‘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, 22:30 pm
@ET(ET)-434: I wouldn’t say the Brits are too proud of their ANZAC colonies – look at how those little devious farkers turned out.
Hong Kong was a bit of a balls up, and as for Canada…
I suppose its the African colonies you’re spouting on about – those damn french, spanish, italians and portuguese always outdid them there.
I just can’t explain why the uncolonised rest of Africa did not develop to expectations…sorry!
4 Aug 2010, 22:33 pm
@ET(ET)-447: You should know by now that there is a nice cream to apply which also does a good job on HIV prophylaxis
4 Aug 2010, 22:37 pm
@David(David)-435: The principle feature of a liberal is sanctimoniousness.
By loudly denouncing all bad things – war and hunger and racism – liberals testify to their own terrific goodness.
More important, they promote themselves to membership in a self-selecting elite of those who care deeply about such things.
It’s a kind of natural aristocracy, and the “wonderful” thing about this aristocracy is that you don’t have to be brave, smart, strong or even lucky to join it, you just have to be a flip flopping liberal.
4 Aug 2010, 22:40 pm
@David(David)-439:
Yes I admitted to the error earlier and I thought that “wise up” of #430 was provocative for you so I felt I was compelled to answer and in the way I answered.
But you did refer to black business men and I despise them as much as any exploiter because they are so inclined too.
Exploitation of a resource is only acceptable if it is for the benefit of all. Exploitation of people(eg. workers, a common clonial weakness) is never acceptable(I am not saying you say so).
Alls well that ends well.
That #431 put things in perspective.
4 Aug 2010, 22:40 pm
@ET(ET)-447:
The AIDS issue is a complex one that has nothing to do with liberal thinking. AVRs need to be taken every day for the rest of a persons life. I’ve lost 2 friends who made the mistake of missing their daily dose for a few days.
The point about capitalism is that it’s driven by selfishness. The exploitation of SAs mineral resources happened because people recognised there was a market for them and risked time and money in prospecting. More people lost than gained.
4 Aug 2010, 22:42 pm
Brits given Africa plenty and took their share too, seems there are exploitative folk the world over, my point is that govt should be limited and directed at preventing this, the politicis should be ppl interested in public service and insuring fairness for those in most need – certainly under no circumstance at all to enrich themselves or their wealthy choms. This may be idealistic but it’s better than being blasé and cyncical and to start playing by their devious rules.
4 Aug 2010, 22:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-451: The only thing the French, Spanish, Italians and Portuguese outdid the British on in Africa, was exploiting the locals and raping their respective economies. I’m not excusing colonialism, but it happened and the British installed infrastructure generally meant they left the colonised country in a better state than it is now.
4 Aug 2010, 22:46 pm
@David(David)-455: Some addenda:
1. Whats an AVR – an anti video recorder? I thought ARV’s or antiretrovirals are used in the treatment of HIV…
2. “The point about capitalism is that it’s driven by selfishness” – replace selfishness with self-interest and then you just about have it right.
4 Aug 2010, 22:46 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-453:
Jeez, you really talk c r a p.
4 Aug 2010, 22:47 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-457: Thankyou – you may have the right answer…
4 Aug 2010, 22:47 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-451:
” I just can’t explain why the uncolonised rest of Africa did not develop to expectations…sorry ”
The answer is simple. They had more pressing problems of starvation and death to deal with and that is bsides not having the financial resources.
But I know you are being devious and provocative which I will ignore.
And stop going on about SH rugby so arrogantly as it is not our right to always win and it has hardly really occurred in the history of the game.
Got to put in my swimming mile for the day and rain threatens.
4 Aug 2010, 22:49 pm
Look up the definition for liberalism in the Oxford English dictionary and you will find no mention of the word sanctimonious.
That meaning is one which you have imported on the word. What’s more is that I am not one who believes in all this he who casts the first stone and all that smoothing over and blurring injustice. If something is wrong it’s a damn good think ppl act out against it imo.
If the liberals were the few that had any sort of conscience in old sa, good on them, it’s the others who should be ashamed and herein lies the nub of it.
4 Aug 2010, 22:50 pm
@ET(ET)-461: @ET(ET)-461:
You wouldn’t want to get wet.
4 Aug 2010, 22:50 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-460: That’s quite alright. Always happy to help.
I’m sitting in a former French shithole at the moment (Togo) and the difference over the border in Ghana is night and day.
4 Aug 2010, 22:51 pm
@ET(ET)-454: “Exploitation of a resource is only acceptable if it is for the benefit of all” – could you please explain for a thick janitor like me…
…Because the extent of using a resource is determined by the need or demand of people for that resource. If peoples have a demand for that resource then how can it not be for the benefit of the many… And if the resource is used sustainably then how can it be “exploited”?
4 Aug 2010, 22:51 pm
@David(David)-455:
Defintely no connection.
As I wrote it I was hoping no one would think I was linking Aids to liberalism hence the brackets. That was just an example of an issue that I was giving. Sorry for that.
4 Aug 2010, 22:53 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-465:
No I want you to remain a THICK janitor otherwise you become more of a nuisance.
You have corrupted enough already.
4 Aug 2010, 22:54 pm
@cab(cab)-462:
Yup, the whites who opposed apartheid were called liberals and communists. I have no problem with owning up to being a liberal, if that’s the criteria.
4 Aug 2010, 22:54 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-464: Yup, can believe it…
Ghana is an interesting case study in development studies / economics – at independence it was about similar to S Korea in develpment, and as a country it had more natural resources…
A different trajectory of two nations…?
4 Aug 2010, 22:55 pm
@ET(ET)-467: Corrupted enough – WTF…?
