SARSU-backed derby comes to Ellis Park
15 Aug 2007
Grass roots rugby comes to Ellis Park this weekend with a match up between Soweto Rugby Club and Bethlehem Zebras being staged as one of the curtain raisers to the Currie Cup match between the Golden Lions and Western Province.
The match is the return leg of the South African Rugby Supporters Union (SARSU) Derby day which took place in Bethlehem on 28 July, and which saw Soweto gain a narrow, exciting victory.
The SARSU Derby Day project in Bethlehem also involved a series of coaching clinics and a round table discussion in the build up to the match. Bethlehem Zebras is a local team drawn mainly from players in the local townships and the match took place in the stadium in Bohlokong.
The SARSU Derby Day is the first project of the newly formed supporters union, and is aimed at fostering the game at all levels, providing support in whichever way possible for lovers of the game.
“This project is perfect for SARSU because it represents exactly the areas where we need to see growth in the game – the townships and the rural areas,” says David de Jong, chairman of SARSU, “Here we have two township teams, one from Witwatersrand, and the other from the platteland coming together. While the test, Super 14 and Currie Cup teams steal the headlines, this is the very coalface and future of the game.”
Dali Ndebele, Chairman of the Soweto Rugby Club was just as enthusiastic. “Frankly, we were surprised at the quality of the Zebras, and their two early tries in the first game certainly came as a wake up call! Whilst we managed to snatch a win in the closing minutes, it underlined the wealth of talent available in the smaller towns in South Africa. Rugby is, first and foremost, about community and building sporting relationships with other communities. After having accepted the wonderful hospitality of the people in the Eastern Free State we managed to pull a few strings and have the return match staged at Ellis Park. This should be a wonderful experience for the Zebras guys who’ll be able to return home knowing that they’ve played at one of the worlds most famous rugby grounds.”
Brendon Shields, organizer of the Derby project, and originally from Bethlehem, notes that the region has produced many Springboks, including current World Cup squad members Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Steyn.
“The growth and enthusiasm of the Zebras club shows that future Springboks from the region need not only come from the traditional white Afrikaner sources,” says Shields.
Rugby fans attending the Currie Cup match are therefore encouraged to come a few hours earlier and enjoy some exciting club rugby
15 Comments
17 Aug 2007, 08:51 am
Ha, dit is goeie nuus. Dit is hoogtyd dat die mense begin sien watse goeie werk SARSU in die rugby gemeenskap doen. Dankie Ig vir jou support.
17 Aug 2007, 09:06 am
The Zebras have one seriously talented fullback, who even the Soweto players suggested should get the MOM award after the first game 2 weeks ago.
17 Aug 2007, 09:26 am
The way to go!
Thanks to SARSU and to KEO, especially Ig.
17 Aug 2007, 09:47 am
SARSU is going places……. evrybody who reads this should consider joining this supporters initiative…….. this is our avenue and responsibility to bring something meaningful to SA rugby.
Go to the site……. just click my nick.
17 Aug 2007, 09:50 am
Oh…. and well done to Captain Morgan (Brand House) for their support of Club Rugby !!!
17 Aug 2007, 10:29 am
Captain Morgan was our sponsor at my old club in CPT in the 90′s…
Man those were good days (the ones I can remember).
25 Aug 2007, 17:35 pm
Just read CAPTAIN MORGAN CLUB RYGBY more importantly the SARSU thread.
My question….?
The effort in trying to develop grassroots rugby is admirable and ’seems’ genuine genuine or is it hype by a band of whities who have a different agenda in wedging their way into South African rugby politics so as to have say in all things rugby.
The timing in setting up this organisation is very coincidental to the dramas in SA rugby over the last year.
Is this ‘developing grassroots’ rugby a white elephant of SARSU?
You may keep this answer to yourself!!
26 Aug 2007, 11:30 am
Wallabie,
I will entertain you with your question, not because I actually truly believe you deserve one because your question or statement seem to suggest something totally different and is probably looking for a response in anger from someone for your personal entertainment – but then, you may just be ignorant seeing you are Wallabie…
SARSU is an initiative that has been talked about and formulated for almost 2 years now between certain individuals – you have obviously not been to the site to read up on these individuals’ motivation and vision for SARSU but to explain it in simple terms for you, some guys saw the intellectual capital in South Africa when it comes to the normal everyday supporter – it is something that is more a direct result of our passion in this country for the sport than going out an studying aspects of the game but if you have been doing this for 30 or more years, you sort of get good at it.
I suppose things are a bit different in Aus, but if you ever come to SA go and have a braai at any supporters house after a game and just listen how supporters in this country dissects a game and discusses the in’s and out’s of it in a social environment. It is also more of a cultural thing here where because we grew up with this game it is cemented into our culture as… I don’t know what is part of your culture in Aus but I guess you get the picture.
Now given this passion and fairly good knowledge of the game from normal supporters in the country, and combining it with the professional lives of certain individuals whether that be doctors, psychologists, junior coaches, managers, CFO’s, lawyers etc you can imagine how SARSU saw the gap of combining the professional skills of individuals in running an organisation, with our love and passion for the game of rugby.
Unlike many places in the world, South Africans do actually want to contribute their little bit in growing and developing something in this country of ours. Think what you may, South Africans are actually very proud people – and if an opportunity comes along for you to do your little bit, no matter how small or big, you go out and give it your best shot just so you know you did your bit in building something great and is now a part of history our kids and their kids will one day hopefully learn about and look back at us with some sense of pride.
So in rugby it is the same – but other than supporting your kid (if you have one) every Saturday from the side of the field, or helping out coaching under 9 kids on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, there is actually very little a professional can do to contribute to the game of rugby in SA given the time available to you – that is of course other than supporting rugby commercially (buying jersey’s, caps and tickets etc) which is done in anycase.
