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boon for rugby

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

South African businessman Butityi Konki has partnered with the Uitenhage Schools Rugby Development Committee in Eastern Cape to start a new tournament that will feature more than 40 youngsters in the area.

Speaking at the launch in Port Elizabeth yesterday, Konki announced that the Butityi Konki Schools Rugby Tournament will be played from April 25 to May 15 with the aim of developing rugby among the schoolsin his home town of Uitenhage.

The popular former television presenter who is also a business partner of South African soccer legend Jomo Sono, has contributed a total of R300000 through his BK Investment Holdings for the running of this tournament.

"This tournament is aimed at nurturing the abundance of talent in the township of Uitenhage, which has produced great players like Morgan Cushe, Vusimzi Nakane, Kibo Booi, Peter Swart and many others who used to entertain us," he said.

"We also want to use this tournament as a vehicle to fast-track the development of rugby in this area. I will be very proud to see some of the products of this tournament representing Amabhokobhoko and other rugby national teams.

"The issue of transformation of rugby should be addressed at grassroots level. We hope a tournament of this nature will contribute towards addressing it. We want to start seeing more black players playing for Amabhokobhoko.

"If we do not start to develop rugby at our schools, we may as well forget about the sport," said Konki.

He said the winning school will pocket R20000 for rugby development. All teams that are taking part will receive a full kit and tracksuits.

"The player of the tournament will get an all-expenses- paid trip to watch the Springboks and England at Twickenham later this year."

Fumanekile Yamile, Uitenhage Schools Rugby Development Committee's secretary, said: "The township is already buzzing and raving about the tournament. We appreciate the support of Butityi and [Morgan] Cushe, who are doing a great job in the development of rugby in this area."

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