Press Release - 15 September 2008

15 September 2008

Albert Warnick

South-African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA-II)
P.O. Box 12911
Vrizjee, Goodwood
Tel: 021-5921361;Fax: 021-5921369
Mobile: 083 242 5196
Email: warnickam@filia.wcape.school.za; Email2:warnam@gmail.com

Dear Sir \ Madam

Request for media coverage

Once again, thank you for the tremendous support that we have received during our recent trip to Poland, with specific reference to the 4th Open European Swimming Championship.
I have also alluded to a few months ago of our upcoming National Championship.
Well we are about two weeks away from this event, hence our request once again for some coverage of the event.

The Annual National Championship will be held in the Cape Town (Bellville area) from the 29 September – 04 October 2008 (Please find attached the programme for the week).

This competition will showcase the events of Athletics (Bellville Stadium), Cross Country, Basketball, Football, Netball and Hokker.

Here are a few of our national athletes that have performed exceptionally well this year.

Cross Country: (European Championship – April 2008)

Seven out of the nine athletes has come under the top 10 athletes in the world (+-30 athletes in a race). Two i.e. Abram Matloga (Limpopo Province) and Mncedi Khanti (Eastern Cape) has received individual bronze and silver medals respectively.

The team results were just as astounding in that Men’s Team received Gold as well the Ladies Team, Jane Rasakhanye, Fulufhelo Mavhengele and Khensani Magagula – (Limpopo Province) as well as Smangele Tembe (KZN) received a Bronze medal.


Athletics: 4th INAS European Championship – Manchester – 26 – 30 JUNE 2008
Given Ratsoma (Limpopo) Shotput 3rd
Abram Matloga (Limpopo) 800 1st
1500 3rd
Mncedi Khanti (EC) 1500 1st
5000 2nd
Boitumelo G. High Jump 3rd
Men’s Relay 4x400 1st
Jane Rasakhane (Limpopo) 3000 3rd

Within the Team Sports arena (Football, Netball, Basketball) have the following provinces i.e. Limpopo, Free State, Eastern Cape, manage to secure the top positions for the last few years. However, it is quite interesting that the first position within the respective codes has been held by a province for not more then two (2) years. This, in my understanding, signifies the level of the competition amongst the provinces.

Team Western Cape was the victor for Hokker (adaptive game almost similar to hockey, for the person with cerebral palsy) in 2006. They will once again try their level best to rise to the occasion, particularly because they are playing on home turf.

Apart from this will we also have an invitation team from Nigeria, participating in Athletics and Table Tennis.

These are but a few of the senior athletes (and events) that will one will be able to see during this years’ championship.

This competition also serves as the final official selection arena of Team South-Africa for the Global Games in the Czech Republic in June\July 2009.

Based on the above-mentioned information we would like to make an urgent appeal to you and your organization to cover this important sporting event of the Intellectually Dis-abled. The coverage can take the form of “the championship before” and \ “highlights of the championship” itself.

Your support through the expectant coverage will go a long way in making sure that our broader community is aware of the achievements of this minority group (dis-abled).

Your co-operation in this regard will be most appreciated.

I trust that we can depend on your support.

With thanks
Mr. Albert Warnick
Public Relations Officer – SASA-II