Double-award-winning NPO New Hope Training was unveiled as the main sponsor of the inaugural Ebrahim Patel Community Cup (EPCC), which will be hosted in George this weekend (Thursday 17 to Monday 21 April).
Founded in 2012, New Hope won AgriSETA’s national award for the best training centre and the award for hosting the best project for the training and development of disabled people in 2024.
According to EPCC Easter tournament director Romano Lekay it is the perfect fit, as both the tournament and New Hope want to instil themselves as torchbearers of hope and the upliftment of communities across the country.
“This tournament is not just about rugby, it’s about community, legacy and giving back,” he said.
“And that is why we are glad to announce that we have partnered with New Hope Training Organisation as our main sponsor, because of the wonderful work it has been doing in the training and development of people in underprivileged communities for more than a decade now.”
Hilton Moitse, director of New Hope, expressed the same sentiments, explaining why the organisation had decided to partner with the EPCC. “You will read on our logo ‘Eagles Fly with Eagles’. As a mother eagle does by training her young how to fly, we at New Hope strive to invest in others and it highlights the importance of mentorship, leadership and developing the potential of those around you,” Moitse said.
“As the late Mr Patel did by unifying our country’s divided rugby bodies, New Hope also strives to bring hope to old and young.
“I would therefore like to thank EPCC Easter Tournament director, Lekay, for allowing us to be part of this tournament, and I believe this will be the start of big things.”
New Hope joins Ashantlee Tours, Buztron, Coca-Cola, G-Sportswear, Score Energy Drinks, Sebeletsa Group, Minux Digital and Tikity as official sponsors of the EPCC Easter Tournament.
Meanwhile, the eight participating clubs Bridgton (Oudtshoorn), Gardens (Kariega/Uitenhage), Groot-Brak, Harlequins (Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha), Heidelberg, Robertson Town, Safcol United (Grabouw) and St George’s (Strand) were in attendance at the glitzy lauch at Fancourt in George on Thursday 20 March. At the event, the teams find out who will be facing on the first day of EPCC action at the Outeniqua Park in George.
And in a mouthwatering opening round, Safcol will tackle Bridgton in the opening game on Thursday 17 April at 16:00.
In the second game on Day 1, Groot Brak faces off against Gardens at 17:35 before Gardens and Groot-Brak do battle at 19:35.
The final game of the day kicks off at 21:10, when St George’s tackles Robertson Town in a game that has already been touted as the game of the round.
No matches will be played on Good Friday (18 April) and Easter Day. Saturday’s action starts at 09:20, while the finals start at 08:20 on Monday.
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