A SARSU (South African Rugby Supporters Union) club initiative is picking up steam with a warm-up match scheduled to place at Ellis Park this weekend in the build up to the game of the weekend, the Lions vs. Western Province.
SARSU Media Release
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.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:22 am
It was interesting listening to Darren and Naas on Boots last night where club rugby was discussed and them saying that the Vodacom Cup should be replaced by a club competition.
Been said here for a long time already.
I know some people on the ground have worked hard on this specific project mentioned in the article.
Good stuff guys, hope we see more.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Ja great news guys
Hope you get the help from GLRU you wanted
August 17th, 2007 at 10:27 am
When They were talking about that on B&A last night my thoughts went to the FA Cup style comp that was discussed some time ago.
SARSU should contact the B&A guys with that idea and let them push it from their side.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Agree PA, the VC is possibly the most unwatched comp in SA, it gets zero coverage becasue of S14, as the sponsor i wouldn’t be to stoked, rather have a couple of clubs competing in a national comp paid for by VC and four teams from each Union get upped to a knock out format tourney or something to that effect – and the games get played and televised prior to S14 fixtures
Well done to SARSU – good to see someone actually doing something in the right areas of the game
August 17th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I was thinking more along the lines of Super Rugby on Monday nights where Kobus and the guys travel all over SA with their show.
Organise a show in Soweto or Beth and talk to the okes on Super Rugby – surely sponsors would jump at the opportunity to sponsor such an evening and be on TV?
Maybe at a new golf lodge???
In a nice part of SA…
Close the Beth…
August 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
WS,
I was shocked at “Very much so” Owen on Boots suggesting it won’t work because of structures and coaching hassles – probably cause he is a coach???
Anycase, a regional club comp at the normal time of year (during the CC) where the top 2 or 3 clubs from each (of the 14) regions competes in a revamped VC club comp during the S 14 will surely work.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Bethlehem Zebras?
The most useless and laziest animal on the plains.
Its only purpose is food for Lions and crocs.
Whoverer picked the name should be kicked in the gonads.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Much like the Bulls Stan?
The only purpose of this animal being a Happy Meal from Ronald McDonald?
August 17th, 2007 at 10:46 am
No PA – they are BLUE Bulls.
Therefore they can only be UNHappy Meals.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Lus vir kakpraat PA?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
Gaan kyk hierdie clip.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Our own newshields was the driving force behind this, WS.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:40 am
The game is on at 1pm tomorrow, for anyone in Jozi.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:49 am
This will quickly fade away….
August 17th, 2007 at 11:55 am
And if it doesn’t Stan?
Can we get you a signed Zebra’s jersey you wear to your next visit to Loftus?
August 17th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
#
This will quickly fade away….
Comment by Stan — August 17, 2007 @ 11:49 am
Why Stan
Because you dont believe in it?
Anyway- well done to all involved!
Hope the players saviour the moment!
Go Zebra!
Oh and by the way STan- our resident KiLLah
Zebra’s have excellent social structure- fOOd for thought!
August 17th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
OO,
And more importantly, they have been around for a long time and are still flourishing.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Yip Ollie- they maybe the staplefOOd of the Supercats- but without Zebra- Supercat goes hungry – even if SupercOOl!
August 17th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Go Zebras!!!
Orakel, is die game op TV?
August 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
No Pietman- not yet
maybe next year!
August 17th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Sjoe okes the man to thank is Dali Ndebele from Soweto Rugby club. He pulled the strings.
Stan the zebra brand is very marketable due to the fact that its a 2 colour picture. The Wallaby for example os not the flashes of animals…..****** why reason with a bushmuppit stuck in yesteryear.
Anywas for the guys who will play this game it will be a huge one. I never got to play at Ellis.
****** [content removed]
August 18th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Shields, OO, David, Kandas et al…
I really have to commend all the work the guys at SARSU put in…
August 18th, 2007 at 2:45 am
‘bushmuppit’ bwaaaaaahahahaha!
August 18th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Springkaan,
Jou bek is weer lekker groot ne?
Except for few, the masses are not interested in rugby.
