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The South African Polo Association’s development programme, for adults and children, is run by the Poloafrica school on Uitgedacht Farm in the Free State. This initiative has now been running for over five years. SAPA monitors the Poloafrica programme, providing the majority of the funding for the children’s academic scholarships, pony transport assistance for both adults and children and, importantly, advice and moral support for the effort. The Poloafrica development programme has three objectives, the first of which is to give an opportunity to adult underprivileged individuals of talent to do well in the sport. Certain of these individuals are beginning to play a role in polo in South Africa and this programme aims to help these people to achieve more in their lives than they have ever been able to do before. The second objective of the programme is to use polo and ponies as a lever to encourage children from underprivileged backgrounds to work hard both academically and vocationally. The programme provides practical and financial support for school attendance and gives children a chance to learn about horsemanship and play polo. The academic scholarships are organized by the Valley Education Fund, run by Franshoek Farm, a neighbouring polo farm which often shares practices with Uitgedacht. This year SAPA is providing the majority of the academic scholarships for the Poloafrica children. The scholars are permitted to receive coaching and play polo provided that they continue their efforts at school and demonstrate discipline and enthusiasm for the ponies and the sport. The point of this programme is not necessarily to create future polo players but instead to foster academic and vocational upliftment and a sense of self-discipline and purpose which will serve these boys and girls well in the years to come. There are 12 schoolchildren registered in the programme at present, 6 girls and 6 boys ranging in age from 8 to 17. Three of the adult players in the development program (Tshidiso Meshake, Naledi Nkopane and Zompie Tsotetsi) were sponsored by SAPA to participate in the “coach the coaches’ clinic” run by David Morley who is one of the top Hurlingham Polo Association coaches in the UK. This took place in the Free State in February last year, and their polo has improved accordingly as has their ability to teach it to others. All three passed the course and achieved a SAPA endorsed coaching qualification, with Tshidiso achieving the advanced grade. Poloafrica’s third objective is to make the sport in South Africa more accessible to underprivileged players. An important element of the program’s mission is to change both the perception and reality of the sport in this country, in order to allow it to flourish and grow. In addition to the Poloafrica initiative, an ongoing development program has been in place for the past six years in Plettenberg Bay, where children and adults from under privileged back grounds are subjected to coaching and polo chukkas under the guidance and coaching of Buster MacKenzie and Doug Lund. These two have both achieved the highest honour of representing SA on the international scene and are perfectly equipped to give the students the very best grounding in basic riding skills and polo. Presently, there are six young black players ranging in handicap from -1 to 1 goal. A product from this program is Tinker Makhane who represented South Africa against Chile in 2009 and against Italy in 2010. The Kurland International hosted Australia in 2009 fielding a young South African side featuring Sbu Duma, one of SAPA’s first development players to emerge through the ranks. Sbu played out of his boots and was deservedly judged most valuable player. His five goal haul during the match also won him the trophy for the highest goal scorer. Competition amongst the development players is healthy in Plett and their fast track improvement is mainly due to the specialized coaching they receive whilst competing alongside high goal players from abroad. The South African Polo Association will monitor their progress closely with the hope that their success will inspire more to join this worthwhile initiative. Bursaries are available from SA Polo Association for Development Players. Please apply, in writing, to SA Polo Association, PO Box 52, Creighton, 3263, South Africa stating age, club and school. Also please state whether ponies need to be supplied
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