4 Aug 2010, 22:56 pm
@David(David)-463:
I am in Florida for this last week before the Fall semester and the lightning is a HUGE threat to my life here in the water far more so than a demented HG, although I can see him charging me with a bread knife.
4 Aug 2010, 22:57 pm
@ET(ET)-466:
Cheers ET,go and enjoy your swim before it rains.
BTW, are you a Huffington Post follower?
4 Aug 2010, 22:58 pm
@ET(ET)-461: Yeah and that starvation and death is always somebody elses fault, hey…
4 Aug 2010, 23:01 pm
468 yip that’s right, pinko liberal commies, lol, the most uncommunist bunch out there, I’m more of a commie but not so much the pinko variety tho I do like a cup of tea and crumpet.
Are you joining your wife in Uk or staying home?
4 Aug 2010, 23:02 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-464: I forgot to mention – sarcasm is a biyatch, just in case the tone of my comment about non-british colonies was misread
4 Aug 2010, 23:03 pm
@cab(cab)-474:
I’m staying home. Someones got to feed the cats. Crumpet is also good without tea, although a bit more energetic.
4 Aug 2010, 23:04 pm
@David(David)-468: there is a difference between a stoopid, commie loving, flip-flopping liberal and a libertarian…
Next time you have sight of a dictionary, look them up…
4 Aug 2010, 23:06 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-457:
Don’t forget the Belgians. They literally raped their colonies.
4 Aug 2010, 23:10 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-477:
I know what a libertarian is. Please, don’t demote me to your own intellectual level.
4 Aug 2010, 23:10 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-469: I should also say, maybe it’s a bit unfair comparing todays countries to the end of colonialism 40 or 50 years ago, but I’m pretty sure the respective colonial powers influenced to a large degree the way the country was governed after independence.
Hence, Togo the toilet, and Ghana the vibrant economy next door.
Apologies for slow replies, do you know how many times I have now tried to send this very message??? Still, only 6 days left and I’m out of here for good….
4 Aug 2010, 23:10 pm
@David(David)-459:
Don’t get involved with this guy he is beyond crazy and is deliberately illogical as a means of confusing any issue.
I am truly gone now.
4 Aug 2010, 23:11 pm
David
great animals cats apart from when they **** in the house – toxic stuff. Pity you not over, the summers pretty good but the last few days been a bit iffy.
4 Aug 2010, 23:11 pm
“First there was racism. Then liberals created institutional racism and coded racism. You can only hear it with a dog whistle.”
4 Aug 2010, 23:12 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-480: Project end…?
4 Aug 2010, 23:14 pm
@David(David)-479: Was this all “intellectual” for you…
4 Aug 2010, 23:15 pm
No first there was racism, then SA conservative whites created state-sanctioned and enforced racism, which took racism to a whole new level.
4 Aug 2010, 23:15 pm
@David(David)-478: Yes, the Congo in particular. But according to Allister Sparks, the Dutch were the worst out of the lot of them. Cape Town was a heck of a place to be if you weren’t white, burning out eyes for looking at white ladies for example, but nothing compared to Indonesia back in the day. ‘The Mind of South Afric’a I think the book’s called. Goes into a bit more detail than was required iirc.
4 Aug 2010, 23:17 pm
@cab(cab)-486: If I were you, I would just “Forget about it” (Al Pacino – Donnie Brasco)…
4 Aug 2010, 23:17 pm
487, jock, yip the best book on sa I’ve ever read
4 Aug 2010, 23:19 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-484: Yes thank goodness. 14 months down the line and I’ll be back home in time for WP whipping the Bullyboys next weekend
4 Aug 2010, 23:19 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-480: Um, S Korea was a colony…
4 Aug 2010, 23:20 pm
@cab(cab)-482:
Yeah, so my wife tells me. She had me traipseing (sp?) around the shops looking for summer clothes before she left, then phoned me about how cold it was when she arrived.
Are you back in the UK now?
@ET(ET)-481:
No, he isn’t crazy, just a p r i c k.
4 Aug 2010, 23:23 pm
@ET(ET)-481: You truly are a black pot being duplicitous with the kettle, ne?
4 Aug 2010, 23:25 pm
488 HG
what? The quote or apartheid? I’m actually pretty chilled about it these days, relatively speaking – but yeah it does tug me as a little all too easy for some.
4 Aug 2010, 23:25 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-490: Good thing and hopefully you have some decent tax-free wonga in the bank to make it all worthwhile – unless you were there purely out of altruism…
4 Aug 2010, 23:26 pm
@cab(cab)-494: If you saw the movie you would understand – a double meaning…
4 Aug 2010, 23:28 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-487:
The Belgians treated the Congo as a slave state. In fact Leopold actually tried to make it his personal possession.
As for Indonesia, I’m a product of the Dutch colonisation, my father being half Dutch and half Indonesian Malay. Strangely, my great, great grandmother, Princess Mai, was exiled to the Cape as a political prisoner. I say strangely, because I was born in England and had no knowledge of the history.
4 Aug 2010, 23:28 pm
Outtahere, ….a wailing cry rising in crescendo from upstairs can be heard… Banshee!!!
4 Aug 2010, 23:29 pm
492 David
yeah bit of a cold snap, yeah back in Uk, summers always good in nh where u really appreciate the seasons. Are u in jbg or back down to cape town?
4 Aug 2010, 23:32 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-491: Was it, of who? Japan I think. But I was rattling on about Africa really. What are you rattling on about S Korea for?
@cab(cab)-489: Yes indeed Cab, me too. I’ve read it through a couple of times and often pick it up for a chapter or two.
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