Thats why it will not survive.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Except for few, the masses are not interested in rugby.
Thats why it will not survive.
Comment by Stan — August 18, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Then why are you still bloGGing on a RugbySite Stan- its mos dOOmed anyway?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Ek gaan jou nie eers antwoord op daardie sotlike vraag nie OO.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Keep contact number of a good lawyer handy
Hi everyone,
I used to love South Africa, I used to say I’d never leave… my rose-tinted glasses were shattered last month!
- Monday morning 23/07/2007 my mom was driving to work when she hit a pedestrian.
- the pedestrian seemed fine, however, the other black people started stoning my mom’s car.
- she has a witness, a man who hooted at her to go – then followed her to the closest garage and told my mom to go to the police
- my mom was so upset, she then got my brother to take her to the police station to make a statement
- the superintendent at the station took the statement and told my mom not to worry, seeing as the pedestrian was fine and hadn’t come forward with a charge, nothing would come of it
- my mom went to work – only to have a police van full of officers pitch at her office to arrest her!
- As she hysterically tried to call me to say they were taking her to Roodepoort Police Station, they took her phone from her and simply threw her into the van. On route to the station they asked my mom for a bribe, my mom never had cash on her – then they all started laughing at her and told her what a useless white she is.
- I raced to the police station and immediately got hold of a lawyer…. the lawyer was furious!
- There was no charge! no pedestrian! and yet my mother was thrown in a cell – with a convict!
- the convict told my mom she organised for other convicts to be let into the cell to rape and beat my mom that night
- when fingerprints were taken my mom asked for some toilet paper and was told to wipe her hands on her effing hand bag!
When I was at the police station I was treated with total disregard by the black police officers – who looked at me like something someone scraped off the bottom of their shoe!
Long story short, this entire nightmare cost four thousand rand in lawyer fees and bail to get my mom out. The lawyer knew to act quickly to ensure that my mom did not stay in overnight. The case was thrown out of court on Tuesday morning, as there was no case! My mom was put through hell and back by our joke of a police force – who should surely to God use their manpower where it’s so desperately needed in our country.
My lawyer confirmed that white people are being victimised. The theory is that we have the money to waste on bribes and bail!
Please ensure that you have the number of a lawyer… the police aim to keep you in jail for at least one night – they only need one night to get you raped and beaten by other convicts – so that they got their revenge against whites.
My mom is terrorised and currently undergoing counseling…And simply wants to forget the whole thing. But I refuse to let more people be victimised by an institution that’s supposed to protect us!
ALWAYS HAVE A LAWYERS NUMBER – and warn everyone you know to keep the number of a lawyer handy, as you have to act speedily to avoid staying even one night! (we’ve all heard scary stories about traffic officers arresting people without the necessary legal documents)
Racism is an ugly thing South Africans are trying hard to get rid of, yet racism against white people is so clearly evident.
God help us… let’s pray we don’t end up like Zim, as our government and law enforcement seem set on sending us in the same direction!
Jacqui
Johannesburg, SA
August 18th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Theuns Jordaan in selle geboender
Theuns Jordaan moes Saterdagnag ’n paar uur agter tralies deurbring nadat polisiebeamptes glo hul vuurwapens op die sanger gerig en hom by ’n padversperring gearresteer het.
’n Polisiereservis op ’n “power trip� het die sanger glo ná ’n vertoning in Vereeniging in ’n ongemerkte voertuig agtervolg en hom van die pad probeer dwing, het me. Lizette van Rensburg, sy agent, gesê.
Die sanger het ná ’n jaagtog met die wit BMW agter hom, by ’n padversperring tussen Alberton en Vereeniging afgetrek.
Polisiebeamptes het Jordaan summier weens roekelose en nalatige bestuur in hegtenis geneem, geboei en in ’n vangwa geboender.
Die sanger is vir meer as vier uur in die Brackendowns-polisieselle aangehou en later na aanhoudingselle in Alberton oorgeplaas. Bloed is getrek om Jordaan se bloedalkoholvlak te toets. Me. Van Rensburg het gister gesê die sanger het glad nie die aand gedrink nie.
