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2010 Junior Coaching Clinics will take place as follows:
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| SAPA Coaching Clinic |
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| Bursaries are available from SA Polo Association for Development Players. Please apply, in writing, to SA Polo Association, 3 Hazel Road, Morningside, Durban, 4001 stating age, club and school. Also please state whether ponies need to be supplied. |
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| SBU DUMA ACCEPTED TO MAYBACH FOUNDATION |
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Sbu Duma, a 23-year-old KZN polo player from Lion’s River, has been given the chance of a lifetime by the Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation. He has been accepted as a protégé into their Excellence in Mentoring Leadership Program and will spend two years based in Argentina and Great Britain. Aside from polo coaching by some of the best coaches in the world, the Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation will provide Sbu with a stipend and tailored training in leadership skills, public speaking and presentation.
This life-changing opportunity is seen by his friends and supporters within the polo world as a fitting reward for the dedication and determination he has shown ever since he was a young schoolboy. “I’m very grateful and excited about the potential The Maybach Foundation is presenting me,” said Sbu of this recent news, “I don’t have enough words to thank my sponsors for they have honoured me with this opportunity as it has really helped to give some direction in my life and to pursue the career that I love. Many thanks to SAPA and The Maybach Family Foundation. I am going to do my best and am looking forward to the next two years”.
Sbu grew up on the late Dave Kimber’s Maritzdal Farm in Dargle. Sbu’s father was employed by the Kimber family and Dave soon noticed the young boy’s talents at horseriding and started teaching him the basics of polo. He applied to the SA Polo Association for a bursary to assist Sbu with his education and to supply polo equipment as well as contribute towards the upkeep of the ponies he was using. This was awarded when Sbu was 12 years old and was repeated on an annual basis until he was 19.
During this time the bursary enabled him to play in several tournaments and attend annual coaching clinics. In 2004 the SAPA funded Sbu’s tour to the UK as part of an SA Schools team. For many years he was selected to play in the BMW development team which participated in the annual curtain raiser to the BMW International Series. At this year’s Inanda BMW Test, he was part of the winning Highveld curtain raiser team and he also received the award for man-of-the-match. Sbu was also part of the first all-black polo team to win the recent Africa Cup at Inanda in July.
Sbu has been assisted by many members of the Lions River Polo Club who have lent him ponies, provide his kit and generally made it possible for him to improve. In 2007, he was accepted by the Macsteel Maestro Foundation which is a foundation set up by the Macsteel Group working with the Sports Science Institute of South Africa headed by Morne du Plessis. Sbu has been supported by Maestro this past year in terms of much needed medical support, nutrition and specially designed exercises to strengthen his body for the demands of the game. At the same time he was accepted by the Equestrian Training Institute in Eikenhof in southern Johannesburg and took up his place there in February 2008 to study the nine month accredited diploma course in Equine and Stud Management, sponsored by the Rowe-Setz Family Trust. Dave Evans of the Rocking 4 Polo Club in East Rand has been tirelessly helping to ensure that Sbu has access to good ponies and tuition.
Sbu’s ambition is to return to South Africa as a high goal player (he is currently playing off a 2 handicap) and be the first black player to represent his country in the national team. SAPA is very grateful to the Rowe-Setzs, Dave Evans, the Lions River Polo Club, the Macsteel Maestro Foundation, BMW and the Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation for all their generosity and support of Sbu. Through his acceptance to the Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation and with the opportunities that lie ahead for him there is every chance he will realise his dream.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Sbu Duma - 083 309 0504 or drowesetz@worldonline.co.za
The Maybach Foundation - Claudia Gey - claudia.gey@maybach.org
SA Polo Association - Bridget Macduff - 031 3033 903 or bridget@sapolo.co.za
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