Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak believes sport is an essential part of growing up and he’s committed to making sure all children get that opportunity.
The 24-year-old has become an ambassador to a unique foundation established by international tennis coach and passionate Port Adelaide supporter Roger Rasheed.
The Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation aims to ensure sporting opportunities exist for underprivileged youngsters in extremely disadvantaged metropolitan, regional and rural communities.
“I love the concept of what Roger and the team are doing,” Boak said.
“It’s fantastic and it’s great to be a part of.
“I grew up playing sport as a kid and for me someone missing out on sport as a kid is just unthinkable.
“For young kids and their families to get involved in sport is really important and that’s for all kids and families whatever their circumstances are.”
Rasheed – who himself is an ambassador for the Port Adelaide Football Club and who coaches French tennis star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – thanked the new Power skipper for his commitment.
“I was very keen to get Travis on board as an ambassador of the foundation,” Roger said.
“I’ve spoken to Travis a lot and just listening to him and seeing his passion not only for sport but for kids and especially disadvantaged kids, it was just an instant fit that I had to have him involved.
“The main objective of the foundation is purely to get sport into extreme disadvantaged communities, to actually use sport as a medicine, to give these kids an opportunity and a positive pathway in life through sport,” Rasheed said.
“They don’t have to be a world champion, but sport is one activity where they can go out there and just see blue sky.
“They have fun, they’re running around and I feel like it should be a school subject that should be as highly taught as maths and English, because it’s got so many avenues. It’s a powerful force, especially in Australia.”
The foundation is finalising a number of projects in South Australia which will aim to revitalise dilapidated community sporting facilities.
“We will find a venture for Travis to stamp himself on in one of these areas where I know the community is going to buy into the product and what we’re trying to do,” Rasheed said.
“Port Adelaide supporters will be able to actually get behind that facilty and development, and support it in a small financial way or even be part of the working bee that gets in there and gets involved in building a great community asset.”
Details of the project will be announced as early as possible.
To find out more about the foundation and its goals visit rogerrasheed.com
