EP Kings have Solly to thank
25 Oct 2010
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says Alan Solomons has maximised his resources in Port Elizabeth.
It is no exaggeration to emphasise the importance of the Eastern Province Kings beating the Pumas and playing in next year’s Currie Cup Premier Division. It is also no exaggeration to emphasise the contribution of Kings director of rugby and head coach Alan Solomons in making this all possible.
Solomons, in a season, has done what the politicians and the rugby administrators have been speaking about for the past five years, which is to turn Eastern Province into a rugby region once again.
There were no pre-season promises from Solomons that in 2011 Eastern Province would again be among the top eight premier domestic sides in South Africa. There was no handout from South African rugby in the form of a restructured Currie Cup competition that accommodated the Eastern Cape by way of Eastern Province. There was no treasure chest, filled with cash to buy the best players and buy a winning culture.
All Solomons enjoyed, by way of luxury, was his passion, that of provincial president Cheeky Watson and the warrior spirit of De Wet Barry to lead a bunch of wannabes and could have beens.
Solomons, like he did when he was at UCT, Western Province and Ulster, relied on passion and a work ethic that has never failed and never ceased to amaze those around him.
Many class players have promised Solomons they will sign with the Kings when the side’s Super Rugby participation is guaranteed, which is supposedly 2013, but understandably none were prepared to sign for a team in the First Division and more familiar with a wooden spoon than the silver spoon.
Eastern Province rugby has been a mess for some time. Administratively it has been a jungle that has attracted every sort. Watson has restored integrity to the boardroom in the province but all that restores respect to a team is consistently positive results.
Not only did Solomons have to battle cynicism and the stench of mediocrity, but he had to build a winning culture with players who will be lucky to make it to Super Rugby because their talent doesn’t match their enthusiasm.
The result has been as remarkable as the 36-all away draw to the Pumas in the first of two promotion-relegation matches; the very same Pumas who went to Coca Cola Park (Ellis Park to the traditionalists) a fortnight ago and whipped John Mitchell’s hyped Lions.
Mitchell has rightly been praised for finding the occasional roar in the Lions this year, but seven wins from 14 is a telling statistic that demands acknowledgement and therefore perspective.
Solomons’ effort also demands perspective and the kind of acknowledgement that has always been denied him in South African rugby.
Solomons is not popular among South African rugby administrators because he is intelligent, hard working and has never suffered a fool. When involved with Western Province and the Springboks (as Nick Mallett’s assistant in 1997 and 1998) he encountered many fools and never excused their incompetence. He was vocal in his criticism and refused to play the political game of politeness.
In Watson he has found an ally and comfort that having an opinion is a good thing and exercising one’s right to think is even better. He has a provincial president who enjoys an intelligent coach and promotes the value of debate.
Solomons challenges any stereotype and his urgency and intensity scares more people than it seduces, but he has an ability to maximise any resource and the one thing he has always had is loyalty from players.
Barry, a WP and Solomons favourite 10 years ago, is an example of this loyalty, but those players who are close to Solomons will also tell you that they know they have Solomons’ loyalty, which is why he so often gets a return on his player investments.
Solomons is a sporting cliche because so much of what he does is based on the principle that a close team is a successful one – and there’s nothing wrong with sporting cliche that make us smile.
Eastern Province rugby is a point away from reaching the point from which there should never be a return to the sort of mediocrity Solomons inherited.
Never has a play-off promotion match mattered so much to South African rugby because an EP victory will be so much more than a win on the rugby field.
And for that Alan Solomons, Cheeky Watson and De Wet Barry can never be thanked enough.
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245 Comments
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25 Oct 2010, 21:45 pm
197. PETER MKATA(PETER MKATA): Is Cheeky “transformed” .i.e. Does he have the “correct mindset”…? Is he a transformative force/agent/example?
