INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES PROGRAMME (IAP)
There are currently 2 IAP Athletes in the Joe Gqabi District, and both athletes are in the B-Category.
HIGH PERFORMANCE HUBS
Maclear Rugby Academy
The Maclear Rugby High Performance Academy is situated at Maclear High School in the rural parts of the Joe Gqabi District, near Mthatha. A squad of 22 players, from various schools and towns in the Maclear area form the Hub with the aim to identify and develop talented young players to feed into the ranks of the Border Rugby Union and the Eastern Cape representative teams.
The group trains 2 times a week with each session taking up to 3 hours under the guidance of Akhona Thafeni who is assigned the role of Head Coach. Players on a scholarship are offered accommodation at Schools Hostel and are exempted from paying school fees. Other services offered to them are as follows; transportation, nutrition, as well as full-time rugby coaching and conditioning. The Academy assists the Hub with funding for training camps and scientific squad testing.
Burgersdorp Sprinting Hub
The Burgersdorp High Performance Sprinting Hub is based in Burgersdorp and comprises of eight sprinters aged between 13 – 17 years and form part of the Hub. This group of athletes train 3 times a week with each session taking about 2 hours of intense work. Mr Mongezi Mokoena is assigned the role of Head Coach and Hub Coordinator. The Academy assists the Hub with scientific squad testing.
Netball Hub
The Netball High Performance Hub consists of a total of 14 players aged between 13 – 15 years, under the guidance of Thandi Maqebula who is the Head Coach and Hub Coordinator. The group of players train 3 times a week for about 2 hours. The Academy assists the Hub with funding for training camps and scientific testing.
Aliwal North Sprinting Hub
The Aliwal North High Performance Sprinting Hub is situated in Aliwal North and comprises of 8 sprint athletes between the ages of 14 – 18 years. Mpho Hlahatsi is assigned the role of Head Coach and Hub Coordinator and trains his athletes 4 times a week, with each session taking 2 hours. The Academy assists the Hub with funding for training camps and scientific testing.