World Footy News

At the 2005 International Cup the South African vice-captain, Benji Motuba, was an inspiration as he returned to the field from a recently broken collarbone. The injury was sustained whilst playing in the South Australian Riverland on a scholarship. After the Cup he returned to Africa where he met his baby son for the first time.

Benji was the lucky recipient of a scholarship funded primarily by Betty Lloyd, a keen footy fan from Lyrup in country South Australia. Having long planned on visiting South Africa, she finally made the commitment along with a Convicts amateur football tour. She then set up the scholarship which saw Benji playing for the Lyrup Lions in the lead up to the 2005 International Cup. Sadly he broke his collarbone and was forced to miss the start of the Cup, but was not denied his chance to take the field, coming on and scoring a goal against the US in the fourth round, in Wangaratta.

Once his international commitments were complete he returned to the Riverland to finish the season with Lyrup, who were knocked out in the Preliminary Final of their league. Since Betty is an avid Port Adelaide Power supporter she is a familiar face around the club - despite living hundreds of kilometres away. Through this connection Benji was able to meet a few of the Power players and join them at some of their recovery sessions. He was also invited to join in training my coach Mark Williams but it didn't eventuate, partly due to the collarbone injury. Once he had recovered and Lyrup's season had finished, Port were into the AFL finals - not the time for guests to join in.

When Benji arrived back in Africa he met his baby son for the first time, and named him Tlotlo Burgoyne, after the Tswana word for respect, and Port's Shaun Burgoyne. We're told he calls the youngster Burgy. Not too many AFL players could boast of having had a child from outside of Australia named after them.

Meanwhile Betty hopes to be able to take on another "trainee" in the future. With the expanding program in South Africa, Lyrup may one day find itself with an African star in their team.

Benji with "Burgy"

Shaun Burgoyne