SAPS rugby players and CAN DO! team up to engage in community outreach

"We are deeply appreciative to both Nampak Bevcan and Twins Marketing Communications, the two main sponsors of our tournament this year," said Captain Granville Sepkit of the Gauteng SAPS rugby team.

"Without their support, this fantastic tournament would not have taken place and we, as the Gauteng rugby team, would not have done as well as we have. It is so great to see that the private sector supports the police," he continued.

In addition to sponsoring the tracksuits for the Gauteng Lions and Gauteng Bulls, Nampak Bevcan's consumer facing brand, CAN DO! sponsored the commemorative gifts for all players taking part in the festival.

Two all-female teams joined the ranks

The tournament has grown over the years and for the first time in its history, two all-female teams - one from the Eastern Cape and one from Gauteng - joined the ranks. "We are very proud of these two teams, they played really well and the Gauteng team looked amazing in their CAN DO! uniforms," said Captain Sepkit.

There was a great amount of support at each game. "People from the community came to watch and it was wonderful to hear their shouts of support while on the field," exclaimed Captain Sepkit.

As with any rugby tournament, there were some injuries from the games, with the Gauteng team experiencing the highest number of players down. The team admitted five police officers to the hospital due to injuries suffered on the field. "It's a tough game," explained Captain Sepkit. "This is where we police officers show our talent - we don't hold anything back."

A community outreach initiative

On Friday, 11 July, all of the rugby teams took time off from the game to engage in community outreach programmes at different charity organisations around Gauteng. Sparrow Ministries, a home for AIDS orphans; Jordan House, an old age home; and Lepeng Crèche in Joubert Park were among the beneficiaries of this outreach initiative.

CAN DO! donated clothing and adult nappies to Jordan House and Nampak Divfood (the diversified metal packaging division of Nampak) donated canned foods and paints to update Lepeng Crèche and Jordan House. The Gauteng rugby team handed over the donation of paint and returned on Mandela Day, 18 July, to paint the crèche for the children and together with representatives from Nampak Bevcan, restored and painted the rooms of the elderly at Jordan House.

This community outreach initiative was not done by the Gauteng team alone. "We got the ball rolling, we started the initiative and the other provinces quickly followed suit. They performed their own outreach initiatives on Friday as well," explained Captain Sepkit. "With the support of business I believe that we will grow. Our partnership with the private sector is stronger at the end of the day thanks to their support of this initiative."

"We are happy to support an initiative such as the SAPS National Rugby Tournament during which the men and women who risk their lives daily to protect us can have a few days of fun and relaxation. Their jobs are stressful and their lives always in danger, so for them to just play for a week means so much to them", said Alexandra Bouwer, Marketing Manager for Nampak Bevcan's CAN DO! brand.

"Beyond their daily duties of protecting one and all, they go above and beyond to help charities in their immediate communities, which is indeed commendable. We should all take a moment to thank a police officer for what they do every single day and through initiatives like these, support them when we can," she concluded.

For more information about Nampak Bevcan's CAN DO!, visit the CAN DO! Facebook page or check out its website.