Randy Kabeya (14) from Delft, a learner at Accordion Street Primary in Belhar, will be in action at the Belhar Old Mutual Primary Schools Rugby Tournament on Saturday 25 May and Saturday 1 June.
He has three younger siblings and is raised by a single mother. Although the circumstances at home are challenging he is looking forward to the tournament, especially representing his school and to dethrone Gardenia Primary, the defending champions.
“I found my love for rugby when I played my first match last year against Riebeeck Street Primary. I had no clue what rugby is all about as I am a soccer enthusiast and everything entailing the oval ball was foreign to me. I walk to school every day and it is approximately 10 km facing the stormy weather during winter and the heat of summer. I was dependent on the school feeding scheme for a hot meal each day and struggled academically, but playing rugby has boosted my self-esteem and it had a positive effect on my school work,” he says.
skills
When the ball was kicked off in the match and making his first tackle, he knew exactly there and then what rugby was all about and put his heart in every other game he played during the tournament. He used his soccer skills to outplay and outwit his opponents.
“I delegated certain players into certain roles which made it difficult for the opponents to score. We lost that day but the team felt like winners, and everyone knew that I was the leader that took them through our first match,” Randy says.
rugby: a tool
Bronson Weir, ex-learner of Accordion Street Primary and organiser of the tournament, knows the circumstances and the needs of children like Randy in Belhar. All they need is opportunities to develop skills they never knew they had.
Randy is going to high school in 2025 and is very optimistic that he is going to take the sport to the next level. He feels that rugby can be a tool that will help his family out of poverty.
The schools participating in the tournament are Gardenia Primary, Accordion Primary, Belhar Primary, Erica Primary, Riebeek Primary, Matroosberg Primary, Belvue Primary and Symphony Primary. Eight boy teams and four girl teams will participate.
