Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Mauritius Rugby Federation (MRF) has received from the UK charity SOS Kit Aid, some 600 pieces of rugby equipment ranging from balls to scrumcaps and boots.
The donation was made in the context of the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held from 28 July 2022 to 08 August 2022. The equipment was remitted, yesterday, by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Mauritius, Ms Sally Harrison, to the President of the MRF, Mr Kevin Venkiah.
The donation ceremony was held at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex, in Côte d’Or. The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint, the Secretary General of the Mauritius National Olympic Committee, Mr Hedley Han Mui, and other personalities were present on the occasion.
In his address, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the British High Commission for this donation to the MRF and underlined that it will be of considerable help to the MRF in expanding their work and further promoting rugby in the country.
Mr Toussaint indicated that the MRF, through its administration team, has been sustaining rugby very efficiently and has obtained remarkably good results as regards teamwork since several months.
On this note, he informed that there has been the creation of new rugby teams across the island, namely the Roche-Bois team and the Dagotière Sports Club.
Moreover, Minister Toussaint emphasised that rugby inculcates a lot of values such as teamwork, discipline, friendship and, respect for others. He also spoke of the recent tournaments where Mauritian teams participated and succeeded in bringing back silver medals.
The Minister thanked all concerned stakeholders and sponsors who are contributing to support the MRF in its endeavours and added that it is very important to work in teams to achieve progress.
For her part, Ms Harrisson indicated that in exactly one month, the United Kingdom (UK) will welcome all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories including Mauritius to Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
On this note, she expressed happiness that more than 60 Mauritian athletes will attend this milestone Commonwealth event and lauded the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation’s commitment to ensuring young people are given such opportunities.
Furthermore, the British Deputy High Commissioner underscored that the Mauritian Government and the MRF share the UK’s commitment to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.
“By removing existing barriers, including access to resources, we can be part of a bigger picture that helps to address many of society’s toughest challenges and, we hope you will make good use of, and enjoy, this equipment and continue to uphold the essence of sportsmanship: excellence, respect and leadership,” she said.
As for the President of MRF, he highlighted that this partnership between the British High Commission and the MRF is a powerful signal for the prosperity of rugby in Mauritius, and will definitely open up new horizons so desired by all the major players who will accompany this fabulous discipline for the years to come.
“This partnership will lead us to federate ambitious projects both on the sporting level to obtain a level of excellence, and on the social level to support the integration of sporting values towards our young talent in the making,” he pointed out.
Mr Venkiah stressed that it is essential to federate new talents, new capacities around our national men’s and women’s teams which have participated in the Qualifications of the Commonwealth Games 2022 so that in the near future, rugby represents the first sport-team to honor the colors of Mauritius.
He also thanked all stakeholders who made rugby stand out as a key player in the process of sporting and social transformation of Mauritius, through the transfer and dissemination of knowledge and sporting values; through donation and through efforts made to support this discipline.
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