“The inexperience of the Coastal boys cost them early but to their credit they bounced back and played to instruction far better in the second half,” said Mtutuzeli Hlomela, AFLSA Talent Manager.

The Flying Boomerangs continued their winning form in South Africa on Sunday when they ventured to South Africa’s newest footyWILD facility development in Nyanga township, 20 minutes from the heart of Cape Town.


The open space of the long but narrow oval where new goal posts were unveiled on the weekend, allowed the Boomerangs to use their superior skill level to set up a comfortable 59 point lead at half time.

In swirly winds the Coastal Lions struggled to find an avenue to goal before the main break but kicked 5 goals to 7 in a much more even second half, closed up the space the nimble Boomerangs players were able to create and using the ball themselves much more effectively when in possession.

TheCoastal squad comprised players from Cape Town and Durban where the game is relatively new by comparison to their northern counterparts from the Inland Squad (Gauteng and North West Provinces) who have been playing for much longer.

“The inexperience of the Coastal boys cost them early but to their credit they bounced back and played to instruction far better in the second half,” said AFLSA Talent Manager Mtutuzeli Hlomela.

“It’s great to see the improvement in their knowledge of the game with many players literally growing in stature before your eyes”, said Hlomela, who grew up less than 500 metres away from the Nyanga surface.

Post-match Sydney Swans legend Michael O’Loughlin and AFL Commissioner Justice Linda Dessau announced an AFL SportsReady traineeship for SA Lion Bayanda Sobetwa which will see him join Greater Western Sydney (GWS) this year in the TAC Cup under AFL legend Kevin Sheedy.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean was also present to congratulate Bayanda before he heads to Australia later this month.

19 year old Sobetwa played for South Africa in the 2008 International Cup and attended the AIS / AFL Academy Camp last Dec before spending a few days at the North Melbourne Kangaroos.

Sobetwa plays for the Khayelitsha Divines in the Clean Colorbond Bluescope Steel Extreme Cup, the local competition which produced the victorious Western Cape Magpies National Champions from 2009.

Game 2 – Nyanga Rugby Stadium, Nyanga

Flying Boomerangs 17.10.112 defeated South African Lions Coastal Squad 5.6.36

Best Players:

Flying Boomerangs Chris Warrell, Gary Warren, Roger Morris, Terence Curly, George Freeman

SA Lions Coastal: Sipho, Bayanda, Lungi, Deano, Sandile

Goalkickers:

Flying Boomerangs: Gary Warren 5, Nathan Kickett 3, Brandon Rigby 2, Isiah Johnson 2, Roger Morris, Lonnie Hampton, Patrick Nandy, Terence Curly, Jack Martin 1

SA Lions Coastal: Bayanda 2, Stone 1, Mandla 1, Lungi 1