Ugo Monye, Gethin Jenkins, Brian O’Driscoll, Nathan Hines, Shaun Edwards and Gerald Davies of the British & Irish Lions lent a hand to their Principal Partner HSBC today as they opened a brand new sports pitch in the heart of the Orange Farm township in Johannesburg.
The pitch has been built at Masibambane College which is a school supported by Education Africa – a South African charity which has a long standing relationship with HSBC. The multi-purpose pitch was officially opened by Gerald Davies, Tour Manager of the British & Irish Lions and Giles Morgan from HSBC. The pitch includes some turf from Ellis Park – the venue of the Lions final test match against South Africa on 4th July. Students from the school then initiated the pitch with a special TAG rugby match involving the British & Irish Lions players. The players also planted trees around the outside of the pitch.
Speaking at the event Gerald Davies said, "Today is a special day and on behalf of the Lions players and management we are delighted to be able to attend and help with this fantastic legacy project. Education Africa is a fantastic charity and are making a real difference to the community of Orange Farm, and HSBC’s new sports pitch will bring pleasure to the whole community for years to come. Spending time in the community is an integral part of any Lions Tour, and the players have really enjoyed spending time with the children here today."
Brian O’Driscoll, who is on his third Lions Tour, said, "Today has been great and a really humbling experience. This is the first time I have really been to a township and the response of the kids here at Masibambane has been phenomenal. There is so much enthusiasm for rugby, and the children have really enjoyed playing tag with some of the boys. I have no doubt that this new facility will be very popular with the whole community.
"I have been fortunate enough to be involved in the HSBC Rugby Festivals back in the UK & Ireland and spending time with the next generation of Lions players has been very rewarding. Perhaps today we have found one or two of the next generation of Springboks!"
Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship for HSBC Holdings, explained the partnership with Education Africa, "HSBC has a relationship with Education Africa through the Chief Executive of the bank who is involved with the charity. As Principal Partner of this Lions Tour we wanted to ensure that there was a genuine legacy left behind once the Tour was over. Today’s pitch opening marks one of the most significant elements of HSBC’s Lions legacy. In addition to the pitch, we have set up a kit donation scheme which has led to over 100 boxes of rugby kit, that has been collected by children across the UK & Ireland, being sent to children over here.
"Over the coming weeks of the Tour there are more activities planned across the country, including a special Coach Education programme and more HSBC Rugby Festivals involving over 4,000 South African youngsters. It is an exciting time for rugby in South Africa and HSBC hopes to help enable more youngsters to be able to enjoy the sport in the future."
James Urdang from Education Africa added, "Masibambane is an important programme for Education Africa for the whole Orange Farm community through its many outreach programmes and plays a key part in educating children and adults. It has become a quality educational institution in a rapidly growing informal housing settlement in one of the biggest townships in Johannesburg. The college is not just for children but for the whole community and plays a key part in trying to educate adults from the community. We are grateful for HSBC’s investment in the new sports pitch which I know will be both popular and important in building even more links with the people of Orange Farm."
Krishna Patel, Group General Manager and CEO of HSBC Africa, said, "Today marks the start of a very exciting six weeks for everyone at HSBC. The staff here in Africa have been heavily involved in the Lions investment and have been directly involved with the TAG rugby programme that we have been running in townships like Orange Farm all around Johannesburg. It has been a privilege to be involved with what I am sure will be a long lasting relationship between HSBC and Masibambane College."
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Notes to editors:
HSBC is committed to investing in community, youth and education across all of its sponsorships around the world.
Through the partnership with the British & Irish Lions, HSBC has introduced the world’s biggest schools rugby programme, the HSBC Rugby Festivals, which has involved over 60,000 children and 3,000 coaches across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
There will be five HSBC Rugby Festivals in South Africa involving over 4,000 children.
100 coaches will be educated to IRB Level One qualification through the special HSBC Penguins Coach Education Programme being run throughout the Tour.
Education Africa aims to assist disadvantaged South Africans in their quest to obtain a quality, relevant education in order to ensure that they are in a position to become global citizens and a competitive, productive element in the local job market.
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