SAGDB youngsters aim high with Ernie's Foundation

17-year old Sello Lebeko is one of the thirteen SAGDB players accepted into the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation this year

Thirteen players from the SA Golf Development Board have been selected as part of the 2010 intake for the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF). The promising youngsters from six different regions were chosen through the Ernie Els Talent Search Golf Days held around the country towards the end of 2009.

The thirteen players are 15-year old Lusanda Dikileyo (4 handicap), 16-year old Lwazi Gqira (2 handicap) and 15-year old Zethu Myeki (11 handicap) from Border; 17-year old Sello Lebeko (1 handicap) and 17-year old Mojalefa Xaba (2 handicap) from the Free State; 14-year old Trevor Thomas (13 handicap) and 15-year old Shane Ross (9 handicap) from Boland; 15-year old Riyaaz Daniels (7 handicap), 14-year old Chesly Gamba and 14-year old Riaan Beukes from Western Province; 15-year old Nqaba Mata (8 handiap) from Eastern Province; and 16-year old Bongani Khoza (4 handicap) and 14-year old Nkosinathi Dauwa (8 handicap) from Ekurhuleni.

"We work very closely with the SAGDB, so we know exactly where the talent is," said the CEO of the EEFF Hannes van Niekerk. "We started the Ernie Els Talent Search Golf Days last year to be transparent and to open up opportunities for kids who want to be part of the foundation."

SAGDB managing executive, Ken Viljoen, was delighted by the number of players accepted for 2010.

"It's fantastic to see our youngsters stepping up to the next level," he said. "This recognition is a credit to the players' determination and the hard work of our coaches."

The SAGDB's national coaching advisor, Grant Hepburn, added that the number of golfers emerging from the SAGDB into provincial teams and being selected to the EEFF showed that the coaching program is well structured and well monitored.

"Our coaches are trained properly and are dedicated to their jobs," he said. "It's now up to these players to continue their hard work both on and off the course. It's also vital for them to pay attention to their golfing technique, as without a good technique it's difficult to advance into the top amateur, or indeed into the professional ranks."

In a change from previous years, the selected players will not be stationed in George, but will remain at home. All the EEFF's players are now based in their home regions and receive support from local pros.

"They will stay in the schools where they are and we will support them regarding their school fees," Van Niekerk exlained. "On the golfing side, we will support them regarding their membership fees, coaching and playing in tournaments. Wherever they are, the local pro will provide coaching."

Van Niekerk emphasised that what Ernie Els and Dr. Hasso Plattner are looking for from the youngsters in the foundation is commitment and dedication to the programme. This means both at school as well as on the golf course. The new structure of the foundation will also require all members to reapply for admission every year.

In all, the EEFF accepted 22 new players into its ranks for 2010. This takes the total number of youngsters in the foundation to 33. This increase was made possible by the new structure.

In a statement on his website, Ernie Els said: "Dr Hasso Plattner and I are very proud of what we have been able to achieve with our Foundation over the years and it is great to see such a large group of talented youngsters coming in. I am looking forward to seeing how, with hard work and dedication, these guys grow and flourish over the coming year. I will be following them with interest."