‘Kings something special’
4 Aug 2010
Alan Solomons has hit back at criticism around the racial make-up of the Eastern Province Kings team.
On Monday, Simon Borchardt argued that the Kings should walk the talk when it comes to transformation, even though they are currently top of the Currie Cup First Division with wins over Boland, a Griffons side boosted by Free State players, and Border.
The make-up of the side for the last match against Boland consisted of four black players, but director of rugby Solomons brushed this off.
‘Mpho Mbiyozo was injured and for the first time this season less than a third of the side was black,’ Solomons told keo.co.za. ‘But that’s not what this team’s all about. There’s no numbers game and everyone is picked on merit. There is a relaxed atmosphere at training and guys speak English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. The black guys feel at home more than they do elsewhere.
‘I’ve selected a leadership group of six players, and only De Wet Barry isn’t from the Eastern Cape,’ added Solomons in mentioning Tiger Mangweni, Mzwandile Stick, Darron Nell, Rory Duncan, and Mbiyozo. ‘De Wet’s committed himself to the region, an example of that is him learning to speak Xhosa.
‘You can see from all the players’ body language how happy they are to be back home. My motto is bring them home and keep them home. They want to be part of something special.’
Solomons also noted how the complexion of the side changes from week to week according to availability, with this Saturday’s clash against the Valke consisting of eight players of colour (six of whom will start). He also added that the assistant coach is David Maidza and the CEO is Anele Pamba, while the majority of the back-room staff, from the physios to the manager, are also black.
Solomons has only been working full-time at the union for two months, and already the signs of progress are there. He believes the franchise will be ready for Super Rugby in a year and a half’s time.
‘As far as I’m concerned, we’ve been given unequivocal backing and a guarantee from Saru that we’ll be playing Super Rugby in 2013. We’re putting structures in place and I feel we’ll be ready a year by 2012. It’s got to happen now.
‘Although not every South African has links with the Eastern Cape, we should all be working together to support the union, not criticise it.
‘I’d love it if every black player who’s been developed in this region came back, because they get lost at some other unions. Without a Super Rugby franchise in the Eastern Cape they’ve had no aspirational pathway and their aspirations have been ignored. It’s going to be tough, but we’ve started a process.
‘We’re doing our best with the professional team, but it’s also about under-pinning that with high performance teams. We’ve begun working with the schools, age-group sides and universities in the region, which hasn’t been the case in the past as there’s essentially been no professional rugby here, and therefore none of the professional structures.’
Included in this process is building stronger relationships with the schools so that players don’t leave the region before they’ve finished their Matric, as is currently the case.
‘We’re undertaking a road trip to the top 27 schools in the region with guys like Danie Gerber and Robbie Kempson.
‘At times we might go sideways or a little backwards, but ultimately we’re moving forward. People in the region have seen what’s happening and interest is rising. We must also remember that we had the most representative rugby crowd for the Kings’ match against the Lions last year, which shows the interest and hunger for sport across all racial groups.’
By Grant Ball
546 Comments
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4 Aug 2010, 08:50 am
Hmmmmm
4 Aug 2010, 08:52 am
Copy and paste article or just edited?
4 Aug 2010, 08:54 am
The whole article with inverted commas?
4 Aug 2010, 08:54 am
Hoop hulle koop January asap
4 Aug 2010, 08:55 am
BTW the Kings will easily runaway with the Lame Lions
4 Aug 2010, 08:55 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-3: Even the title
4 Aug 2010, 08:56 am
@Disa(Disa)-4:Wynand Olivier and Spies
4 Aug 2010, 08:56 am
Great job Alan, keep it up, you have far more supporters for a Kings franchise than might seem apparent reading these blogs.
4 Aug 2010, 08:57 am
strike with the forces of king solomon!
4 Aug 2010, 08:57 am
@David(David)-8: Dont think anyone opposes the idea except some Lions and Cheetah fans
4 Aug 2010, 08:58 am
Solly’s been a bit of a fraud all his life, really. All sizzle; no steak. He virtually ruined Northants by pretending he knew a bit about coaching when he didn’t.
4 Aug 2010, 08:58 am
Um, no they’re not
4 Aug 2010, 09:00 am
For Grant, John Smits Twitter this morning “And to those concerned, not 2 worry I’m psyched for the next 3 games & training hard with the boys to get it right”
4 Aug 2010, 09:00 am
This is good to hear. They cant be any worse than the Lions.
