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ReefDoctor helps set up U18 Sports Association with boys and girls rugby winning national tournament
Apr 17, 2009
In the middle of 2007 ReefDoctor helped one of the local Ifaty villagers and good friend and supporter of ReefDoctors work in the Bay, Mr. Elias Nomenjanahary, to set up an U18 sports association to combat the problems of the young children in the village turning to alcohol, smoking and sexual activities at a young age between 11-13 with 70% of girls reaching 16 having their first child.
The village already had an adult rugby and football club which ReefDoctor and the Hotels Nautilus and Lakana Vezo sponsored and in August 2006 the senior team came 3rd in the National Rugby Tournament of Madagascar.
The U18 Sports Association of Ifaty was then established to continue the motivation and involvement of the younger generation in these sports activities of rugby and football but also volleyball. ReefDoctor has so far sponsored;
- The Adult rugby club with shoes, socks and transport and food for their trip to the National Rugby Tournament of Madagascar in 2006, 2007, 2008
- the U18 boys rugby club with shoes, socks, transport, food and accommodation for regional rugby tournaments and then (upon qualification) for the National Rugby tournament for Madagascar in 2007 and 2008
- the U18 girls rugby club with shirts, socks, shoes, transport and food for the regional rugby tournaments and then (upon qualification) for the National Rugby Tournament for Madagascar (held in the capital city) June 2007 and October 2008
- 5 Rugby and 4 football professional balls for matches and training
- wages for 4 local villagers to act as coaches for the rugby, football and volleyball teams and provide training 4 times a week
- Volleyball teams (5 in Ifaty) 3 professional volleyballs and prize money for inter-village tournament which started in late 2007 to be held every 3 months.
This has resulted in, for a village of only 3000 people;
- U18 boys rugby winning 2007 National Rugby Tournament Madagascar
- U18 boys rugby winning 2008 Regional championship and National Tournament same year
- U18 girls rugby placing 3rd National Rugby Tournament Madagascar 2007
- U18 girls rugby winning regional tournament and then going on to win the National Rugby tournament of Madagascar 2008
- Village volleyball team winning inter-village competition (between 3 villages and players from Toliara)
- 280 children signed up to be in the club and 5 local villagers as trainers willing to give their time to train the teams
- Mr. Elias being given the opportunity (because of the success of the boys and girls teams) to go to France and Germany in August 2008 along with the Madagascan National team and take part in training workshops for 2 weeks
- Mr. Elias then being put onto the coaching team of the National Madagascan Rugby team as deputy head coach and go with the team to Morocco and play in the group tournament for qualification to the Rugby world cup 2010
What the teams and Mr. Elias has achieved is testament to the skills and obvious talent of the children of the village in sporting activities and that given the opportunity they have the ability to achieve great results.
The continued support to the club which ReefDoctor currently undertakes with paying salaries to local coaches and trips to tournaments is essential to motivating the children away from drugs and alcohol and more towards a healthier lifestyle. The success of the teams also brings an enormous sense of pride and standing to their families but also to the village as a whole.
ReefDoctor hopes to bring in more funding to continue and improve upon the Ifaty Sports Association by providing more team kits with ReefDoctor/Ifaty U18 club logos, shorts, socks, and proper good quality boots for the football and rugby teams, wages for 5 coaches to train the teams 4 times a week, medical supplies and sports equipment and field equipment for the rugby, football and volleyball.