25 Oct 2010, 21:51 pm
200. HEAVENS GAME(HEAVENS GAME): Maybe indicate a big question mark with the hand, then scratch your head looking confused followed by giving this intense look of suspicion… That would do it for me…
25 Oct 2010, 21:52 pm
202. HEAVENS GAME(HEAVENS GAME): or just try and act as if you are Josef Stalin… He defines transformation quite well I think…
25 Oct 2010, 21:57 pm
199. CHARO – THE WP GIANT(CHARO): no, i am saying the candidate attorney didn’t have oregan hoskins begging makhenkesi stofile to fasttrack his application like tendai mtawarira did! He followed south african law to the letter which is what is expected of everyone else whether they!re trying to emigrate to new zealand or australia!
Britain, last year or sometime passed a law that all saffas need visas to enter the united kingdom because of the bungles @ home affairs. Now some saffas might not like that but it is british law and we have to abide by it! Period.
Saru f*cked up in the Beast issue and that’s it, i could care less if he is the ‘beast’!
25 Oct 2010, 22:00 pm
Transformation
Do yourself a favour, I gave HG a “model” of what transformation means, instead of using it, he chose to argue from a theoretical point of view.
I could have used Moroka Swallows of the late 80′s, that team had the likes of Noel Cousins, Les Grobler, Owen da Gamma, Andy Sensic, Nelson Castro, Graham Louw in its starting line up, yet the entire fan base was black and not a single person questioned the merit of the team( the black fans were fully transformed, they understood what merit was). That was a fully transformed side, funny that was a team from Dube in Soweto made up of white guys with just three black guys being able to make it into the starting line up, this occurred at the height of Apartheid.
25 Oct 2010, 22:04 pm
200 Heavens g
I am listening to a beautiful song, Weeping, originally composed by Vusi Mahlasela. It is perfomed in collaboration with Josh Groban. You must listen to it when you have the time. Have a funny feeling that Vusi had you in mind when he wrote it. Beautiful song though.
25 Oct 2010, 22:05 pm
205. XHOSAKID(XHOSAKID): did you forget calvin petersien on purpose
i hear you chap, HG is a funny dude
25 Oct 2010, 22:13 pm
207. Transformation
I forgot Calvin “Mkhonto” Petersien!!! or Roger De sa on the bench. Those were the great days for the team affectionately called “Inyoni zase Dube”.
So I chose not to give him this example and gave him a modern example in a sport he should know but instead of applying his mind, he chooses to protract a drawn out argument on definitions rather than use a practical example for understanding.
25 Oct 2010, 22:14 pm
205. XHOSAKID(XHOSAKID): well as peter mkata said, everyone has freedom to gaan aan, it doesn’t meam we have to take them seriously.
25 Oct 2010, 22:24 pm
if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.
Francis Bacon,1561-1626
night chaps, go sharks!
p.s. transie, who you calling punk, punk?
25 Oct 2010, 22:24 pm
Trans, isn’t it funny that we are trying to get your average white rugby fan’s mind to be well developed to be at the same level your average soccer fan was back in the 80′s.
Watching “king of the Hill”, Hank reminds me of Tacitus
!!!
25 Oct 2010, 22:25 pm
Eita!!, Ranger
25 Oct 2010, 22:28 pm
200 Heavens Game
This article will serve as adefition of TRANSFORMATION. Read it.
EP calls for huge crowd to back bid for big time
2010/10/25
Chumani Bambani bambanic@avusa.co.za
THE EP Kings are aiming for a full house of red and black supporters when they face the Pumas in a do-or-die clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday.
Victory for the Kings – who drew the first-leg encounter 36-36 in Witbank at the weekend – will see them promoted to the Currie Cup Premier Division and the return of big-time rugby to Port Elizabeth.
Calls for support came from the EP Rugby Union yesterday.
“The home factor will be very important,” said coach Alan Solomons.
“We have had great support from the people of the region – people from Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Despatch and other surrounding areas.
