Arum Lilies on top after Zuma magic
Big Pik
12/07/2010 07:36:47 AM – (Equatorial Guinea)
Ex president Nelson Mandela (oops, sorry –Rholihlahla… don’t wanna upset Dr Nokuzola Mndende..) isn’t the only one who can inspire national sport teams to greatness.
The South African president, Mr. Jacob Zuma, (sorry, wasn’t too sure if he’s been awarded with a doctorate?? Well, pretty sure he’s not a medical doctor… not after the whole “I took a shower” episode.. maybe a plumber then?), weaved his magic wand in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday, inspiring the Arum Lilies to a 10-5 victory in the process.
Although the victory helped secure second spot in their qualifying group, it was a case of ‘too little too late’ for the Arum Lilies, as they can no longer qualify for the African Cup, which will be held in Kenya during September.
Zuma, who was on an Official State Visit to Equatorial Guinea to commemorate their Independence, managed to clear his busy schedule to support the Arum Lilies in Malabo.
“We were so proud when he walked into the changing room. His mere presence inspired us to give our best out there today!” the Arum Lily captain, Luke Watson said afterwards.
Watson, playing in his first competitive match since rupturing his "human rights” (again) earlier this year, said he was just “so chuffed to finally complete a match without any sporadic vomiting”.
Right wing(er), Jannie Malherbe (the only so called “quota player” in the team) managed to break the deadlock with a try at the end of the first half, after a fine piece of individual brilliance by Watson.
It was the Arum Lilies’ first try in 3 matches, after previous scoreless efforts against Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Libya.
“I am very happy with the performance” an elated coach Zola NoNo said afterwards.
“It was an extremely physical battle, and a more inexperienced outfit might’ve struggled to deal with the distractions we had to put up with before the match” NoNo said.
The coach was referring to an incident which occurred only moments before the match was scheduled to start, when referee Marius van Zyl had to withdraw due to an injury he picked up during his warm-up. The injury to the referee nearly led to the cancellation of the match, as earlier in the year a decision was made at the African Rugby and Soccer Expo (A.R.S.E), all future matches "to be officiated by dumb Dutchmen only."
Luckily for NoNo and his team, Francois Pienaar – “the dumbest Dutchman of them all” was in the crowd, and he was able to take the whistle, and the match commenced after a delay of only 22 minutes.….. (phew!)
The Arum Lilies now have a 3 week break before they’ll play in a friendly match against Namibia in Cape Town. This fixture replaces the originally scheduled international against Romania in Bucharest, which was cancelled after visas could not be secured for players, management staff and SABC personnel.
South Africa - Try: Jannie Malherbe. Conversion: Luke Watson. Penalty: Luke Watson.
Equatorial Guinea -Try: Precious Mbatha.
Man of the match: Luke Watson
Attendance: 541
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Double standards, double adaptors en double agents...
Nee, dis NIE die naam van Steve Stofsuier se nuwe album nie.. Ek kannie aan 'n opskrif vir die blog dink wat pittig en skerp is nie... Ek's sommer vandag net die moer in... Dubbel die moer in, dan seker!
Wag, laat ek dan seker maar probeer verduidelik...
Sien, die Crusaders het mos die Super 14 gewen... En nee: Dis nie waaroor ek moerig is nie.... Of, ek sal ook nie juis sê ek het op en af gespring Saterdagaand toe die eindfluitjie geblaas het, en die Crusaders spelers en supporters begin feesvier het nie.. Dit was omtrent so aangenaam om te aanskou as JP Nel "in full flight" daar op Loftus. In fact, die mees opwindendste deel van die celebrations op AMI Stadium die naweek, was seker toe daai perd uitgefreak het, en om die veld begin hardloop het!!!! Only in Christchurch, I tell yous!! (alhoewel ek gehoor het indien daai perd van Pretoria was, hy na die tyd op die dwarslat sou geklim het met 'n "Horses Rule" t-hempie aan...)
Ek het nie 'n probleem met die Cruaders nie. Die beste span het gewen. Wat my wel die *&^%$#^% ingemaak het, was toe ek die koerante oopgeslaan het Sondagoggend, en Richard Loe se indrukke van die finaal moes opeet. Oukei, dan: dit het my dubbel die *&^%$#^% in gemaak!
Ou Loe'tjie mention die vlge:
"The Super 14 final was a brilliant game of rugby, I thought, with the defences very good"
"It was a very Robbie Deans win. By that I mean, they played to their pattern and had faith in it. Deans and his team structured how they were going to play and they stuck to it - and that meant not going wide all the time but turning the ball in and keeping it and dominating territorially."
Dis sulke eenogigheid, wat my die moer in maak... Dubbel die moer in...
Dis nie dat ek NIE saamstem met daai ex-vuilgat speler genaamd Loe nie!! Ek het die finaal baie geniet. Dit was "close", spannend EN opwindend.. Hel, dit het selfs 'n dropgoal ingesluit!!! Is dit nie "what finals footy is all about" after all nie?
