Tony’s dream is to coach adolescent athletes into future greats
Tony Marageni seeks to empower young people and turn them into great sportsmen and women.
LIMPOPO – Aimed at giving children an opportunity to perfect their talent in various sporting codes and to equip them with necessary life skills, Tony Marageni launched an NGO called Madombidzha Sport and Recreation Institute, which is an expansion of the Madombidzha Rugby Club.
The NGO will focus on giving children the opportunity to participate competitively in sports such as rugby, athletics, netball and cricket, to name but a few.
Marageni is passionate about developing the youth, especially those in his community. Since the age of six he has been playing rugby and this sport code is very close to his heart, which he has introduced and developed amongst the youth around the Vhembe area.
Marageni is a hardworking rugby player who strives to be the best in everything he touches in life.
Read more: Rural rugby gets a boost through Tony Marageni’s #RugbyInTheRurals
He started playing rugby at Laerskool Louis Trichardt, played throughout high school and later played for the Northwest University Vaal Campus, Westrand Harlequins. He was recruited by Louis Trichardt Rugby team and in 2018 formed the village team, Madombidzha Rugby Club and Louis Trichardt Touch Rugby. “I was part of the LTT Rugby Club’s second team that won the Limpopo North region league in 2019”.
The Madombidzha Rugby Club was initiated in 2018 with the idea to identify young boys from various parts of the country and give them an opportunity to learn life skills and receive rugby training. The club also partners with several primary and secondary schools in a bid to provide their young stars with valuable education.
“I had a dream of using new ways to empower young people and turn them into great sportsmen and women, so I had to move away from all previous associations where I was an employee and focus on implementing my ideas. Those ideas, infused with hard work and determination, are bearing fruit,” he said.
He added that the outbreak of Covid-19 stopped all tournaments that were supposed to take place this year.
“We will be hosting the LTT Touch Rugby Festival on 28 November,” said Marageni.
