| Australian Rules Football In South Africa |
Article Index for Australian Rules |
Website Links For Australian Rules |
Information AboutAustralian Rules Football In South Africa |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL IN SOUTH AFRICA | |
| australian rules football in south africaaustralian rules football in south africa | |
| australian rules football outside australia | |
| south africa | |
| sport in south africa | |
|
HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN RULES IN SOUTH AFRICA Australian Rules Football was first played in South Africa in 1898 when Australia n soldiers on Boer War service in South Africa played the game behind the lines. The game was played by some local teams before interest and support died following with World War I . In 1997, the Australian Defence Force visited the North West Province and the first talks of re-introducing the game began. The key benefits of the game were seen to be the Apartheid racial issues which plagued the nation's National Sport , Rugby Union and providing potential indigenous athletes with other choices a chance to possibly play a professional sport besides Football (soccer) and , which is popular amongst indigenous communties. Australian Football is highly popular with Indigenous Australian communities, and the potential for cross-cultural links was also regarded as an opportunity. In 1998, an experimental Exhibition Match was played between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle Dockers Australian Football League clubs in Cape Town . The game attracted 10,123 spectators and media interest. Later that year an Under 16 South African team competed in inaugural Jim Stynes Cup in Canberra . In the same year the Adelaide Crows conducted coaching clinics in South Africa. In 2001, the first AFL development officer was appointed. In 2002, South Africa sent its first National Team , the ''Buffaloes'' to the Australian Football International Cup held in Melbourne . The team was not successful, but improved greatly when it returned in 2005. AFL South Africa was formed in 2003, as a development organisation and secured funding from the North West Academy Of Sport , as well as Ausaid and Tattersalls . With the success of the program, the Australian Football League began to contribute development funds in 2004, seeing the country as a potential source of playing talent. In 2006, the AFL announced it would send an All-aboriginal juniors side (from the wants South Africa to join an International Rules tri-series and believes that a junior from South Africa will eventually play at the AFL level {Link without Title} . GOVERNING BODY The governing body for Australian Rules Football in South Africa is AFL South Africa . NATIONAL TEAM The Buffaloes are South Africa's national team. SOURCES
SEE ALSO |
|
|