4 Aug 2010, 09:01 am
Sorry Solly, you talk the talk but in the years I have kept an interest in the region and their rugby every single guy has basically only talked a good game.
Unfortunately I think the success or future success of this team is not in your hands, if it was, I would have believed what you said – years of following this show however has shown me that the calls that matter are made by administrators and not rugby people like yourself and the players.
And ultimately a union or franchise can only be as strong as its administration and I don’t have much faith in yours.
4 Aug 2010, 09:02 am
After the Sharks performance this year, it would be best if they link with Kings and play all the games in PE.
4 Aug 2010, 09:03 am
@Disa(Disa)-13: Dont worry about Grant he’s a stubborn douchebag the majority of the time.
4 Aug 2010, 09:04 am
All of Wp’s surplus talented youngsters can go to the Kings.
4 Aug 2010, 09:04 am
@Disa(Disa)-10:
If whatever happens, happens under a merit system there will be no complaints.
4 Aug 2010, 09:07 am
simon borchardt can go jump off a cliff, we don’t need his backing or his snide articles. I say f*ck him! EP Kings on the Rise!
Your kind Simon will not stop or deter us! You can try though!
4 Aug 2010, 09:08 am
The Kings are for the people. To redress the failure and inequality of the old regime!
4 Aug 2010, 09:10 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-15:
Which of the administrators do you feel are the problem?
4 Aug 2010, 09:12 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-15: please elaborate on these administrators you don’t believe in and why you don’t. You might enlighten a person like myself.
4 Aug 2010, 09:12 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-23: Cheeky
4 Aug 2010, 09:17 am
@JUSM(JUSM)-9: Let bygones be bygones and so on and so on…!
4 Aug 2010, 09:18 am
Its a good long term investment for our rugby but its going to hell in the short term.
4 Aug 2010, 09:18 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-7: When these players start to hate winning trophies, they will consider a move to – what will be the laughing stock of the S16 in 2013.
Schalk and Jacques could consider it though…seeing that they’re not that used to winning trophies!
4 Aug 2010, 09:20 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-23:
So far Cheeky has actually impressed me!
But get in contact with someone at the union, or even Solly himself.
Ask him how only a few weeks back, one of his players was basically fired by an administrator mentioned in this article, told he was not welcome anymore only because the player wanted more time to consider an offer from the union to extend his contract – specifically from what I can imagine seeing if the Kings stands a chance of making it to the CC premier division which will affect his future directly (if they did or did not).
All this done without even the knowledge of the coach…
4 Aug 2010, 09:20 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-27: S.A players returning from overseas might consider the Kings an option.
4 Aug 2010, 09:20 am
I for one think that this is great. Where can i get a supporters jersey. I’m in.
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-15: All administrators are ars3holes. It comes with the territory. by nature they are either people who can talk and not do OR could do and now can’t talk. Very Very rarely are do they possess both skills. Its that age old thing in sport. those who have the time to manage a sports club don’t have the skill and those that have the skill don’t have the time (early career).
As Al Sol Mentioned there is no professional structure, which is what the problem is.
On the field I have been very impressed with their game, attitude and commitment. Name still sucks, but so do most of them “The lions” GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRR!
4 Aug 2010, 09:23 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-27: Onthou julle was ook eens die laughing stock van die S12/14, dinge verander binne een seisoen
4 Aug 2010, 09:24 am
@Observer(tbannaz)-30:
I like Solly and I like what he is doing, but as the story with the Spears went from 2005 already the success of this team has been hampered and sabotaged by administrators and I don’t see this change much, unfortunately.
4 Aug 2010, 09:25 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-28: sure thanks, i’m in the Transkei this week, will make some inquiries when i get back next week.
4 Aug 2010, 09:25 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-29: The Kings will have to dig deep if want to buy players of quality. I dont know how deep their pockets are, but yeah, you’re right. Pleyers returning from various parts of the worlds have already made their money, so they might be a good option. However, if they return, will they still be able to compete on S14/15/16 level?
Time will tell!
4 Aug 2010, 09:27 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-27: the Lions and Cheetahs are already the laughing stock of the S14. Just to take you a few years back when the Bulls were the a.rse of the laughing stock!! BWT both are 3N and WC winners!
4 Aug 2010, 09:29 am
Aaaaag snot man.
