OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Two young jukskei players from Oudtshoorn have earned places in the SA Top 100 Schools Indigenous Games jukskei team after impressing the selectors at the Western Cape trials.
Siblings Owam (14) and Inga Xame (13) were selected for the boys' and girls' teams, respectively, following the trials on Saturday 3 October.
Their selection is particularly impressive, considering that they only started playing jukskei in August this year.
Four junior players of the Oudtshoorn Jukskei Club took part in the trials, which were held in extremely windy conditions.
Building young talent
Their coach, Andile Mgulwa, said he wanted to introduce jukskei to the schools, but first started with a group of five learners to see if it sparked interest. He has been encouraged by how quickly the youngsters have developed their skills and how much they enjoy the sport.
"The children enjoy the game and learn very quickly. They have already achieved a lot in a short time," he said.
Mgulwa has been involved in jukskei since 2001, when he started playing as a youngster in Khayelitsha. His passion for the sport eventually developed into a love of coaching it, which he began doing in 2008.
He initially coached players in Khayelitsha, some of whom went on to earn Springbok colours. He also coached in George and has worked to create opportunities for young players from previously underrepresented communities.
Among his contributions was organising and entering the first all-black jukskei team from Thembalethu to participate in the Hartenbos/Danabaai Jukskei Club open day.
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