Sajini sets unbreakable record
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| Sajini |
She has been unveiled as Africa’s
first-ever Youth Unstoppable, a record that can never be broken, just emulated.
Youth Unstoppable is a rugby
award and Sajini is one of just seven Youth Unstoppables presented by World
Rugby and Mastercard for their inspirational stories that highlight why the
women’s game is the ultimate team sport on and off the pitch.
Sajini hopes girls in Africa will
be motivated by what she’s achieved: to participate in sport, but especially
rugby, and thereby increase the number of women taking part in rugby in
particular and sport in general.
Truly a Youth Unstoppable, she
started an under-16 team at the Busy Bees Club in the Western Cape, and it was
a breakthrough for rugby, not only in the Western Cape but in South Africa, and
probably also a first in Africa.
And her message to those who want
to emulate her success is simple: just follow her example.
“It was very hard initially to
start an under-16 team. However, it’s never too late to start something that
you like and want. If you want to play sport but there are no people playing
it, be the one who starts that team.
“Go out and approach people.
There are people out there who also want to play, but they don't have the
confidence to start a team. Don’t look at other girls to see what they are
doing. Do what makes YOU happy. Everyone has different skills and talents.”
She continued that she simply had
to be confident in what she was doing and to communicate with people.
“I had to have the courage to go
into the streets and talk to girls to join the Busy Bees Under-16s. Most of
them hadn’t played rugby before.
“But the rewards are there.
Today, the under-16 section is growing in numbers, and the girls I started the team
with are now playing for Busy Bees seniors. And the initial hard work has
provided major benefits to me and those who joined the first under-16 team.
“As the ultimate
character-building sport, playing rugby builds self-confidence and
self-respect. It fosters courage, fitness, team effort, togetherness from bringing
together girls from all backgrounds.
“I hope to see girls in Africa
out there start playing rugby at an early age so that they can grow into the
sport. By starting young, they will have an advantage with better skills and
understanding of the game’s ethos and some of them could perhaps one day play
for their countries.”
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