DEVELOPMENT POLO
A GAME FOR ALL
In a bid to make the sport more accessible to all, the South African Polo Association has implemented a multi-pronged development strategy.
Poloafrica scholars after chukkas, with their coach, Gavin Chaplin.
olo in South Africa is a relatively minor sport in comparison to other codes but it’ s also an extremely expensive one. With this in mind, the South African Polo Association( SAPA) supports the need for a development programme and is complying with the Government Transformation Charter.
However, in 2012, the tragic death of the talented national player Sbu Duma exposed a weakness in SAPA’ s Development Programme. It showed too much was centred on one player. As a result, SAPA adopted a seven-pronged development strategy in 2014 with the aim to increase accessibility and upskill previously disadvantaged individuals.
1Fast track a development player into the national team. SAPA will invite members to submit applications of prospective development players with sufficient polo talent to take part in a transformation programme. SAPA will select a group of players based on their present education levels and polo skills to participate in tournaments under the mentorship of their employers and appointed SAPA coaches.
To date, SAPA has enrolled two players of colour with the skills to achieve potentially higher honours. Pah Mokwena and Jabulane Khanyile, both currently rated off a 2-goal handicap, have shown considerable improvement and an aptitude for the game beyond their years.
Target schools to
2 recognise polo as an official sport and afford children the time to participate in polo events, including SA Schools tours abroad. For the past two years a South African Schools team has participated in China against top polo playing nations. Unfortunately exposure to international teams is still limited and remains a priority for SAPA.
3Target wealthy black entrepreneurs to take up polo using a focused and aggressive marketing campaign.
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Market polo to black riding schools( such as the Soweto Riding School and Pony Club of South Africa) to encourage aspirant students and riders to play. Participants exhibiting sufficient skills could be invited to take part in the fast-track programme.
5To increase accessibility and improve the skill capacities of individuals, SAPA will embark on introducing courses to empower previously disadvantaged individuals in grooming and horse care, farrier and coaching courses, veterinary healthcare and polo administration. Two workshops are planned to take place towards the end of the year.
6Channel funds into the Poloafrica Development Trust. Poloafrica is a grass-roots development programme whose beneficiaries are economically disadvantaged adults and children. The programme is unique in Africa and has been running for more than 10 years. It gives adults the opportunity to participate in equestrian sporting activities, especially polo, in a professional manner. Children are given the chance to learn to ride and play the game, providing they demonstrate discipline and commitment to the animal and the sport, work hard at school and at the life skills lessons provided in the holidays. Funding for this wonderful initiative continues to be a challenge and SAPA will again be assisting certain projects during its 2016 fiscal year.
The‘ Poloafrica Matrics’ team will participate in the curtain-raiser match against a Johannesburg-based development team prior to the international match against Uruguay at the Waterfall Polo Estate.
Aside from polo coaching and tournaments, SAPA would like to provide some of the Poloafrica matric students the opportunity of work experience on a polo estate abroad.
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Finally, SAPA has also responded to several requests from individual players for assistance with development players who either groom or play for them. ■
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