“We are hoping – and are quite confident in fact – that the stadium will be jampacked as people will be there to give the boys the extra boost,” Solomons said.
EP president Cheeky Watson said busloads of supporters had travelled to Witbank to cheer on the side on Friday and the side was “most grateful” for the away support.
For the return game at home, he urged fans to arrive and create the “biggest crowd” the Kings had experienced.
Watson said there was nothing stopping the stadium seating more fans than there were during the British and Irish Lions ruby tour. That figure was 35800.
Tickets are available from today at a number of outlets at R30 for adults and R10 for children, with free entry for children under the age of six.
Outlets are Computicket, Money Market counters at Checkers and Shoprite stores, the EPRU Stadium offices, Brian Bands Sports, Action Sports, The Footballer & Sports, and Brockett’s Sports, Uitenhage.
25 Oct 2010, 22:29 pm
211. XHOSAKID(XHOSAKID): Tacitus is being chased by snoop dogg the pimp
25 Oct 2010, 22:29 pm
= definition
25 Oct 2010, 22:36 pm
213. Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata):
good to see the epru following the mighty sharks template when building support for their team.
cheers guys… it was a very stimulating discussion tonight.
keep well
25 Oct 2010, 22:41 pm
where are ET & Sodajoe? Leeds United 0 Cardiff City 4 @ Allen rd. Damn!!!!!
25 Oct 2010, 22:47 pm
elland rd…
25 Oct 2010, 23:03 pm
hi all…
just a quick note before i hit the sack… long day…
hey peter…
weeping is an awesome song… one of SA’s best ever…
but it wasn’t written by Vusi, it was written by Dan Heymann of the rock band Bright Blue…
From his website http://www.weeping.info...
“I’m Dan Heymann, and I wrote the words and music of “Weeping” during the mid-1980′s
when I was an unwilling soldier, drafted into the army of South Africa’s white-supremacist regime.
I now live in New York City.”
Here are the lyrics…
WEEPING
Written by Dan Heymann
(Copyright Bright Blue)
I knew a man who lived in fear
It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near
Behind his house, a secret place
Was the shadow of the demon he could never face
He built a wall of steel and flame
And men with guns, to keep it tame
Then standing back, he made it plain
That the nightmare would never ever rise again
But the fear and the fire and the guns remain
It doesn’t matter now
It’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round
I heard its lonely sound
It wasn’t roaring, it was weeping
And then one day the neighbors came
They were curious to know about the smoke and flame
They stood around outside the wall
But of course there was nothing to be heard at all
“My friends,” he said, “We’ve reached our goal
The threat is under firm control
As long as peace and order reign
I’ll be damned if I can see a reason to explain
Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain”
25 Oct 2010, 23:06 pm
seems some people were transformed…
even way back then…
cheers all…
over and out…!!
25 Oct 2010, 23:17 pm
anyone wanting to know what is transformation here it is staring you in the eye
2 years ago this site was pretty much almost run and manipulated largely by the broederbond and now you have open debate amongst those who were even then 14 years after demise of apartheid still marginalized on rugby blogs such as these
Now they are here enjoining and enjoying in open participation and discussion in absolute equal measure
so that to some extent is transformation, deny it if you must, but its a reality.
Pity the broederbond chose rather to run duck and hide than to stay and be a part of it, the loss and detriment is only theirs, and none other.
25 Oct 2010, 23:20 pm
Transformation is simply the changing of one thing into another. In this case, the changing of a white dominated sport (with a long history of racism) into a sport that is truly non-racial.
It has absolutely nothing to do with mediocrity. In fact, the complete opposite when truly non-racial. A non-racial side makes it possible (not a certainty) for a side to develop/draw from the entire population at it’s disposal and likewise to be supported by the same cross section of the population. If that means 15 white guys or 15 black guys so be it. There was opportunity for all (within reason)to be developed and selected.
