29 May Sportreach Team Stuns with Undefeated Debut – A Journey from Dust to Glory
MBOMBELA — In a remarkable display of grit, talent, and teamwork, the very first Penreach Sportreach Rugby Team made their official debut at the Penryn Bezant Festival this past weekend – and walked away victorious, winning 6 out of 6 matches against top school teams from both Mpumalanga and Gauteng. With only seven hours of team training behind them, these young athletes showed the country what raw, untapped potential looks like when given a chance.
“These boys didn’t just win matches. They proved that talent lives everywhere — it only needs a way out,” said Xolani Grootboom, Sportreach Coordinator.
This milestone represents the heart of the Sportreach Programme — a growing initiative under Penreach that uses sport as a tool for development, discipline, and dignity. The 23 boys were selected from 10 under-resourced primary schools through a trial process aimed at identifying potential among Grade 5 to 7 learners. “Many of them had never played in a formal match, owned a kit, or even stepped onto a proper sports field,” Grootboom added.
Thanks to generous local sponsors, each player received both a training and playing kit — branded, professional, and personal. When their names were called out and they pulled on their jerseys with the Penreach Sportreach badge stitched proudly to the chest, many guests were moved to tears.
“This is about more than sport. It’s about creating moments of belief — moments that say: You belong, and you are capable,” Grootboom said.
Figure 1: Thanks to generous local sponsors, each player received both a training and playing kit — branded, professional, and personal
While this was the team’s first official outing, Sportreach is not new. It is the evolution of Penreach’s long-standing commitment to supporting sports development in rural and township schools — now relaunched with a clear identity, structured programming, and deeper partnerships. The initiative includes regular coaching clinics, teacher development, and access to essential equipment, delivered in partnership with Penryn South Africa.
The programme’s focus is deeply developmental, identifying talent early and linking learners to long-term opportunities, including scholarships and advanced competitions.
This triumphant launch follows another landmark moment for Penreach: A visit by global icons Roger Federer and Siya Kolisi, who recently spent time exploring Penreach’s impact in education. he visit affirmed Penreach’s growing influence as a leading NGO that opens doors for underserved children.
“The visit by Federer and Kolisi reaffirmed what we believe — that access to opportunity, at the right time, changes everything,” said Given Mashabane, Penreach STEAM Director.
Figure 2: Roger Federer and Siya Kolisi with Grade R learners and staff from a primary school in Mpumalanga that is part of the Roger Federer Foundation’s School Readiness Initiative, implemented by Penreach
The Sportreach programme is currently supported by passionate local partners, including Kiaat Private Hospital, eBundu Lodge & Spa, and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Their investment speaks volumes about the kind of community it takes to rewrite futures.
As it expands, Sportreach will include other sport disciplines such as hockey and cricket, supported by experienced mentors and coaches. It’s a model that’s already proving what can be achieved — even with minimal resources — when you believe in children’s potential.
“This is how change begins,” Mashabane said. “One team. One match. One community that chooses to believe.”
To watch the video and learn how you can support this life-changing initiative, visit Penreach’s social media pages or contact partners@penreach.co.za.
Bezant Festival Results
Sportreach 25 – 0 St Dunstans College A
Sportreach 10 – 7 St Stithians A
Sportreach 19 – 15 Penryn Combine A & B
Sportreach 53 – 5 UFS International
Sportreach 41 – 7 HeronBridge Prep
Sportreach 28 – 12 Penryn U13 A
