Lions deny boozing claims
30 Apr 2010
Kevin de Klerk has refuted allegations that there was a party culture on the Lions’ Australasian tour and that management changed hotels to get closer to a nudist beach.
A disgruntled Lions supporter sent a letter to the union complaining about the side’s performances on their five-match overseas tour and made a number of allegations. The writer claimed it was common knowledge many of the senior players and coaching staff were more focused on the nightlife Down Under, and that before the Waratahs match coach Dick Muir changed team hotels to be closer to a nudist beach.
‘Those stories aren’t true,’ De Klerk, the Lions’ president told keo.co.za. ‘We’ve had feedback from the coaching staff and players and nothing of the sort went on. We have many exuberant young guys, but nothing got out of hand.’
De Klerk said no formal investigation was launched but Muir was asked for his reasoning on the change of hotels before the Waratahs’ match, where the Lions lost 73-12.
‘We’ve quizzed them on that story at our formal committee meeting, which happen once a week or once every two weeks. As Dick put it, it was a no-brainer to change hotels due to the facilities the one offered. The accommodation, food and location was better at the venue the team changed to.
‘We’ve spoken to Dick regarding queries about team performances and activities, and he gave an extremely professional presentation with his response.
‘Dick has far too much to lose as one of the national coaches to do something like that. We also have good kids with high moral fibre, as well as senior players such as Baywatch Grobbelaar, whose integrity can’t be questioned.’
After the Lions’ third loss on tour against the Tahs, De Klerk announced he would fly out to provide ‘moral support’ to the team, but denied this was due to any stories emanating around ill-discipline in the touring group. De Klerk didn’t end up going, and psychologist Henning Gericke went in his place.
‘I was going to go primarily to help the team. One of my main objectives is to get even closer to the players, and I’m proud I have a good rapport with the youngsters, who put their bodies on the line for us. It was just about getting closer to my boys, but eventually financial constraints meant it would have been excessive as eight to 10 days would have cost around R80 000.
‘It was always in the budget for Henning to go, and I talked to Dick at the time and I was satisfied.’
De Klerk said he could understand the supporters’ frustrations, but despite 10 consecutive defeats, he remains optimistic about the future of the side.
‘It’s very sad that someone would make that up, but they’re justified as the team isn’t winning. I’m pleading with the supporters to remain positive. We’re not trying to pull a Loffie Eloff and say watch us in the Currie Cup, but we’re optimistic.
‘We’re looking to strengthen our side with local and overseas-based players, and announcements will be made in the near future. The reputation of Dick and his coaching staff will lure guys here.
‘It’s difficult as guys are asking for crazy amounts and we have financial constraints, which are made even more difficult when we’re not putting bums on seats due to results. But we’re fighting the good fight.’
By Grant Ball
335 Comments
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30 Apr 2010, 16:53 pm
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-294:
No need!
They sent a very earnest Irish youngster to go talk to the manne in Manenberg, who knew they were gonna be on TV, so they polished their witpype for the occasion.
30 Apr 2010, 16:53 pm
@gunther(gunther)-299: a hole saler? please define that position?
30 Apr 2010, 16:53 pm
Cape Town is still hands down the number 1 city in SA though.
30 Apr 2010, 16:54 pm
Jim Booby
Woodstock is a phuckshow..
To be avoided..
30 Apr 2010, 16:54 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-302: m o f f i e matroos.
30 Apr 2010, 16:54 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-302: Sounds like a pimp to me.
30 Apr 2010, 16:54 pm
can someone tell me if u can get ur ticket printed at the staduim booked via computicket on the net?
30 Apr 2010, 16:54 pm
@Jim Bobby the Lumberjack(Jim Bobby the Lumberjack)-303: spot on!
30 Apr 2010, 16:56 pm
@gunther(gunther)-304: that is absolute nonsense. it’s a great place and one of south africa’s most up and coming ‘burbs….
30 Apr 2010, 16:56 pm
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-305: that’s what it sounded like….
30 Apr 2010, 16:58 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-309:
Don’t pay any attention to him.
He’s dof.
30 Apr 2010, 16:59 pm
Wow, a bit late I know but its not something we get to do often.
Well done SA soccer, a rare win on Wednesday night.
Jamaica might be minnows but we’ll take the wins seeing that we are minnows these days too.
