Almost R15 000 was raised from memorabilia auctioned off at this year’s Best of the West Rugby and Boys Hockey Dinner.
The event that was held in a tent on Krugersdorp High School’s (KHS) B field saw special guests such as Clinton Panther (SA field hockey player), Jannie de Beer (former Springbok flyhalf ) and David Kibuuka (SA comedian) attending.
Each of these speakers gave an uplifting message while dinner was being served to the almost 100 guests.
Kibuuka, who is an increasingly popular comedian and a past pupil of KHS – he was the first black headboy of the school – was the emcee at the event. He briefly spoke about his time at KHS and about his career as a comedian.
Panther spoke about how he grew up with a love of rugby and about his dreams and hopes of one day becoming a Springbok rugby player. This was shattered by an ankle injury that forced him to abandon those dreams.
“My dad was a provincial rugby player and understandably rugby runs through my veins. I broke my ankle during a high school rugby game and the doctor told me that my rugby career was over.”
Realising that he had no future in rugby he joined the University of Pretoria Hockey Club after school, jokingly saying that he saw it as a great way to meet girls.
“I completely fell in love with the game.”
Today he is a member of the South African Men’s Hockey Team and had played against teams from various countries over the past few years. He also took part in the 2012 London Olympics and still aims to be one of the world’s best hockey players.
Former rugby Springbok Jannie de Beer who is well-known for his five drop goals during a match against England in the 1999 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in Paris, France was the main speaker.
He spoke about life and the principles that one needed to apply to ensure that everything one put in would be rewarding.
“If there is something you want in life you will have to work for it – there are no shortcuts to success and I believe that the fear of failure is what stops people from achieving it.”
He said that no matter how may times one would fall while trying, one needed to get up and try again.
The auctioned-off memorabilia included a framed cricket bat with the autographs of all the 2007 Protea cricket players, autographs of the Springbok rugby team that played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, a signed 1976 Springbok rugby ball, a signed Blue Bulls jersey from the current team and two KHS supporter T-shirts.
The funds were raised to develop the school’s facilities.
Make sure to visit the site again tomorrow to read more about the Best of the West Festival.