4 Aug 2010, 09:29 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-34: They could just buy quality from the WP craven week, Maties, UCT. Just like Bulls
4 Aug 2010, 09:31 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-37:
There is no reason for this region to become hugely successful. But throughout the years they seem to be their own worst enemy.
I really hope this time is different.
4 Aug 2010, 09:32 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-34: Ja true about the money. Ja not sure how competitive they will be. They can offer great experience to the younger players coming through.
4 Aug 2010, 09:32 am
@Disa(Disa)-31: Yeah, you’re right. I just hope that their sponsors will be willing to pay the big bucks for
1: Player development at grassroot level
2: Buying quality players to be competative untill their player development structure starts to pay divident.
With political involvement at the Kings, I’m not convinced that they money from the sposors will be utilized in the best interrest of the franchise.
Just my honest opinion…
4 Aug 2010, 09:36 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-38: me too
4 Aug 2010, 09:39 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-20:
Quit making a fool of yourself as per normal have some self respect!
Solly… most South Africans would probably give the region some more kudos once they can show they can string together a competitive CC or even VC side, build some decent structures, get a few sponsors and stop pissing away funds through maladministration and corruption.
It’s not too much to ask, and it’s not going to be a quick route… good luck!
4 Aug 2010, 09:40 am
bleck white bleck white bleck white
blah blah blah
solly for you (you talka da shite outta your bunghole)
“the black guys feel at home more than they do elsewhere”
why?
is the EC the only place black people are at home?
gtfoh.
4 Aug 2010, 09:42 am
I’m glad to see the Kings progressing and getting good results in the B division of the Currie Cup. However, I would really like to see Border, EP and SWD merged into one combined union and regularly competing in the CC 1st division. A combined union in the 1st division would attract more support and therefore more sponsorship funding. Funds would also be spread over a much smaller player base, therefore allowing more money to be invested in fewer, better players. With this in place, a focus on keeping the best school players in the Eastern Cape region until Matric, and then keeping the very best of them in a good academy and junior set-up after matric would be the next priority. This could be in conjunction with NMMU in the Varsity Cup – a 5 year plan to see NMMU competing with the likes of UCT and Stellenbosch. Consolidation of three small, barely viable unions into one leaner, stronger union would be a massive plus for SA rugby. I do hear those here who question the track record of administrators in the region in terms of management and integrity, but perhaps a combination of carefully choosing the right leadership and appointing an independent auditor for the first 5 years to monitor financial management might help.
4 Aug 2010, 09:43 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-37: Then you just need a good coaching clinic, and the trophies will start coming in….
4 Aug 2010, 09:43 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-40: last year was the first year this union had an unqualified audit in something like 14 years, they have the PE chamber of commerce palying an overseeing role on administration. Theyy have made quite a vast improvement from the previous inept administration!
People like Danie Gerber were skeptical at first and as Solly says they’re in the mix now.
It won’t be perfect but it is a step in the right direction. It seems to me a lot of people are quite comfortable or are happy to have this province struggling or in a constant quagmire. But sorry boys we’re on the Rise.
4 Aug 2010, 09:46 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-40: I got my reservations as well for the same reasons you stated above, no doubt there is some huge talent in the Eastern Cape though.
Lets hope for the best as it will only make SA rugby stronger, not weaker
4 Aug 2010, 09:46 am
@money_man(money_man)-42: f*ck off money_man, you and all of those you sail with. You’ve got nothing on me squire, i want fokkol from you
4 Aug 2010, 09:47 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-20: In the past two years I have written three SA Rugby magazine editorials urging Saru to include the Kings in Super Rugby. On Monday, I merely pointed out some facts – that last Saturday, the EP Kings had just four black players in their starting XV and that their coach, president and franchise CEO are white. I’m glad to hear that six black players will be in their XV this weekend, that the CEO of the EPRFU is black and that there are plans in place to develop a black head coach (although I’m amazed that 16 years after democracy we are still talking about developing black coaches).
4 Aug 2010, 09:50 am
It has come to light that the “protection of information” act will be invoked for the first season of the kings participation in superrugby.
local spokesman Comfortable Blackman said today “dont expect to see results in the first season of superrugby. what is this fixation with results? we are doing this to protect the people”.
Meanwhile, in other news, keo has apologised to PdV for laying into him after Bob Dwyer said “the All Blacks are the biggest cheats in rugby”
and Bob is no clown.
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