Keeping children off the streets and away from gangs and drugs is a major focus of former Springbok and Stormers centre, Robbie Fleck’s, new career.
Fleck recently joined the ranks of the JAG Investment Group, the private equity investment company aligned with the JAG Sports and Education Foundation run by Elana Meyer. Between Meyer and Fleck, the JAG Foundation is bringing sports to children at grassroot levels in different underprivileged communities in the Western Cape.
“I am loving it,” said Fleck. “JAG is a diverse company, very involved in sport through the Sports Foundation and it is great to be involved in a programme that gives back to communities through rugby.”
Fleck’s main role is the marketing of a new investment scheme aimed at professional sports people called the Elite Sport Investment (ESI) Fund, but he also spends a large portion of his time working with the rugby initiatives with which the JAG Foundation is involved.
“The Foundation’s main aim is to give kids a sense of pride in themselves by allowing them the opportunity to take part in sport. We believe that getting kids involved in sport goes a long way to uplifting communities and those individual kid’s lives.”
I’m very involved with the Pinelands Rugby Academy which has an affiliation with JAG. I coach the U19 squad in Pinelands and the U13 players in Bonteheuwel which is part of the Pinelands programme.”
According to Fleck kids get involved in rugby when they are young but they stop playing when they’re around 15 or 16 and get involved in crime. “There is a massive problem with crime and tik. This Bonteheuwel programme is trying to keep these kids in the rugby system. Once they are 18 they can play for other clubs or the Pinelands Academy. The main thing is to keep these kids off the streets and away from drugs.
“I’ve been coaching the first team at UCT for the last 2 years, but that is on a different level. This is a great opportunity to give back, I’m loving coaching the kids in Bonteheuwel and seeing the difference it makes to their lives. With the kids it is more about the enjoyment factor, getting them to enjoy playing rugby and not so much technical rugby training. I did some of this type of coaching as a Springbok but now it is more rewarding as I am able to see the results. It is hugely satisfying.”
The JAG Foundation is also focusing on getting kids interested in rugby. Fleck said: “With 2010 coming kids are only going to want to play soccer and we don’t want rugby to suffer. We are working with SARU to help them tap into the communities. As the foundation we know how to get to the kids in the communities, so we can help SARU implement their rugby programmes.”
The JAG Foundation also took over the support of the Boland Rugby Union, the JAGuars, who are coached by former Springbok Flyhalf, Louis Koen. This academy serves as a feeder system to the Boland Senior side and teaches the kids to play and live like professional rugby players.
According to Fleck the Foundation is currently working on a formal education programme for the Boland Rugby Union, to educate the players so that after their careers they will have the necessary business skills to manage their money. “So many sports people don’t have skills to cope with business and once their careers are over they get burnt by bad business decisions,” said Fleck.
This is why Fleck is also passionate about the new ESI Fund he is marketing. “This fund allows professional sports people to invest in a professional fund and gives them peace of mind so they can continue with their daily job of sport.
“Playing rugby is fairly close to business,” said Fleck, “leadership skills, management and discipline are essential for both. I got involved in the marketing side of the Stormers which I was very passionate about. Since getting back to South Africa after playing in England, I have done marketing for our family’s tourism business, as well as working in marketing for a sports marketing company and a property business.
“The great thing about JAG is that it is a company that really wants to give back. Through the Foundation we are reaching children that really need help and improving their lives and through the ESI, I feel, we are helping our countries sporting heroes make a success of their lives after sport.”
Source: Finding Touch, July 2007, Issue 17
Contact Information:
info@jagfoundation.com
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