Nee, kyk: wat my wel grensloos geirriteer het, is die feit dat die NZ media nou ewe skielik nie genoeg kan kry om komplimente uit te deel aan die span wat die wedstryd gewen het, deur (1) baie/meeste balbesit weg te skop nie - sure, noem dit dan "tactical kicking", (2) uit en uit ingestel of bereid was om die opposisie die bal te gee, en te wag dat hulle foute maak in hulle eie halfgebied nie, en dan (3) low en behold ook nog so ver te moet gedaal het as om 'n skepskop oor te klits nie.....
Huh?? Nou wat nou? Is dit nie dieselle media wat die Engelse (en die Bokke dan ook!!) in Oktober laasjaar so verskriklik uitgevreet het oor hulle spelstyl in die World Cup nie?? Was dit nie dieselle media wat gesê het die World Cup Final tussen die Springbokke en Engeland was "boring", en het mislik as skouspel nie?
Snaaks hoe sienswyse kan verander in 'n paar maande as jou eie span aan die wenkant is... 8 maande terug het hulle nie gesê Jake White se Bokke "played to their pattern" in Parys nie... Nee, alles was mos vergete toe die AB's hulle name so gat gemaak het twee weke voor dit reeds teen die Franse daar in Cardiff...
Die Crusaders verdien hulle 7de Super title! Maar, menere Loe en kie kan gerus maar 'n slag die swart oogklappe afhaal... Double standards, double adaptors en double agents... Dit maak my die ^&^%$# in.... Dubbel die ^&^%$# in!, sê ek julle!
Wag, laat ek dan seker maar probeer verduidelik...
Sien, die Crusaders het mos die Super 14 gewen... En nee: Dis nie waaroor ek moerig is nie.... Of, ek sal ook nie juis sê ek het op en af gespring Saterdagaand toe die eindfluitjie geblaas het, en die Crusaders spelers en supporters begin feesvier het nie.. Dit was omtrent so aangenaam om te aanskou as JP Nel "in full flight" daar op Loftus. In fact, die mees opwindendste deel van die celebrations op AMI Stadium die naweek, was seker toe daai perd uitgefreak het, en om die veld begin hardloop het!!!! Only in Christchurch, I tell yous!! (alhoewel ek gehoor het indien daai perd van Pretoria was, hy na die tyd op die dwarslat sou geklim het met 'n "Horses Rule" t-hempie aan...)
Ek het nie 'n probleem met die Cruaders nie. Die beste span het gewen. Wat my wel die *&^%$#^% ingemaak het, was toe ek die koerante oopgeslaan het Sondagoggend, en Richard Loe se indrukke van die finaal moes opeet. Oukei, dan: dit het my dubbel die *&^%$#^% in gemaak!
Ou Loe'tjie mention die vlge:
"The Super 14 final was a brilliant game of rugby, I thought, with the defences very good"
"It was a very Robbie Deans win. By that I mean, they played to their pattern and had faith in it. Deans and his team structured how they were going to play and they stuck to it - and that meant not going wide all the time but turning the ball in and keeping it and dominating territorially."
Dis sulke eenogigheid, wat my die moer in maak... Dubbel die moer in...
Dis nie dat ek NIE saamstem met daai ex-vuilgat speler genaamd Loe nie!! Ek het die finaal baie geniet. Dit was "close", spannend EN opwindend.. Hel, dit het selfs 'n dropgoal ingesluit!!! Is dit nie "what finals footy is all about" after all nie?
Nee, kyk: wat my wel grensloos geirriteer het, is die feit dat die NZ media nou ewe skielik nie genoeg kan kry om komplimente uit te deel aan die span wat die wedstryd gewen het, deur (1) baie/meeste balbesit weg te skop nie - sure, noem dit dan "tactical kicking", (2) uit en uit ingestel of bereid was om die opposisie die bal te gee, en te wag dat hulle foute maak in hulle eie halfgebied nie, en dan (3) low en behold ook nog so ver te moet gedaal het as om 'n skepskop oor te klits nie.....
Huh?? Nou wat nou? Is dit nie dieselle media wat die Engelse (en die Bokke dan ook!!) in Oktober laasjaar so verskriklik uitgevreet het oor hulle spelstyl in die World Cup nie?? Was dit nie dieselle media wat gesê het die World Cup Final tussen die Springbokke en Engeland was "boring", en het mislik as skouspel nie?
Snaaks hoe sienswyse kan verander in 'n paar maande as jou eie span aan die wenkant is... 8 maande terug het hulle nie gesê Jake White se Bokke "played to their pattern" in Parys nie... Nee, alles was mos vergete toe die AB's hulle name so gat gemaak het twee weke voor dit reeds teen die Franse daar in Cardiff...
Die Crusaders verdien hulle 7de Super title! Maar, menere Loe en kie kan gerus maar 'n slag die swart oogklappe afhaal... Double standards, double adaptors en double agents... Dit maak my die ^&^%$# in.... Dubbel die ^&^%$# in!, sê ek julle!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The more things change....
