Sponsor comes to aid of young rugby player

Local pupil Owam Nqweniso’s dreams of playing rugby for SA were almost compromised due to lack of funds until a local business, BTKM Quantity Surveyors, stepped forward and committed to paying his hostel fees until he finishes matric.

Nqweniso, a talented centre and fullback, has been playing rugby for the last six years and under the guidance of Mdantsane Hurricanes and the Xhanti Msauli Foundation (XMF).

He is the first player from Mdantsane Hurricanes to have made the Border U16 Craven Week side in 2023 and was offered a bursary from Port Rex Technical High School to further his schooling and sport aspirations.

However, he was struggling to afford transport costs and meals, until BTKM Quantity Surveyors stepped in and committed to paying for his stay at the school hostel until he matriculates, pending good academic performance.

Nqweniso’s mother, Bukho, said the family was relieved to have received the support from BTKM given they were unemployed and had been forced to borrow money from neighbours and friends to get Owam to school and back home to Mdantsane after rugby practice.

Bukho said: “We want to see him in the Rugby World Cup, and we want to see him being happy and proud of himself.

“Rugby means a lot to Owam and his commitment to it is an example to his two younger siblings who look up to him.

“This sponsorship means a lot to us, and we are very happy.”

Owam said he was relieved to have received the funding because it placed less pressure on him to find money for transport and food as the hostel will cover meals as well.

He said being at Port Rex had given him more insight into how to improve his rugby talent and exposed him to opportunities in the technical studies, particularly woodwork.

He credited his development to the strong foundation set for him at his previous school in Mdantsane, Wongalethu High School.

He said: “It’s good to be at Port Rex and now with a sponsorship from BTKM I won’t have to worry about taxi fare and food and I can concentrate on my goals, which are to make the Border u18 Craven Week team, play for SA Schools and pass my academics.

“When I finish school, I want to be an SA rugby player so that I can change how my family lives.”

XMF founder Xhanti Msauli said the foundation had worked throughout nine years to provide young rugby players from under resourced areas with opportunities to further their rugby playing dreams and BTKM has supported the foundations vision. XMF was proud to play a role in providing Owam with the start he needs.

This year XMF is hosting a U21 festival for Border teams to cater to the current gap in the provincial and club level system that overlooks the development of U21s who have not been given junior contracts from bigger unions.

Msauli said: “Owam is a disciplined boy who works hard on the field and academically. He is a blessing to us and a good example to other players.

“More than 20 boys have received scholarships through private business funding, and all of them have been selected for provincial teams.

“It pleases us to see businesses supporting our mission, especially because the odds are against us for the growth of township sports. We don’t have equipment and facilities, but we are passionate about keeping boys off the streets and keeping their dreams alive of playing rugby at the highest level.

“We are proud of Owam and he is an example that hard work pays off.”

OWAM NQWENISO

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