent across Mitchells Plain,” says Plaatjies.
This donation will be spent on needs around the club, she adds.
“As a community club, there are lots and lots of operational costs and running costs. And so, part of that fund that we received from the City will go to our operational costs, which include transport costs for our junior division; especially when they play away, we have to hire buses on a weekly basis.”
Some funds will also be used to procure equipment.
The team has around 250 juniors and 130 senior players. The junior players comprise primary and high school divisions and an u-7 team with seniors including an u-20 team, a third team, second team, and a first team.
Having last played a home game in 2019, the lack of facilities has been a challenge for the club. The City is making progress to restore the facility, with issues dating back to 2016, says Sulayman.
Keeping youth active
Sport is a key way to keep children active and out of the grips of social ills, says Sulayman.
“Sport teaches them so much more than just athleticism and fitness and conditioning. And of course, the skills of rugby, but it also teaches them to be part of a team. It teaches them discipline. It teaches them to treat the opposition with respect, to accept losing when they do lose, but to also win graciously, and to be humble,” she says.
“Unfortunately, in the Western Cape and in broader South Africa, we are faced with loads of social ills like gangsterism, drug abuse, alcoholism, gender-based violence, etc. And so keeping our children involved in sport and being able to offer them sport in an area like Lentegeur, with a club like Collegians, with its absolutely rich history, both culturally and sports-wise, it gives them an opportunity to be involved in sport with all its positives and not to be involved in any of those social ills, because we know how easily our children can fall victim to these social ills and worse.”