New year...
New season...
New rules...
In the build up to the start of the 2008 Super 14 season, it was the acronym ELV's (that's Experimental Law Variations, just in case you holiday'ed on Mars the last couple of weeks...) which got a regular mention in the newspapers, and (for a change) not one of the Stormers squad members promising their supporters they "will definitely do better this year", or that "their tight 5 will outmuscle the Bulls in the opening game" (mmm... say what?)
So, it was with great interest and excitement I packed down in front of the tv last Friday night, when the Crusaders kicked off against the Brumbies. "I wonder what effect these rule changes will have on the game?, or "Do you think it will change the game completely?" were just some of the questions running through the mind as the game got under way...
But, after the completion of round 1, I'm not really convinced these "new rules" will in fact change anything. For me, things already have an all too familiar look...
- All the opening games were plagued with handling errors, and failed miserably as a spectacle. Just as disappointing as last year's opening round.
- The Crusaders are already sitting on top of the log. They scored 4 tries in pretty tough playing conditions in Christchurch (ok, the Brumbies are rubbish, but still...) , and it didn't look like they even had a Christmas break..
- The Blues got off to a flyer in Auckland (just like last year...), and David Nucifora are saying they "want to win the competition". No way, Dave!! And there I was under the impression the other teams only play for enjoyment! (Well, if you look at the Stormers......)
- The Chiefs (yet again!) lost their opening game. Will a poor start (yet again!) to the campaign prove costly at the business end (yet again!)
- On paper, the Hurricanes really promise so much. Pity they were just awful on the field against the Waratahs...
- Matt Henjak got sent home from South Africa.. Ok, this time he was actually involved in a punch up outside of the Republic, but still... Some guys never learn!
- Kobus Wiese still sports the same hairstyle..
- The Stormers simply can't buy a victory against the Bulls.. That's their 4th straight defeat to the Bulls in the Super 12/14
- South African teams are the kings of aimless kicking, and have absolutely no "respect" for the ball.. Sure, the collisions at Newlands were massive, and the atmosphere electric, but was all that "tactical" kicking by both teams really nescessary? And then we say England are boring...
- New rules/old rules.. Doesn't really matter. The Bulls showed those 5 - 10 minutes before and after halftime are still crucial in a rugby match when Habana went over in the corner, to start the Bulls comeback.
So then... The more things change, hey... The more they stay the same, I reckon!
ps - Ek suppose ek moet seker se "Geluk Bulle..." eish!
New season...
New rules...
In the build up to the start of the 2008 Super 14 season, it was the acronym ELV's (that's Experimental Law Variations, just in case you holiday'ed on Mars the last couple of weeks...) which got a regular mention in the newspapers, and (for a change) not one of the Stormers squad members promising their supporters they "will definitely do better this year", or that "their tight 5 will outmuscle the Bulls in the opening game" (mmm... say what?)
So, it was with great interest and excitement I packed down in front of the tv last Friday night, when the Crusaders kicked off against the Brumbies. "I wonder what effect these rule changes will have on the game?, or "Do you think it will change the game completely?" were just some of the questions running through the mind as the game got under way...
But, after the completion of round 1, I'm not really convinced these "new rules" will in fact change anything. For me, things already have an all too familiar look...
- All the opening games were plagued with handling errors, and failed miserably as a spectacle. Just as disappointing as last year's opening round.
- The Crusaders are already sitting on top of the log. They scored 4 tries in pretty tough playing conditions in Christchurch (ok, the Brumbies are rubbish, but still...) , and it didn't look like they even had a Christmas break..
- The Blues got off to a flyer in Auckland (just like last year...), and David Nucifora are saying they "want to win the competition". No way, Dave!! And there I was under the impression the other teams only play for enjoyment! (Well, if you look at the Stormers......)
- The Chiefs (yet again!) lost their opening game. Will a poor start (yet again!) to the campaign prove costly at the business end (yet again!)
- On paper, the Hurricanes really promise so much. Pity they were just awful on the field against the Waratahs...
- Matt Henjak got sent home from South Africa.. Ok, this time he was actually involved in a punch up outside of the Republic, but still... Some guys never learn!
- Kobus Wiese still sports the same hairstyle..
- The Stormers simply can't buy a victory against the Bulls.. That's their 4th straight defeat to the Bulls in the Super 12/14
- South African teams are the kings of aimless kicking, and have absolutely no "respect" for the ball.. Sure, the collisions at Newlands were massive, and the atmosphere electric, but was all that "tactical" kicking by both teams really nescessary? And then we say England are boring...
- New rules/old rules.. Doesn't really matter. The Bulls showed those 5 - 10 minutes before and after halftime are still crucial in a rugby match when Habana went over in the corner, to start the Bulls comeback.
So then... The more things change, hey... The more they stay the same, I reckon!
ps - Ek suppose ek moet seker se "Geluk Bulle..." eish!
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