Laureus_Newsletter_April 2019

NEWSLETTER

APRIL ‘19

TEAM TALK I A LIFETIME WITH LAUREUS

Welcome to the first quarterly

Laureus Foundation South Africa newsletter.
I am thrilled to have this opportunity to keep you
updated with all our activities, programmes, and future plans.
Laureus has been one of the brightest threads in the tapestry
of my life. As one of the founding Laureus Academy Members, I have
been a part of Laureus SA from the very beginning. In fact, my journey
with Laureus spans longer than my years as a rugby player!
There’s so much South African DNA in Laureus, and there would be no Laureus without
Nelson Mandela, who attended the first awards in 2000 and marked the start of the Laureus story by uttering
the now famous phrase, “Sport has the power to change the world...”. That was also the evening when, during his
introduction to all the Academy Members, Madiba greeted me like an old friend with “Ah Morné! How are you?” –
truly one of the highlights of my life!
Laureus has changed the lives of many over the years – including my own. It has enhanced the lives of many through the power of sport, and forged bonds among those
who serve the organisation that will last a lifetime. Personally, it has expanded my global circle of friends in ways I could never imagine.
As the Chairman of the South African Board, and honorary Academy Member, being a part of the Laureus family is an honour and privilege. I have been fortunate to see the
evolution of our methodologies and witness how Laureus programmes change lives across the world. I am proud that every single person involved with Laureus serves the
organisation with true passion.
As we collectively continue to embody the Laureus spirit, I am excited to see what is still in store for me and the Foundation in years to come.

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NEWSLETTER

APRIL ‘19

SPOTLIGHT ON I POLOAFRICA DEVELOPMENT TRUST

The game that brings people together:
The Poloafrica Development Trust

Uitgedacht farm, set in the foothills of the spectacular Maluti mountains in the

Eastern Free State, may seem an unlikely location for a polo estate. While the area is well
known as a destination for tranquil country getaways, it is also one of the poorest parts of rural
South Africa, where unemployment and school dropout rates are extremely high, even higher than that of
the national average. This is where Poloafrica was born.
Poloafrica was the brainchild of Catherine Cairns, who fell in love with South Africa in 2000, when she visited the
country on business from the UK. She saw the potential for Uitgedacht farm to be developed into a “polo haven” for
international tourists to enjoy a polo playing holiday.
After purchasing the farm and starting to work on the project, she became aware of the pressing social issues and desperate needs of the local community, and realized that
the relationship with the community should be the driving element in realising the ultimate potential of Uitgedacht farm.
The Poloafrica Development Trust gives the local youth the opportunity to interact with and care for ponies – and learn to play polo - and has become a powerful tool to help
uplift the community, as well as developing skills and creating opportunities for the youth. In addition to polo, youngsters also have access to boxing, acrobatics and cycling.
This is the vision that the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation was founded on - using the power of sport to bring people together as a force for good, and to combat social
challenges. Laureus contributes funds towards the Trust’s life skills curriculum, and also provides guidance and support in the running of the overall e ort.
The Trust uses the attraction of being involved with horses and ponies, the game of polo and the exciting programmes run on the farm, to motivate youngsters to stay in
school and develop their potential.
Weekend and holiday programmes include lessons in Maths and English, carpentry, sewing, painting and other life skills, as well as the opportunity to learn to ride, and to
play the game of polo. The community’s youth are encouraged to become involved, on condition that they work hard at school and apply the life skills they learn at
Poloafrica during the holidays.
Beekeeping is one of the practical life skills taught on the programme, and Molefi Ralebenya, who learnt his trade at Poloafrica, now shares his knowledge with the current
group of children at Poloafrica.
Having lost his parents at the age of eight, staying in school was a struggle for Molefi, but his older adult brother cared for him and he found his way to Poloafrica when he
was 14 years old. He is now setting up his own honey company with the hives he has built, and is in discussion with the local municipality for assistance to obtain more hives
in order to grow his business.
“Everyone who comes to Poloafrica learns to respect each other and have a good attitude,” Molefi said. Molefi’s journey with Poloafrica has taken him to Nigeria to play polo
in the UNICEF Charity Shield polo tournament at Fifth Chukker Club near Kaduna, where his team won their three games and met with players from all over the world.
20 year-old Tinto Mothijoa is also a Poloafrica scholar, and was 11 when he first joined the programme. During his time with Poloafrica he has played in curtain raisers for the
South African National Team, and he well remembers his first trip to Johannesburg in 2011, where he stayed in a hotel for the first time. Tinto is now in his second year of
tourism studies at the University of The Free State’s Qwaqwa Campus, and looks forward to starting his own travel agency.
“Polo and Poloafrica taught me that it was not just about the game, but about respecting each other, and developing ourselves and the community,” he said.
Of the forty or so young people aged between 19 and 25 who live in the area around Uitgedacht farm, only five have obtained a matric certificate. Four of those five were
Poloafrica scholars, and amongst them are Molefi and Tinto. The game of polo drew both of these young men into the Poloafrica programme, and the discipline and
commitment needed for the sport has helped each of them to find their path to success.