The way our rugby structure works in SA is that if you want to work your way up in rugby circles where your opinion might mean something at the end of the day, is that you must join a rugby club, from there you might make it onto the management of the club, from there you will become more involved in the union your club belongs to and if you are lucky, you might even be voted onto the board of the union, from there you will then have access to SARU and if you are really lucky, you might actually end up in SARU.
The alternative (before SARSU) was that you spend hours on blogs like Keo (no offense mate) and mouth off after every game or after every article related to rugby – problem is, an opinion is like an ***, everyone has one and it means very little.
So what SARSU then realized is there is a gap for the professional person (from all over the world) that supports SA Rugby to become involved in rugby and support causes and initiatives SARSU stands for and even initiate themselves, like the Zebras initiative above.
Suddenly, rugby lovers from all over the world can contribute something whether it be money (used to pay for traveling, food, accommodation and things like man-of-the-match and most promising player awards) or gear or just their time and skills in workshops (as was done in the case of the Zebra’s through certain professionals and their professional skills). You see, to give a guy that lives in a tin house even just R300 in recognition of his rugby talent after a game, might just inspire this guy to keep on fighting and keep on working at his game and become the next South African rugby hero to millions – is worth it.
To have a mind coach or psychologist speak to these youngsters who basically have nothing and motivate them to achieve great things in life, not just rugby but perhaps through rugby – is worth it.
To honour and recognize the efforts of one of SARSU’s members for his efforts in putting together a rugby team for kids who have very little in a little town called Bethlehem and see that team run out at South Africa’s most celebrated and famous 1995 World Cup winning stadium Ellis Park – is worth it.
It might not be worth much to you – but then I don’t actually expect you to understand. Because judging on your comment you have no idea what these guys are trying to do – something you would have grasped if you just logged on to the website and spend 15 minutes on it but obviously did not do before you mouthed off and attempted to plant a seed which in turn actually insults the efforts of these people.
But then, as I said, you might just be ignorant.
26 Aug 2007, 11:52 am
Great work Gentleman!
This is the types of initiative South Africa needs. Keep your heads high and push forward. With regard to #7 (wallaby) this is the type comments you will here…
Welcome to SA; welcome to taking “Rugby Initiative†in South Africa!
Don’t let these type of comments and thumb suck theories derail your plans and suck out your energy!
People like Wallaby is the parasites of the cyber realm… they thrive in places where they can make comments where they otherwise would receive a “SKâ€!
Wallaby: Australian rugby is on a downward spiral… your development suck, your ex “soccer-become-rugby-boss†is running out of excuses; No Springboks to blame and the popularity of the Eddie Jones threads is down!
What will be the next excuse?
Just stay out if you want to derail what is a good initiative… or come show your face here in SA and receive your “SKâ€!
26 Aug 2007, 11:57 am
#8…PissAnt
Well said… you earned some respect!
26 Aug 2007, 12:34 pm
PissAnt/4teen
Ek hoop net die klein d##s lees dit wat PA gese het.
Ek het my ‘stil’ gestrip vir sy storie, en dis min dat dit gebeur!
26 Aug 2007, 15:14 pm
Well said PA
27 Aug 2007, 17:32 pm
Pissant
I appreciate your comment and the time you have taken to respond.
I am an outsider to this I agree and to have you respond in the manner you did is applaudable.
I spent some time in Zimbabwe for work reasons and in the short time I was there I did work with clubs and invested a considerable amount of time in rugby matters there which.
I do see what you are trying to achieve and like I said in my post…it is admirable.
You mention…or at least insinuate….reputation regarding peoples opinions on this site…I do have my own opinions of SOME of these as well.
While they profess to the advancement of rugby in SA their comments are more of a deterance than progress.
Is it their personal opinion and if so is the intention of being part of SARSU an hiddeen agenda.
It was a question out there which honestly I could not expect to be written on this blog but for those to answer to themselves…anyone can type any answer.
The other angle I was heading to was while the intentions of SARSU are genuine the make up of the management structure…is that going to be a a stumbling block in future due to the racial represenation in this structure?
A genuine question.
One can afford to be suspicious becauswe if I am whats not stopping many others…. and I dont live in SA.
It is about the bigger picture.
Yes I have ranted on this website about our (wallabie) prospects and I have done nothing different to 99% of the bloggers on this site.
let me tell the truth when I made my first contribution I was insulted and called derogatory names…I am not needing an apology but I will respond and defend myself.
Again I thank you for taking the time to respond and this time must be applauded.
There are genuine contributors to this SARSU.
While I was in Africa I have contributed to your rugby(very small directly) and zimbabwe.
27 Aug 2007, 20:09 pm
Wallabie,
No sweat mate.
There is a huge difference between being ignorant (not knowing or understanding) and arrogant (being a prick).
There are also a hell of a lot of perceptions out there not only in rugby but in life, whether that be nationalism, patriotism or even culture issues.
I would invite you to have a look at the site, the name obviously gives you a clue to the link and a google search will set you on the right track I am sure.
The thing about blogs in general is that you have a hell of a lot of people who has some serious self-confidence issues and since something like this offers you secracy in the sense of your identity, it will be inevitable that some guys will use a medium like this for self-gratifcation.
You have been on here for a while, and if you spend but two weeks on any blog you more or less get to know who are the bullsh@#$ters and who are for real and actually contributes globally to the game of rugby through opinions and debate.
I would suggests you just apply this and ignore the idiots.
Hopefully we can look forward to chatting like this again in the future.
27 Aug 2007, 20:10 pm
I wanted to add – me reading some of your contributions on this site immediately made me think you were just commentating on this issue to get a rise out of blokes – I was wrong – hence perceptions.
So apologies for that for what it is worth.
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