Slipped to 90th in the world rankings yesterday…
30 Apr 2010, 16:59 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-310:
Gunther is having a meeting with his “holesalers” tonight in Sea Point.
30 Apr 2010, 17:00 pm
@Jim Bobby the Lumberjack(Jim Bobby the Lumberjack)-312: 90th?
Holy cow.
30 Apr 2010, 17:04 pm
It’s been fun, but it’s time to go now. See ya’ll later. Goooo Stormers!
30 Apr 2010, 17:06 pm
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-314: SA were ranked 16th in 1996.
Quite a fall down the list…
30 Apr 2010, 17:06 pm
Two hours to go
30 Apr 2010, 17:08 pm
Bafana Bafana FIFA world rankings
April 2010 90
March 2010 88
February 2010 81
January 2010 81
2009 85
2008 76
2007 77
2006 67
2005 49
2004 38
2003 36
2002 30
2001 35
2000 20
1999 30
1998 26
1997 31
1996 19
1995 40
1994 56
1993 95
Highest ranking – 16th – August 1996
30 Apr 2010, 17:08 pm
I’ve got a stress headache already.
30 Apr 2010, 17:10 pm
@Jim Bobby the Lumberjack(Jim Bobby the Lumberjack)-318: That’s bad.
30 Apr 2010, 17:26 pm
LOL – ‘management changed plans to get closer to a nudist beach’.
30 Apr 2010, 17:35 pm
Funny that Todd Clever said before the match that the guys “let their hair down” the week before the game and were in good spirits.
Wonder if that spirits were Whiskey, Vodka or Branna’s?
30 Apr 2010, 17:59 pm
@Grrrr….I’m still a Lion!(grrrr)-322: You’re a sucker for punishment. Become a Shark – this tactic has worked for many Lions.
30 Apr 2010, 17:59 pm
One hour to go
30 Apr 2010, 18:03 pm
No man. The Lions fans must stay Lions fans (there is nothing worse than a ‘fan’ that shifts allegiance). They need to sort out their problems, not run away from them. In the early to mid ’90s the Lions/Transvaal were the strongest SA union.
They made 2 consecutive semi finals in 2000/2001.
It can be done.
A massive overhaul of their ‘business’ model is required to stop the rot.
30 Apr 2010, 18:09 pm
darren scott is the leader of the former lions fans-turned sharks supporter! He can’t help himself, every thursday we have to listen to him punt the sharks endlessly! How boring loved it when john robbie told him that real fans stick with their team even in tough times.
Fairweather supporter ou darren
30 Apr 2010, 18:14 pm
John Robbie.
Now there’s guy I’d like to see in charge of the Lions.
No cloak and daggers stuff. Just honest rugby business.
30 Apr 2010, 18:29 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-323: I was very close to throwing in the towel. Have been for years but just can’t… Yet.
I met Darren in Durban and asked him about his change. He said “How can you still support the Lions?”
But the Lions are so k@k I don’t blame guys for jumping ship…
30 Apr 2010, 18:36 pm
Good on you Grrr. I don’t think I’d ever be able to change teams. Not in a million years.
Only glory hunter fair weather supporters do that.
It suits Darren Scott’s TV image… he couldn’t exactly be on TV moaning about his team’s results every week, can he?
30 Apr 2010, 18:50 pm
@Grrrr….I’m still a Lion!(grrrr)-328: Bud. You can never change your allegiances. That’s shallow and opportunistic.
I am still a Lions fan. Despite how useless they are on the field, despite their total lack of character let alone ability. And the incompetence in the back office.
I am a Lions fan. A heavy cross to bear.
Especially if like me you also support Leeds United.
30 Apr 2010, 22:14 pm
*****, this De Klerk palooka comes across as such a stupid **** in this piece. In trying to explain it all away he just makes them sound worse. Fire the whole bloody lot – Muir, de Klerk, that school coach moron, Baywatch etc. The whole bloody lot. Surely a brand new coach and brand new team could hardly do worse.
1 May 2010, 04:45 am
OMG for DeKlerk to mention Eloff’s name is a DISGRACE!!!! Loffie did more with this team than anyone else.
BRING ON THE SOUTHERN SPEARS!!!!
