CHAIMLOS

The team from left to right is: (standing) "Spikes" Nkhahle, "Khetis/Curtis" Monyane, "William" Mollo, "Master" Rahlao, "Mo Grady" Mothae. (standing-middle row) "Daddy Mak" Makara, "Big S" Kota, "Hlanyos Malie. (squating) "Turbo" Lechesa "Van Der Sar" Nkhahle "the buda" Matsau, "Maguire" Khalema.


An introduction to the finest amateur football team probably in the world, definitely on the continent!

This picture was taken at 11h00 in the morning in Gaborone, Botswana after having come off an undeserved defeat that rather flattered the home side.
We had a difficult first half, owing mainly to the fatigue from the long drive. And struggled to acclimatise to the dessert like conditions. However, a big improvement was made in the second half, and were it not for a few missed chances and, a lack of substitutes, the big team probably would have come away with a positive result!

This is not a team. This is a brotherhood!
"O tla utla eka oa cha UENA....You will feel like you are burning YOU!!"

(This is but one of many international trips the team has taken.)

July: Sport

I have been a sports fan all my life.        

For all too long July has been the month of my fanaticism. Premier league is in recess. Psl is on their hiatus, and most of the big leagues are also on a break.  In the old days (I use this term loosely) the Super rugby competition would have drawn to a close as well. So as soon Wimbledon ended, and I had come done from the high of the spectacular “razzmatazz” (Sure Cde Mbaks) of Vodacom’s Durban July. I would’ve been up the creek without the proverbial paddle!  

Luckily this year has been different. Firstly, it is Olympic year! Secondly the Super rugby competition has been stretched out like the Eden Hazard transfer saga. And thirdly, the Proteas are on tour to England. These three spectacles, have kept me busier than cde. President in a girl’s dormitory.  All of them have taken my emotions to the highest high one moment, and to the lowest low, the next. A bit like listening to an Imogen Heap cd I suppose.

My Lions have performed admirably. At times. But have shown the dearth in class at critical moments between them and the quality sides in the competition. I was optimistic at the start of the season. Having just conquered the domestic competition, I truly believed my boys would be competitive. I thought we’d protect home base. And possibly steal a couple of close ones locally. But it was not to be. The highlight was a stellar performance against a Sharks team looking for five points at the “Park of Pain”. (yes ,I still call it that). My optimism for next season, is back in the doldrums.  What with the Currie Cup winning coaching formula being dissolved! I’m weary of our chances in the Currie Cup despite being defending champions. And at this point, I’m not even sure we’ll be competing in next seasons Super Competition. (On that note, allow me to thank SARU for the mother of all balls ups-Nice one lads!)

The cricket has been up to my usually high expectations. I’m convinced we have the best team in the world. And I don’t think there’s been a better balanced SA side since readmission. Everybody’s on top of their game. And in Gary Kirsten, they have a World cup winning coach! Watching the assured nature of cricket from day two through to five in the first was magnificent. Truly! I hope-and expect-more success from Biff and his boys as they play this series no doubt for the fallen soldier Mark Boucher.

Cameron Van Der Burgh, Chad Le Clos, and the Mens lightweight rowing four have combined to make this Olympics showpiece an amazing event for me. I’m not crazy about showpiece events that come about every four years, and sometimes cast aspersions on some great athletes. But these games have been really good so far. I suppose mainly because of the euphoria created by the warriors I spoke of.  Either way, it’s been the showpiece event for me, it is for lovers of such a competition.

May there be many more July’s like this one!

So i've just spent the weekend in the mother city. I went over for one of my best mates birthday parties. I was really looking forward to spending some time in the fairest cape, in spite of my hatred for Cape winters. I've always had a jol in the Mother city! My favorite clubs remain Rhodes House, and Fez, even though neither of them exist anymore. Although I've heard Fez has made a combeack, so I must be sure and check it out next time I'm in the 021!

The most appealing thing to me about jolling in CPT was the cosmopolitan nature of the jol. There weren't from my view point white clubs or black clubs. There were simply nightclubs. That said, Bassline and Fez did generally have more caucasian revellers. Whereas Rhodes House seemed to have revellers of a darker hue. But everyone mixed and mingled quite comfortably it seemed. I never encountered any incidents of a racial nature while partying in the fairest cape. I was always welcomed in to whatever nightclub I wished to attend, and never felt victimised or marginalised by my fellow revellers.
I have a multi racial and ecletic circle of mates. Whites, blacks mixed race boys and girls doing their thing together. The barmen served you as quickly and efficiently as the demand allowed them to.

So it was good times.

I have been hearing for some time now, about racial incidents occuring with increased regularity in Cape Town. I was always shocked, but assumed that they were isolated incidents perpertrated by over zealous bouncers.
So, when on Saturday afternoon somebody suggested that a place called The Reserve would be 'poppin off'' I immediately exclaimed "Sounds like jol! Can't wait".
Well was I in for a surprise! A group of about ten of us had assembled. Nine blacks, one caucasian. We walked passed Reserve before actually trying to enter, and observed that there was no queue. We went to draw cash and came back fired up! Ready to jol! We had agreed that as this was a special occassion, it was necessary to buy a couple of bottles of vodka, and perhaps even some champagne.
As we walked toward the door, the bouncer enquired as to whether we had our tags to which we answered we didn't. The bouncer then informed us that we wouldn't be allowed in because we didn't have tags. Somebody enquired whether we couldn't just buy tags there to which the bouncer responded "Sorry gus, you needed to have bought them earlier".
During the period that we were having said discussion with the bouncer, three maybe four caucasian people arrived at the door. I think one of them had a tag. A group of three caucasian gents then arrived, and not one of them had a tag. The bouncer and now door lady assured us that they were "regulars here and would drop about 20k tonight". I was astonished! It didn't seem real! In fact, my exact words were "Surely these guys don't wish to play into the negative stereotype".
But they did. We were in party mode and so didn't care to get into a fight or exchange words with a beef cake, so we left. But it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

I'm not entirely sure what one does about something like this. I've written about it, but others may have a better solution. But what's for sure is we've got to alleviate this kind of behaviour! Let's get back to jolling like we did in the Bassline, Fez, and Rhodes House days. Lets get cosmpolotan again, and lets revel in each others differences! 

It must be time for 2012's first blog!

Watch this space!