Witrivier Rugbyklub / White River Rugby Club - We Are White River
Witrivier Rugbyklub / White River Rugby Club
May 17, 2017 WR Active
Ross O’Mahoney: “Ons wil ‘n omgewing skep waar die klub en die gemeenskap nou kan saamwerk”
“We want to create an environment which the club and the community can mutually embrace.”
Jy het dalk al die bordjie in Danie Joubertstraat gesien wat sê “Witrivier Rugbyklub/ White River Rugby Club”, maar het jy geweet dat dié 89-jarige klub nog steeds sterk aan die gang is en dat hulle aktief besig is om belowende jong spelers vir Witrivier en die klub te werf?
You may be dimly aware of the sign on Danie Joubert Street – Wit Rivier Rugby Klub / White River Rugby Club but did you know that the 89 year-old club is not only going strong and they are actively recruiting promising young players to White River and the Club?
Ross O’Mahoney is die klub se sekretaris en bemarkingsbeampte en speel al vanaf sy skooldae af hier rugby. Entoesiasme en passie straal uit hom uit – hy en die komitee is doelgerig om die klub te laat groei en om die stand in die Gold Cup en ander kompetisies te verbeter. Hoe gaan hulle dit doen?
Ross O’Mahoney is club Secretary and Marketing Officer and has been playing for the club since his school days. He blazes with enthusiasm and passion – he and the committee are determined to grow the club and improve its showing in the Gold Cup amongst other competitions. How do they plan to do that?
Eerstens is hulle deel van die Pumas se werwings-sisteem en kyk hulle regoor die land uit vir jong talent wat na Witrivier gebring kan word. Die klub help die spelers deur hulle op hierdie vlak op te lei en sodoende word die spelers se loopbane en lewens verryk. Klubrugby is die sleutel tot die groot unies en die klub help om spelers se drome te verwesenlik.
Natuurlik kos dit alles geld, tyd en toewyding asook insette, betrokkenheid en borgskap van die groter Witrivier-gemeenskap. Die klub betaal nie die spelers nie maar help hulle wel met huisvesting en om werk in die area te kry. Om bekende spelers soos Danie Roussouw aan boord te kry het goeie resultate gelewer, maar die klub kort nog groot name om die spelers te mentor.
Naturally, this all costs money, takes time and tremendous effort and requires input, involvement and sponsorship from the wider White River community. The Club’s model is not to pay these promising young lads, but to provide them with housing and to find them work in the area. Getting renowned rugby players like Danie Roussouw on board to mentor and support the raw talent has shown results, but the Club needs to attract more big names and from a more diverse arena.
Die klub het ‘n lang geskiedens wat ons in ‘n ander artikel op ons webblad bespreek, maar vir nou wil ons eers die klub se deure oopmaak vir die gemeenskap. Ondersteun jou plaaslike span en kom kyk die wedstryde wat hulle hier speel. Dra jou ondersteuning met trots. Ross besef dat sukses mense lok – mense hou daarvan om suksesvolle spanne te ondersteun. Dit is dus belangrik om iemand soos “Beeeeeeaaaasst” of Elton Jantjies te kry om belangstelling te kweek by die jeug wat nie tradisioneel die sport gekyk of gespeel het nie. Sodoende stel mens die sport bloot aan ‘n groter ondersteunersbasis.
The Club has a long history which we’ll feature in another article on our history page, for now we want to open up the Club doors to all locals. Support your local team and fill the stadium at home games. Wear your support with pride. Ross is well aware that success brings crowds in – people watch successful teams. To inspire interest in rugby amongst the youth segment who haven’t traditionally played or watch the game, and to open up the game to a wider audience, the hunt for an experienced, big name player along the likes of “Beeeeeaaassst” or Elton Jantjies is a priority.
Tuiswedstryde by Witrivier Rugbyklub is ongelooflik lekker! Die hele familie kom bymekaar op Saterdae middae (hou ons kalender dop vir datums) met hulle braais en koelerbokse en parkeer hulle bakkies langs die veld. As die eerste helfte begin vul die geurige reuk van boerewors die stadion. Die kinders kan lekker rondhardloop, ouma en oupa geniet die uitstappie en die kenners langs die veld skree hulleself hees. As die eindfluitjie blaas hardloop die kinders op die veld om ‘n wedstryd van hulle eie te speel. Toeskouers gaan dan na die klubhuis om die partytjie voort te sit. Waar anders in Witrivier kan jy soveel pret hê vir net ‘n klein ingangsfooi by die hek?
The most exciting news of all is the cheerful, family orientated nature of the Club’s home games. Folk arrive on Saturday afternoons (keep an eye on We Are White River’s Events Calendar to find out when these are) with their braais and coolerboxes and park their bakkies around the field. As the first half gets underway, the tummy-rumbling aroma of sizzling boerie wafts over the stadium. Kids range free, ouma and oupa enjoy the outing and the sideline experts shout themselves hoarse. When the final whistle blows, the kids flood the field to play a mini game of their own and spectators repair to the Clubhouse to continue the party. Where else in White River can you get an entire afternoon’s entertainment for a small entrance fee at the gate?
We Are White River is net een van die klub se borge – daar is plek vir nog. Finansiële ondersteuning is altyd nodig, maar so ook is die aanstelling van een van die klub se “invoere”. Om vir een van hierdie spelers werk te gee affekteer meer as net die klub en die ondersteuners maar bring ook meer mense na die dorp.
We Are White River is just one of the Club’s sponsors and there is room for more – financial backing is always needed but just as important is employing one of the ‘imports’. This employment support effects far more than the Club or rugby fans; by bringing more people to town it grows White River too.
Wanneer hulle kan, kom kyk die Pumas-spelers die wedstryde, so wie weet, dalk loop jy een van jou gunstelingspelers raak?
When they can, Pumas players come out to watch the Club play, perhaps you’ll see one of your heroes at the next home match?
Danie Joubert Straat Danie Joubert Street
Sel: Benny Pringle 084 505 2911 Cell: Benny Pringle 084 505 2911
Sel: Ross O’Mahoney 072 563 9202 Cell: Ross O’Mahoney 072 563 9202
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