“Every child, every person, desires to belong. Poloafrica provides a safe haven for happiness in childhood. Youngsters are proud to be part of it. My wish is that those
that long to belong to Poloafrica will derive a moral benefit from this belonging that will help them keep on track in later life.” - Catherine Cairns

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APRIL ‘19

MOST CALENDER EVENTS ANPRAILTA- JLUINEE D20U19TOIT

VALUEABLE PLAYER I

Long-time Laureus Ambassador, Paralympians, Olympian and inspiration to our
nation – Natalie du Toit - is the focus of our first MVP.

1. When you were young, which sports star did you aspire to be like (if any) and why:

My memories of aspiring sports stars take me back to my teens. Face-to-face exposure to older, wiser

sportspersons allowed me to dream. My coach allowed me to dream, my family allowed me to dream and
my swimming team who pushed me, allowed me to dream. Not growing up in the social media era and only
owning a computer in my last year of school, face-to-face inspiration had the biggest a ect and role to play
in my life. Marianne Kriel was the swimmer I looked up to and was fortunate enough to have had the
opportunity to interact with. She trained on the opposite side of the Newlands swimming pool in Cape Town
with the sprint group, coached by Clara Aurik. The humble, open and hard working person that Marianne
was, was truly amazing. My other inspiration and someone my coach always spoke of, was Hungarian
swimmer, Krisztina Egerszegi – she swam the same events that I was focussing on, yet she had talent
beyond anything imaginable. I have had many other role models throughout my career and I am of the
opinion that each person brings something special to make a di erence in my life. I have had mentors in my
sporting career and in my personal life and business life, something I would suggest for everyone.

2. If you could choose 4 people to have at your dinner table who would 3. If you were a super hero who would you be:
it be and why:
Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Her knowledge is her power and the team
I am going to be a little unconventional with answering this question and answer
work of the group of friends brings about success. She is not scared to try and often
in this manner. Reason being, I would like to showcase that no matter what we have times is ridiculed for being herself and not fitting in completely due to her parents.
achieved, where we are in our careers, who we are or where we are from, we might Although she can perform magic, she is close to realness in my world.
have a few things in common.
4. What motivates you?
The four people I would like to share dinner with would be:
Motivation is an interesting topic. I am often motivated due to the fact that so
1. Someone who can reassure me or tell me the honest truth as to ‘if’ I have the
abilities and the strengths to keep doing what I am doing as it is not always many odds are stacked against me. I have asked a number of top sports people as to
something that I believe I am progressing in. why? What motivates them… and Many of them share that it is because people do not
believe they can achieve! Sometimes, it is all the negatives that create the positive
2. Someone who would help with simplifying each wish and dream in order to start moments. Motivation can also be derived from the handful of people that are willing
somewhere and ultimately end up somewhere. to go that extra mile to support you in achieving your dreams, which brings me to the
belief that nothing is possible on your own and that we need a team and some sort of
3. Someone I can learn from allowing me to grow through interacting and sharing. support. Ultimately, motivation is the journey of struggling through thick and thin and
4. Someone who could open up opportunities for me to have the opportunity to keeping on till the goal is realised, no matter how small or how big.

prove myself. 6. What would you consider your greatest sporting achievement in life
so far:
5. Choose 3 words that would best describe you:
The pinnacle of my career was the day we finally qualified for the Olympic Games at
I hope that the words that I would describe myself as, are real to those who
age 24 in the 10km open water event in Seville, Spain. From the age of 6, the training,
know me. the dream and the hard work, through many a challenge, obstacle and occasional good
moment, we made it. It is often not about the greatest achievement, but rather the
1. Extremely stubborn journey to finally achieving that moment you have dreamt about for what feels like an
2. passionate and eternity in sport (an Olympic Games only comes around once every 4 years).
3. hard working.
4. Those that know me well, also know that I am pretty negative.

