Port Rex Technical High rugby club has issued a passionate call to action to local golfers, businesses, and community members to step onto the fairway for a worthy cause as it prepares to host its inaugural Annual Golf Day at the West Bank Golf Course tomorrow (Friday).
The club has launched an ambitious fund-raising drive to generate R250,000 to support its student-athletes and revolutionise player welfare across all age groups ahead of the upcoming rugby season.
The funds raised from the event will go directly towards essential player support services, including kit, medical supplies, strapping, and structured nutritional programmes in an effort to ensure no pupil takes to the field on an empty stomach.
Speaking to the GO! on Tuesday, Port Rex U16 head coach and master in charge of rugby, Sisipho Gija, said the campaign represents a fundamental shift in how school sports programmes operate, moving away from an exclusive focus on first-team privileges to ensure equal support for every boy in the system.
“We are shifting the narrative from being a first-team orientated club, where all these benefits just go to the first team,” Gija said.
“We want to make sure that each and every child has got the same access, whether it’s Under-14C or the first team it,” doesn’t matter.
“The fact remains that the player is still taking time out to sacrifice and play for his school, so we are making that child feel as important as a first-team player.”
Gija said the R250,000 target was conceptualised after identifying critical gaps in basic player welfare during his first year overseeing the program, particularly around nutrition, equipment, and medical care.
“We saw that a lot of our kids were underperforming not because they do not have talent, but because when you talk to them, some of them haven’t eaten a meal for the day.
“Now we are trying to push that each and every child gets at least a full meal before or after actual activities, alongside proper medical supplies and strapping.”
Choosing the historic West Bank Golf Course as the venue was a natural decision for the school, following successful past collaborations and a shared desire to build a long-term partnership with the venue.
“The venue has got a lot of history behind it,” Gija said.
“We tried to do something there last year and they were welcoming from the get-go.
“ We are trying to push and build a lasting relationship with West Bank Golf Course.”
Beyond immediate financial targets, the initiative aims to raise community awareness regarding the holistic education provided at Port Rex Technical High School, where pupils leave with practical technical qualifications and strong academic foundations alongside their athletic development. “We want to make the public know that every child who participates in our rugby club matters to us.
“When you leave Port Rex, you don’t just leave with a normal matric certificate, you basically leave with a tertiary-level foundation due to the technical workshops, mathematics, and science subjects offered here.”
The response from local businesses and sponsors has been encouraging, though organisers hope the broader Buffalo City community will continue to step up in the final stretch leading up to tee-off.
“On the day, we expect a really nice, social tournament vibe where people can come, network with one another, build new relationships with the school, and enjoy a great time on the course,” Gija said.
The golf day will follow a standard 4-Ball format, with entry fees set at R2,400 per 4-Ball, or R600 for individual players looking to be paired up.
Corporate entities and local businesses are also encouraged to participate through hole sponsorships, prize donations, and direct financial support.
Entries and registrations can be completed via the QR code featured on the event posters, by directly using the school’s official banking details, or by contacting Sisipho Gija directly on 066-250-2744.
