Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/200685
SOUTH AFRICA RUSH Rush South Africa Create a Soccer Festival Rush South Africa / Rush Egoli SC formed an alliance with the iThumbi Youth Project that works with very young children in township (squatter camp) in their area. These young tykes have no park style facilities where they can play and have a good time. They live in an area that has the stench of garbage all day. iThumbi and RESC found a facility for these young athletes and put a festival of soccer together for them and invited teams from the more affluent areas to see how the "other-side of the tracks" live. We received a lot of support from local business and we were able to give each child participating in the festival a soccer kit. McDonalds fed our children (150 players) and Coca Cola ensured that they were all hydrated with their bottled water. The Rush / iThumbi senior players were mentoring all teams and surprised all and sundry by donating R10,000.00 ($1000.00) to the iThumbi Project to take care of the youngsters. RESC identified some great talent and we will be bussing these youngsters into our training facilities to work with them at least 3 times a week. They could develop into superstars! The Rush Egoli –Mudpuppies (3 years – 8 years) had great fun learning how to play soccer. Our youngsters played in the RESC in-house program and parents coached the teams. We teach them the FUNdamentals of the game. What makes this program such a success is the way our coaches work with these little tykes. Our TD has passed on his experience and coaching experience to our staff and this has proved to be a huge success. For more information about the South Africa Rush Soccer Club, you can find us online at: www.africarush.com Tajikistan Rush Tajikistan Rush Cup is a Massive Success After much planning and preparation, the Rush Cup takes flight! Not only did it go "as planned" but exceeded all expectations! Throughout the past year, the Tajikistan Football Federation and Rush have been involved in a unique partnership toward the development of youth in collaboration with existing professional clubs. When the Asian Football Development Project heard about the vision, they jumped at the chance to join in the project. As a result, Rush, The Tajikistan Football Federation, and the Asian Football Development Project conducted an 18 team tournament in two cities followed by a coaching seminar for coaches of the participating teams. On hand for the event were representatives from all across the world who were eager to see the new developments taking place in Tajikistan. Among many highlights were the unprecedented opportunities for the girls teams, who never are allowed to participate in tournaments. One of the girls' team lost all three of their games by a combined score of 18-0. What in many cases would be demoralizing had the opposite effect on these girls at the sheer thrill of being able to compete. On the trip back to their city, one of the players asked with excitement, "Coach, do you think we can have practice tonight… we've got to start getting ready for next years tournament?" This story, among many other stories of hope and development are clear indicators of encouraging progress. Steps like these are fresh wind toward the transformation of soccer in Tajikistan and the hope of a nation. S E R V I N G S O C C E R P L AY E R S L O C A L LY B Y S E R V I N G O U R PA R T N E R S G L O B A L LY Rush South Africa take matters in their own hands and arrange a mini soccer festival for young athletes from u6 – u8 in the township closest to their Rush facility. PAGE 27 For more information about the Tajikistan Rush Soccer Club, you can find us online at: www.TajikistanRush.com FALL/WINTER 2013