7. Your favourite Laureus highlight?

I am going to share two highlights here, if I may.

My first highlight would be to have played a dual role within Laureus. Being an ambassador for the organisation here in South Africa and also being nominated for an award at the
Laureus Awards. For me and my team around me, the concept of inspiring by doing is extremely important.

My second highlight would be to have the opportunity to become vulnerable in the eyes of those on the ground. Be it, the children who are benefitting from the project or the coach
that is teaching the child. Vulnerability is not a negative in this case, but rather an opportunity to become a part of the team, sharing that anything is possible. The opportunities are
endless and no one is better than anyone.

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APRIL ‘19

PHOTO FINISH LAUREUS YES RESIDENTIAL DEAN FURMAN ANNOUNCED
AS LAUREUS AMBASSADOR
CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR BLURB The first Laureus Youth Empowerment
Through Sport (YES) Residential took place in Bafana Bafana midfielder, Dean Furman has been
The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a weekend cemented in February, and gave 24 delegates from 12 appointed as a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
the Laureus calendar. This year saw a peloton of over Laureus-funded projects the opportunity to ambassador.
70 riders, which included Laureus Academy Members engage in training workshops, where they
Morne du Plessis, Daley Thompson as well as Laureus were provided with essential tools to help Born in Cape Town, Dean and his family emigrated to
Ambassadors Corne Krige, Grant Lottering, Zanele them ignite positive change in their own lives the UK when he was only 5 years old. Within a few
Mdodana and Doug Ryder, brave the elements to cycle and their local communities. years he was scouted by leading Premiership club,
in aid for #SportForGood. Despite the windy Chelsea FC, where he spent almost 10 years in the
conditions, all riders enjoyed a fantastic Race Day. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from the clubs famed academy. Thereafter he joined Scottish
Ignition Group, each participant received a Giants Glasgow Rangers, and had subsequent spells
JP MORGAN CORPORATE Samsung tablet, which will enable then to at Bradford, Doncaster and Oldham before “returning
CHALLENGE 2019 complete assignments via remote learning, as home” to captain Supersport united in the South
they work towards achieving their Sports African Premier Soccer League. He made his National
A great privilege for Laureus Sport for Good Administration (NQF level 4) Diploma, via ETA. team debut against Brazil on 08 September 2012 and
Foundation to be the beneficiary of JP Morgan earned his 50th cap over the past weekend in helping
Corporate for the 6th year. Bafana Bafana beat Libya in order to qualify for the
The event took place at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament where he is
where the Laureus Ambassadors Dan Nicholl, John expected to play a key role in the heart of the teams’
Robbie, Natalie Du Toit, Cynthia Tshaka, Desiree Ellis, midfield.
Deshun Deysel and Dean Furman were all in
attendance. “It is an honour to join the Laureus organisation. As a
professional sportsman who has had the privilege of
representing my country, I have a keen appreciation
for the role that sport plays in society, and I am
excited to do my part to make a di erence in the
community.”

Laureus Ambassadors are a select group of both
current and retired sportsmen and women who have
achieved sporting greatness or made significant
contributions to the sporting community during their
careers. They are recognised as role models and
icons of success and have volunteered their services
to support the work of Laureus Sport for Good.

PROTEAS ACTIVATION

A number of Proteas, including fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and batsman
David Miller joined Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador and former Proteas captain Shaun
Pollock in Muizenberg for a visit to Waves for Change on 18 March.
“Waves for Change is a wonderful initiative that changes one life at a time,” Pollock said. It was great to see
the Proteas come out and spend time with the kids, even though they are busy preparing for a World Cup.
There is nothing stronger than a child’s belief in his or her future, and having had the opportunity to meet a
hero like KG will show them that they, too, could become a sporting great like him.”

LAUREUS WORLD SPORT AWARDS

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