Omstreeks 06:00 het ’n dringende borgtogaansoek van sy prokureur geslaag en is hy vrygelaat. Alle klagte teen Jordaan is Maandag in die Albertonse landdroshof teruggetrek.
Me. Van Rensburg sê Jordaan het nie in die hof verskyn nie.
Die sanger oorweeg nou siviele stappe teen die polisiebeamptes en die betrokke reservis.
Jordaan en mnr. Ockert van Rensburg, sy assistent, was omstreeks 23:00 van die Vaal Auto-skou in Vereeniging na Jordaan se huis in Pretoria op pad.
Me. Van Rensburg sê die BMW, met flitsende ligte in die voertuig, het skielik verskyn en die sanger agtervolg.
Sy sê Jordaan was oortuig dis ’n kapingspoging omdat hy voorheen in ’n soortgelyke situasie was.
 Jordaan is glo gearresteer omdat hy versuim het om vir die polisie te stop.
Sy sê die sanger voel uiters “verontreg� oor die voorval en die wyse waarop hulle behandel is. Jordaan was nie gister bereid om oor die voorval te praat nie.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Verkeersmanne vas ná rybewysbedrog
Aug
Piet Retief. – Vier amptenare van dié stadsraad, onder wie twee verkeersmanne, is eergister in hegtenis geneem weens beweerde bedrog en korrupsie.
Hulle is na bewering betrokke by die onwettige uitreiking en moontlik die verkoop van rybewyse.
Dit volg op weke se ondersoekwerk deur ’n taakspan van die polisie se handelstak in Middelburg.
Supt. Chrisna van Rensburg, bevelvoerder, het gister gesê hulle het verskeie ongerymdhede met die onwettige uitreiking van leerlinglisensies en rybewyse oopgekrap.
Een van die gearresteerde beamptes is me. Phillipine Ngcobo, ’n senior adminisÂtratiewe beampte en glo ook toesighouer van die lisensiekantoor.
Die ander is mnre. Carter Rakuambo (29), Thulani Mambane (36) en Nduduzo Thwala (26).
Twee ander amptenare van die raad is vroeg in Julie in hegtenis geneem, ook weens hul beweerde betrokkenheid by die onwettige uitreiking van rybewyse.
Daar word nou na ’n verband tussen die huidige ondersoek en ’n inbraak by die lisensiekantoor se liasseerkamer op 11 Julie gekyk.
Die betrokkenheid van bestuurskole as deel van die bedrognetwerk, word ook ondersoek.
Beeld het betroubaar verneem die Mkhondo-munisipaliteit oorweeg om die lisensiekantoor vir ’n paar weke te sluit. Die raad kon dit teen druktyd nie bevestig nie.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:28 am
#
Ek gaan jou nie eers antwoord op daardie sotlike vraag nie OO.
Comment by Stan — August 18, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Ek aanvaar dit Stan- Ook nie gedink jy sou nie
want die “sotlikheid” lOOp sAAm met jou Stan
August 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am
OO,
verander jou naam na gatkruip,selfoorlewing of iets soortgelyks.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Nie nodig nie Stan
Gatkruip is iets wat ek nog nOOit gedoen het
Nie my skuld jy mis die punt nie.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Stan ek het nie vOOr 94 of daarna by enige iemand “gat” gekruip nie
was jy so ingestel om die “wAArheid” te verkondig vOOr 94 – Stan?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Ek het jou mail verlOOr stan- mail my by oranje_orakel at hotmail dot com as jy rerig sinvol hierOOr wil gesels
aNNers sal ek mAAr OOr jou beledigings scroLL.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:06 am
sal later daaroor gesels.
moet nou jaag, het werk om te doen.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:37 am
It seems like the words Piet Retief Traffic Licensing Authority are synonymous with alleged shady goings on.
I remember a strong rumour doing the rounds somewhwere in the 80′s about a then current miss SA who also got her drivers licence given to her after a function at the town hall. As the town hall and the licensing office were seperated by a car park it was doubted whether she even had to show off her driving skills for those 20 meters.
As I said only rumours because, unlike the above story, there was no official investigation.