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Premier Welcomes Italian Rugby Team - 2010-06-25 11:16:00
 
Eastern Cape Premier, Ms Noxolo Kiviet and MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Mrs Xoliswa Tom, have appealed to the South African Rugby Union to consider hosting more Springbok games in the Eastern Cape.  The province has shown through a number of activities that it is quite capable.

Addressing the Springboks and the visiting Italian national team at a special welcome dinner in Buffalo City on 20 June 2010, Premier Kiviet said that sport plays a huge role in promoting unity.  The Springboks play Italy on 26 June 2010 at Absa stadium.   The Boks return to East London after five years of having played their last match in the city against Uruguay in 2005.

“It is significant that you have come back to contribute to the economy of this area,” she said adding that the country will never be same after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Province has the appropriate infrastructure and the people are eager to support the events of this nature.
Premier Kiviet emphasised the role sport has to play in nation building, she encouraged the visiting role models to interact with the youth

Premier Kiviet encouraged the sport stars to interact with the youth and inspire them to channel their energy in the right direction.  “I hope you have a plan to visit townships as they have produced rugby players who have not gone anywhere.  Government is unable to reach all areas and these opportunities should be used to spread the cake to reach out to those who suffered specifically due to this Province’s neglect by the apartheid government,” she said.

Premier Kiviet assured the visiting Italian team of the warm Eastern Cape hospitality that would guarantee their return to the adventure and play Province for leisure. On that score, she invited the teams, time allowing, to visit the arts and culture spectacle in the form of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.