World Footy News

Australian football continues to be developed amongst children at an increasing rate in South Africa, in particular the Northwest Province. Recently a Roadshow was completed in which "11 communities were visited, about 700 kids were reached and about 50 community volunteers were involved in the training sessions and trained to take up football on their own". The game has recently been introduced into the villages of Morokweng, Schweizer-Reneke and Dithakong, which are all in the Bophirima region of NW Province. From a personal point of view, when World Footy News has been under pressure lately, it was also very pleasing to see one of our writers (Jake Anson) and one of his mates involved in the "Aussies on the Road" program, in which AFL South Africa gives Australian tourists a unique look at the country whilst the visitors help teach children Aussie Rules. It reminds us of some of the good things that we can assist with, makes some of the sacrifices worthwhile, and makes it clear that we should continue the site for the good of football. Jake spent a couple of days with the program whilst on holiday and we'll no doubt get some great reports from him in the next few weeks or months.

One of the many great steps forward in the last few months has been having the game become an accredited sporting code with Maqwasie Hills Sports Association, which is responsible for many schools in the Schweizer-Reneke area. It appears that just as AFL South Africa had hoped, there will be an explosion of junior Aussie Rules players in South Africa in the next couple of years. A couple of keys issues will be be getting further penetration in other Provinces, especially Gauteng (which includes Pretoria and Johannesburg), and then facilitating senior competitions as the children move into their late teens and beyond. With the current boom it seems likely that the Buffaloes will join New Zealand and PNG at the top of the International Cup ladder, if not for the third Cup in 2008, then at the following, most likely in 2011 or 2012.

Check out the AFL South Africa newspage to read about any of the above developments.