Dear love

Here are some things that you didn't know for sure, but have probably worked out:
I hate talking on the phone. Absolutely abhor it. It's a hangover from a time (in my formative years) where a girl told me I was boring.
I'm kinda corny, sometimes in a sweet "oh, that's cute" kinda way, but generally in a "oh God" kinda way.
I'm still a child (read immature) in many ways. Still unable to put forth my emotions without being a wreck.

My favorite song in the whole entire world is a Marvin Gaye classic called "My love is waiting" it's only slightly ironic that I'm 30yrs old and indeed my love sits inside me. Waiting. I have never told a girl "I love you" in fact, the only people I ever tell I love them are my nieces.
It's a social cover for unrequited love. The single most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life. And I've broken a rib!

So here's another thing that you kinda knew already... I'm absolutely besotted with you. I think you are (for lack of a better word) amazing! Without over stating the matter you are what basketball analysts would call a triple threat. Really smart, really pretty and funny. But you knew that already.

My inability to verbally express myself has led me to this letter. I know there are much better ways to go about this process, but "all the world is a stage" and letters are my West End.
For a long time I thought I feared commitment, but that's not it. If anything, I quite look forward to it! What I fear, I genuinely fear is not being great. I wanna be great, with you!

This is getting quite whiny, like one of those 90s boy band songs with the quasi cool teens telling generic love stories. But I figured I should get it out there, in to the ether, and see what returns.www.twitter.com/kbzfire

Response to Oregan Hoskins

At 23h00 last night (10/09) I found myself reading an open letter from Oreagan Hoskins.
I have been grappling with my emotions for the last two weeks. One part of me feels bad for not supporting the Boks because the players haven't picked themselves. The other part feels like if I support the Boks I'll be supporting the status quo, and indirectly telling SARU it's okay for them to re-hire Heyneke Meyer when they come back from England.

My decision was made easier last night. Hoskins' open letter sought to set a few thing straight. It did. It put in black and white the notion that SA Rugby is a self obsessed institution detached from reality. I'm not sure a fish can be applauded for swimming. When Hoskins affirms that SARU are the only union with a transformation treaty, why does he think this is groundbreaking? Did he stop to think why 15 years in to the new dispensation it was the only union that still required a transformation treaty?! Anecdotal evidence suggests SARU and the Springboks in particular are the slowest in the big three sports to transform.

When Pieter de Villiers was appointed Bok coach he was hamstrung from day one. Not only was he the Boks first non white coach, Hoskins also confirmed that, the reason he had landed the job was the color of his skin. The media and everybody else anti transformation used this as the stick they would beat him with for the duration of his career. His Bok team won the Tri-Nations, they found a way to beat him with the transformation stick. His Bok team won in New Zealand for the first time, they found a way to beat him with the transformation stick. Even when he picked a pretty white Bok team for the world cup they managed to beat him with the transformation stick!

Obfuscation is not a good look on a politician, it's even less of a good look on a sports administrator. Hoskins can't pull the wool over our eyes. We watch school boy rugby, and we watch Craven week. We see the number of talented black kids (who aren't only playing wing by the way) representing their schools. We also see when the system fails them and they never progress beyond Craven Week.
Is there a problem in terms of grassroots development? Yes. Is there a problem in the conveyor belt from post matric to proffessional? absolutely! But what does it matter because even when the few black players make it to the top level they have to work extra hard to prove they are worthy of Bok selection.
Think of the scenario where Siya Kolisi was assured he wasn't ready for Bok rugby the year after captaining the U21 side, however, Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel were both "definitely ready" for selection the season after playing for the U21s. Elton Jantjies play his best season of Super rugby, he gets rewarded by being left behind so Morne Steyn can go to England rather. Lionel Mapoe has his best super rugby season, but Jesse Kriel who plays most of his super rugby season at fullback is moved to centre so that he plays in Mapoe's stead. I won't even go in to Juan de Jongh's non selection through out Meyer's tenure. Teboho Mohoje shows good form through out the Super rugby and championship season only for his spot to be usurped by Pieter Steph du Toit who hasn't played any rugby bar one half of a warm up game.
My point is, even when the players are there to be picked, they are not!

This is an emotive issue, and so it should be. Our national teams should stir up our emotions. The bok team under Meyer has simply antagonised us. Hoskins and Meyer should enjoy the Rugby world cup, but they shouldn't expect that everyone will.

Basotho Hearts

Sometimes, you have to throw yourself in to something without over thinking it. You see a girl. You like a girl. You walk up to her "hey, I saw you standing here..." A leap of faith! A leap so great it may just change your entire world.

Well, myself and two of my cousins have taken a leap of faith. We have conspired to start a business. It's a funny thing. We're only about a month in but we've completely immersed ourselves in this business. Our whatsapp group which was once a platform for ridiculous banter has evolved in to one long business conversation.
I thought I was a passionate person, but compared to these two ladies, I ain't even a little passionate. They are extremely hard working, and super tenacious as well! Watching them deconstruct and solve a problem is the most amazing thing. I'm gobsmacked at times at how brilliant these people are. People I've known all my life by the way. Just never in this context. What a thing!