However, their is no perfectly transformed “target” or set of rules and unfortunately there never can be. We are dealing with people, history, winning and losing and we all have our own “target” of what we believe a fully transformed team/union should look like and whether we like it or not, those on the receiving end of racism will always view many of the dodgy decisions made by SARU and our unions with a whole lot of suspicion.
Any attempt to insist on a perfectly detailed 100% accurate definition of “transformation” is disengenious and more a reflection on HG and Charo etc’s view on politics in general than on any real desire for a quantifiable target for them to work towards.
Cheeky and his merry men have an idea of what they see as a transformed rugby union. Yes, it’s flawed,they are human. But they are working their butts off trying to make it work with very little support and a whole lot of opposition.
So instead waxing lyrical about the lack of a mystical perfect definition of transformation, what are rugby lovers around the country and on this blog doing to achieve at least a consensus level of change.
I can quite see how dissing EP and Cheeky Watson could be seen as a major contributor to this change. As for me, I’m going to the stadium on Friday night to hopefully see another step in the dream come true.
26 Oct 2010, 03:25 am
There’s nothing vaguely, remotely “non-racial” about ANY set-up which employs race quotas.
Ergo, “transformation” really isn’t changing from a racist system to a non-racial one.
It’s moving from racist Plan A to racist Plan B.
26 Oct 2010, 03:36 am
223. I guess the argument would be that if it didn’t move to Plan B things would never move on from Plan A.
26 Oct 2010, 05:24 am
BH, I think the point is not about Plan A and Plan B as much as the word in front of it…
26 Oct 2010, 05:29 am
Hi UFO
Thanks for the correction. Do you think Heavens Game will have a better understanding of transformation after going through those words?
Powerful words I must say. A transformed man indeed!!!
26 Oct 2010, 05:37 am
222 Infidel
No reasonable will disagree with you. Well stated. Good luck on Friday night, pity cannot be there. Will be flying to South America over the weekend.
Just hope Rangerman and Heavens game see this explanation of transformation.
26 Oct 2010, 06:49 am
227. PETER MKATA(PETER MKATA): they’ll see it, pick it apart & ridicule it
that’s their mo. It has nothing to do with actually understanding the aim it to make gat…
26 Oct 2010, 07:26 am
the problem with those like Tackler and fastfarstingbart is they still stuck in racist plan A and or B they haven’t evolved one little bit, that’s why they both discontented dissociated expatriots who couldn’t cut it in the real world of transformation.
26 Oct 2010, 07:44 am
Tell me skop, do you get a kick out of making degrading comments about other people on a public forum? I got you the first time, you don’t like me, I really get it. Now please move on and keep your foul mouth to yourself in future.
26 Oct 2010, 08:17 am
don’t dislike you at all Koosie just can’t help myself calling it as I see it
But you a good sort deep down, when the ideology gets shelved, worked that much out too
26 Oct 2010, 08:20 am
skopskiet het jy nou weer te veel dagga oor jou pap gestrooi vanoggend??
26 Oct 2010, 08:24 am
Well skop, maybe you should look again and make sure before shouting off at the mouth…because the way you ‘see it’ may be well off the mark.
Your delivery also su cks…
26 Oct 2010, 08:33 am
all these people shouting racist quotas and A and B racists while they sitting in some far of Grandwannaland in pristine havens of cut off expatriation sure speaks volumes for having conquered the devil called transformation don’t it just. Funny thing is they all white Europeans, that in itself shouts it out even louder..
26 Oct 2010, 08:46 am
Jaaaa skop, I am not lus for a fight today. Suffice to say you should come and visit one day and I can introduce you to some of my Saffa friends over here, they will be very surprised to hear you calling them white Europeans…
26 Oct 2010, 08:51 am
222. INFIDEL(INFIDEL): “Any attempt to insist on a perfectly detailed 100% accurate definition of “transformation” is disengenious and more a reflection on HG and Charo etc’s view on politics in general than on any real desire for a quantifiable target for them to work towards.”
