Nine Muslim players are poised to be part of the national team taking part in the Touch Rugby World Cup 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Teams from around the globe will make their way to Coffs Harbour for the 2015 Federation of International Touch (FIT) Touch World Cup taking place from the April 29th to May 3rd 2015.

The Western Cape Touch Rugby Association will be sending a team of about twenty members, nine of them being from the Muslim community. A female team will also be participating in next year’s World Cup as well as a mixed team representing South Africa.

With touch rugby being seen, by some, as a recreational activity rather than a recognized sport, many challenges exist for local teams, says the local tour coordinator Ghaazim Allie.

“The players need to pay their own way to get to the World Cup. With it being hosted in Australia, this can be a bit difficult due to ticket prices. That is one of the major challenges at the moment,” he says.

This sport is considered as a great youth upliftment for this team as most of the members reside in Mitchell’s Plain and Bo-Kaap. These young people who represent South Africa are considered role models in their community as they disregard the negativity surrounding them and focus on more positive activities.

Ismail Slamang, the national captain of the men’s team, says it is an honour to have been selected to participate in the World Cup as “it is something you strive towards”.

Ismail participated in the World Cup on two occasions and was chosen as the national captain in the 2011 World Cup hosted in Scotland. Next year will be his third opportunity in Australia. 

Out of the nine players that have been selected for the World Cup team, four or five of them represented South Africa in the Scotland World Cup. This is a strong team that needs assistance in getting these young people to Australia in time for the Touch Rugby World Cup.

There is a request for sponsorships as most of these players are not by the means of financing themselves to this auspicious occasion.

“This is an opportunity to showcase their talents to the rest of the world and actually make South Africa proud. Every bit helps,” urged Allie.

For more information on any donations and/or sponsorships, get in touch with Ghaazim Allie at 084 423 8217. VOC (Shanaaz Abrahams)