Extra funding boost for programme

Southland's most promising sporting youngsters have received a major boost, with the Academy of Southland Talent Xcelerator programme fast becoming one of the best in the country.

Sport Southland and the Community Trust of Southland have previously joined together to provide expert sporting services for those selected in the two-year programme, as well as the graduate scholarship to the new advanced year-three programme.

The Community Trust fronts up with a total of $34,000 a year to fund the programme, which aims to provide a variety of opportunities to help young athletes develop as sportspeople.

The ILT Foundation has now also jumped into the partnership, agreeing to put up $15,000 to enhance what the programme is already doing.

Academy of Southland Talent Xcelerator manager Jason McKenzie said the extra funding would be a major boost, particularly for the year-one inductees in the programme.

They would now receive one-on-one consultation sessions with mental skills coaches, nutritionists and muscle balance experts.

McKenzie said those in the year-one programme would receive similar services to those received by carded athletes with Sparc on a national scale.

It seems the Academy of Southland programme is proving well worth the investment, with the likes of world-class cyclists Tom Scully and Eddie Dawkins two positive advertisements for its success.

McKenzie said the programme was about readying the young athletes for when they stepped into the professional environment.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First