1 May 2010, 05:30 am
@pearl rose(pearl rose)-326: someone should get a transcript of the “real supporters stick with their team no matter what” talk by John Robbie and give a copy to Kobus Kitty…
1 May 2010, 10:01 am
I’m not really a Lions supporter but it’s intrigueing to speculate as to how they might turn their fortunes around. Also, we may otherwise simply see a repeat of the Lions case at S Spears.
As usual, I think Pissant (& SodaJoe) is/are closest to the solution in evaluation the management; de Klerk (heart in right place but needs expertise, Reyneke (old tainted stock – out, maybe a White, Strooli, Erasmus in?); Muir (Ok, but needs decent support coaches (defence!!)).
Plyers – pretty decent but get rid of dodgy prima donnas (for soem reason Earl comes to mind). One player can be a catalyst fior a team but cannot make it (Carlos). So, get some good management / coaching staff in place then get a squad of good (not brilliant or huge potential) players in place, coach them really well and look after them. I think the “looking after” is neglected; a mixture of care and dicipline is needed (a la Alex Ferguson). Lions have lost large numbers of really good journeymen players like Vermeulen, Deysel etc as well as big names. They need to build and retain a core using good staff and players throughout.
1 May 2010, 10:19 am
You can’t expect anything less than stories like these when a former powerhouse of SA rugby has been brought to it’s knees. Through a cocktail of poor player management – both those lost and those signed, financial mismanagement, inexperienced coaching appointments and disastrous off-fiel leadership, there will be no light on the horizon for some time yet. When a team is winning and they enjoy a couple of beers on tour nobody days a word, it is granted to them. However, when a team has a dismal record like the Lions perception is everything and those few beers (the illusion of enjoyment while fans suffer) is a recipe for disaster. The Lions rescue act is simple:
1. Get the Union run by professionally qualified rugby people, where decisions are made along business principles. Accountability is the core of financial success.
2. Deal with the discord within the Unions feeder systems, there is a huge pool of talent available and this needs to be nurtured. Rugby in the “Old Transvaal” is some way off unity and this needs to be addressed immediately and in a professional capacity.
3. Rid the Union of the perennial “Old Boys Clubs”, it is not a requisite that boardmembers etc. are ex-players or have a long history with the Union. This is in fact counter-productive, as decisions are skewed by loyalties and often outdated ideals.
4. Offload the deadwood, there is a definite need of a purge at the Lions – there are simply too many bum deals floating around Ellis Park. Players like Sephaka, Labuschagne, Clever, Spencer, Jonck, Mentz and others are journeyman at best and there is no room for them to scoop lucrative retirement packages at the expense of the Union.
5. Get to the fans, Ellis Park may be a fine stadium after SWC 2010 and the Lions must capatilise – get fans into the stadium and provide a healthy environment for a day at the rugby. There is a potentially massive fan base in the Soweto area and some fine stadiums that can be utilised – think out the box.
6. Where is the Lions initiatives in setting up a rugby institute – they have the University of JHB as a great base from which to launch a serious player development initiative. Signing journeyman and rejected talent from elsewhere will only further erode the trust of young players – simply put they will move elsewhere.
7. Get the right coaching staff in place – coach development takes place in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions. The Super 14 is the preserve of the Elite. **** Muir is a step in the right direction, why not utilise specialist skills like Balie Swart, Ray Mordt and even Jake White. They can all help get the Lions going in the right direction. Stormers have shown what the correct coaching setup can do for a Union, the Cheetahs like the Lions highlight how not to do it. Get professionals in all departments, pay performance bonuses and most of all cut the excuses.
8. Develop leaders within the Union, ensure that young players have strong leadership from senior players when emerging. Few players command respect automatically and the Lions need to identify players in each area that can become those great leaders. This team has had little to no collective responsibilty in some time now.
9. As with alcholism the Lions need to come out of denial and admit the are serial losers, only in looking themselves in the eye can they begin to see where they need to go to improve.
10. Use the upcoming Currie Cup to identify the players that will take the Union forward, shed the deadweight and refine the structures (or invent them more likely) that will give the Lions a chance next year.
There is much to be done at the Union and they have surely fallen as low as they can go. There is one road left and the Lions need to take stock, see who is prepared for the struggle and make the hard decisions now. They have been rebuilding, developing and all manner of other **** for years. There is only one thing needed – performance.
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