The business is called Basotho Hearts! It's a market stall which will sell some fine "african cuisine". I use the term African cuisine loosely because in reality, it's just really good hearty nosh which everybody can enjoy. But even better than that, is the traditional homemade ginger beer that will have you licking your lips and returning to Basotho Hearts as often as a soapie fan watches Brooke, Ridge et al...

We have put our hearts in to this. We hope people will appreciate it, as much as we're appreciating this new world!

Football stuff #ManUnited

It's three weeks in to the greatest spectacle that television produces, and already the madness has begun. That's right it's Barclays Premier League time and I (and many other football nuts) could not be more excited.
The christmas carol relating to the most wonderful time of the year would not be misplaced, for millions around the world right now!

This is has been the most extraordinary start to the season for me. For a couple of reasons really. None more than the lunacy in the British media. Between the journalists and the pundits, it's amazing to see the furore they are able to create surrounding the littlest things. More on that later.

I think my Man United are off to a decent start. This start is a much improved one compared to last season in terms of results. Have United set the scene alight? Certainly not. Is that something new for United teams? Not really. Man United are a traditionally slow starting team for whatever reason. Sir Alex insists that was never by design, but it just always worked out like that.

It is interesting then to see television pundits bemoan every one of Uniteds three opening games as "lacklustre", "uninspiring" and/or "boring". From my rose tinted vantage point there have been spells in all three games that have showed glimpses of what the team can produce once they've found top form.
Before the Aston Villa game Allan Curbishley insisted he "can't see what Van Gaals best eleven is". An odd comment when you consider that Van Gaal has used pretty much the same personnel in all the games to date. I'm aware these pundits are paid to put forth opinions and observations, but surely they must be informed?

Man Uniteds new signings have fared pretty well in the main. Darmian has slotted in to that right back position seamlessly, and looks top quality. Memphis looks at times like the real deal, then at times reminds you of Nani (not in a good way unfortunately) but at 21 and three games in to his Premier league career, it's very easy to cut him some slack. Particularly if you take his brilliant Champions league performance in to account. Schneiderlin also looks every bit the part. He hasn't hit top form yet, but it's easy to see why Van Gaal paid top dollar for him. For me, the signing of the window was Schweinsteiger. It may well be that at 31 his best is behind him, but let me throw in a cheesy (but necessary) cliche, "form is temporary, class is permanent". In the games he's played so far he's affected the game positively. He's clearly a leader, and United look assured when he's on the pitch. For me he is Michael Carrick's technical ability, laced with Roy Keane's tenacity, and Bryan Robson's football brain. In the Newcastle game which he started, Rooney actually took a couple of sighters at goal. I'm convinced that has to do with Schweinstegers presence.

Someone who has got tongues wagging, and "experts" opining is Wayne Rooney. Every minute he goes without scoring is going in to a magic time keeper, which is then used as a stick to beat him with. Surprisingly, it is United fans most keen to write Rooney's footballing obituary. Read a popular United fan and blogger say somewhere that he's been "terrible since 2012". I laughed out loud! Rooney has an interesting relationship with the Stretford faithful. His perceived willingness to leave the greatest club in the world and move to cross town rivals Man City, has never (and will never) be forgotten. For those of us however, who have made peace with his moment of madness we remain ever grateful for his contribution. He is currently nowhere near his best. But he is playing in a position he is no longer familiar with. It follows that it will take him some time to "get back in the swing of things". I'm convinced that once he's got a goal or two, he'll go on a run. I do think that his best position is playing a number ten though, just off the striker. He's a player who prefers the ball at his feet. So, Van Gaal should be playing to those strengths.

The most interesting talking point for me relating to Man United is Louis Van Gaal. I was convinced when he arrived in Manchester that he was the man to move the club forward. I have for the last two weeks been reviewing my sureness. I have little issues with his footballing knowledge, and even with the way he sets out his team. My big issue with Van Gaal is his management. First, I don't quite understand what his or Ed Woodwards transfer strategy is. Why is he not able to attract every player he wants? Second, why does he seem to have so many players fall out with him in such a short period of time? And last, but certainly not least, why on earth has he handled the De Gea issue in this fashion?! Surely, the situation was as easily handled as a conversation with De Gea detailing what it would take to allow him to leave. As soon as Madrid didn't fulfill those expectations, it should have been business as usual. This ridiculous situation where De Gea is sitting there in his team blazer watching the team play at Old Trafford is ridiculous. Quite frankly, it reflects negatively on Van Gaal. I'm sure his shoulders are broad enough to handle the negativity. But it is unnecessary, and he doesn't need it!

I'm so excited my Man United is back in action, and I can't wait to write more thoughts on the season!
"It's the most wonderful time of the year"