- Look, there does not seem to be a universal definition for transformation, maybe a rugby site is the wrong place to ask people notwithstanding the ever present imperative for “transformation in rugby”. However there are a few people that portray themselves here as transformation oracles… I then asked them for a working definition of transformation – after much bluster and evasion I did get some “explanations” (5 different ones from 3 different people) – not definitions however and certainly not “working” definitions…
- By asking these questions I have been viewed with “suspicion”, being called a bigot and now am told by you that I have “reflected my view on politics” in general…
So lets look at being a bigot – A bigot is a person intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.
I would like to know how I have shown intolerance in the comments on this thread, on the other hand those who hold the “knowledge” of what transformation is have shown less than tolerance for these pesky questions…
The irrationality of the all encompassing term “transformation” as used on Keo is clear – Nobody can define it, everybody has a different idea of what it is, but everyone talks about it…
The animosity for my comments are also clear even though I have actually not shown any different beliefs in asking what “transformation” is….
Finally, since you say that this is a reflection on my politics in general – can you tell me what my politics are…?
26 Oct 2010, 08:53 am
234. SKOPSKIET(YLIAD): Can you define transformation, mlungu? Are you transformed or are you transforming?
I won’t hold my breath….
26 Oct 2010, 08:59 am
205. XHOSAKID(XHOSAKID): A model? How do you get a “model” if you do not know what it is you are “modelling”…? However your examples you have given are illuminating and you deserve credit for putting yourself out there…
On evidence, Transformation is very subjective though…
26 Oct 2010, 09:03 am
213. PETER MKATA(PETER MKATA): The take away from that article is that transformation is having the support of all the people in the region…?
The Bulls have the support of all the people in their region, dont they…?
26 Oct 2010, 09:15 am
206. PETER MKATA(PETER MKATA): I think “weeping” is a soppy, treacly, sentimental song… The fact that Groban is using it only highlights its pretentiousness…
Heres one to my liking:
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots and we’ll take that ride
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says now on these streets Charles
You got to understand the rules
Promise me if an officer stops you’ll allways be polite
Never ever run away and promise momma you’ll keep your hands in sight
Cause is it a gun?
Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain’t no secret
It ain’t no secret
The secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Across this bloody river to the other side
41 shots they cut through the night
You’re kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
Is it a gun?
Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain’t no secret
It ain’t no secret
Ain’t no secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says now on these streets Charles
You got to understand the rules
Promise me if an officer stops you’ll always be polite
Never ever run away and promise momma you’ll keep your hands in sight
Cause is it a gun?
Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain’t no secret in getting killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Is it a gun?
Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain’t no secret
It ain’t no secret
It ain’t no secret
41 shots and we’ll take that ride
Across this bloody river to the other side
41 shots my boots caked in mud
We’re baptized in these waters and in each other’s blood
It ain’t no secretIs it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain’t no secret
It ain’t no secret
The secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
Just a subjective matter of taste and the transformation police cant dictate my taste in music yet I’m afraid…
26 Oct 2010, 10:12 am
HG @238
You look at the resultant of the “model”. Resultant being defined as a final point of a process.
26 Oct 2010, 13:02 pm
Moving from racist plan A (the frying pan) into racist plan B (the fire) just isn’t a sensible transformation at all. You’d might as well stay in the frying pan for all the difference it’ll make.
26 Oct 2010, 17:12 pm
glad to see absa not renewing their sponsorship deal with the racist sharks rugby union….that’s now transformation for you!
27 Oct 2010, 01:38 am
Perhaps it’s Sharks RU refusing to accept sponsorship from the racist ABSA…
27 Oct 2010, 03:57 am
“…Solomons, like he did when he was at UCT, Western Province and Ulster, relied on passion and a work ethic that has never failed and never ceased to amaze those around him….”
Airbrushed out that total fiasco at Northants?
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