The Fremantle Football Club invited Bayanda Sobetwa (18), Steven Matshane (20), Steven Malinga (26), Thabiso Phakedi (18), Tshepiso Mogapi (17) to the club’s headquarters where they were able to have a kick to kick with Des Hedland, Byron Schammer and Scott Thornton, meet Club Captain Matthew Pavlich and Senior Coach Mark Harvey and gain an insight to life at an AFL club.
The group arrived in Australia two weeks prior to their South African team mates, allowing them to train and play with WAFL Club Swan Districts ahead of representing their nation at the AFL International Cup, which is being held in Melbourne and Warrnambool during late August and September.
Four of the talented youngster’s are from Fremantle’s aligned South African Province, North West Province, while Bayanda Sobetwa hails from Cape Town.
Fremantle Football Club will host the players at their next game, when they take on St Kilda at Subiaco Oval on Sunday 17 August.
Fremantle Football Club has been working closely with the AFL to develop the code in South Africa. General Manager Strategic Partnerships Darren Beazley has visited the country several times in the past year and has helped to establish strong commercial support for Fremantle’s development programmes in the North West Province.
“The club is delighted to have some of the talented players from the North West Province represent their country at the International Cup. The South African team comprises 12 players from the North West Province which is a remarkable result and testimony to the good work being completed by the development staff there” Beazley said.
“Of course these opportunities don’t come along unless there is the financial support from like minded commercial partners. Fremantle has been very fortunate to have a number of sponsors who have provided the necessary funds to ensure that our vision becomes a reality”.
The Fremantle Football Club, in partnership with Nkwe Platinum, Continental Capital and Air Mauritius are helping develop football in South Africa.
The Fremantle Football Club is in the second of a three year agreement with the AFL to help develop and promote the game in South Africa, which was highlighted by a 10-day trip to the republic earlier this year involving 25 Fremantle players plus coaches, support staff and officials.
Fremantle is responsible for developing the game within the North West Province. There are currently more than 3,500 registered participants of Australian Rules football in the region and the junior participation programme, FootyWild (South African equivalent to Auskick), enjoys enormous support within the region.
To watch the South African players in action, head along to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday 16 August 2008, when Swan Districts take on Subiaco Football Club.
