Johnson in Kings’ sights for coach

MARTIN JOHNSON

By George Byron

FORMER England World Cup-winning captain and rugby legend Martin Johnson’s name is being thrown around as a possible head coach of the Southern Kings for next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Eastern Province rugby are busy hunting for a “world-class” head coach to spearhead the Kings’ much anticipated debut in Super Rugby. The new coach is expected to be named before the start of the Currie Cup season at the end of June.
Johnson, who captained England to their World Cup triumph in 2003, recently resigned as the England team manager and his name has been mentioned as a possible candidate in EP rugby circles. Insiders say the legendary Johnson possesses the type of credentials the Kings are looking for in their new coach.
The quest to identify a coach is being led by EP’s current head coach Alan Solomons. He is regarded as one of the shrewdest brains in South African rugby.
EP Rugby chief executive Anele Pamba told Weekend Post in an exclusive interview that once the new coach had been appointed, Solomons would move to an all-powerful position of director of rugby.
Pampa said “apart from “head-hunting” a top coach Solomons is also busy looking for fresh blood to beef up the Kings’ squad for their Super Rugby campaign.
“We must remember Solomons held a top position at the International Rugby Board’s development wing so he knows many coaches and has a great deal of contacts in the international rugby world. His net will be spread very wide.
“In the end, it will be between president Cheeky Watson, Solly [Solomons] and myself to identify the man to lead the Kings in Super Rugby.”
Asked whether the candidates had been narrowed down, Pamba said negotiations were ongoing.
“Solly is doing the talking at this stage and we do not want to interfere in the process,” he said. “Once the coach has been named Solomons will move away from the limelight in Super Rugby and take charge of all our coaching structures.
“We don’t need to grow only in Super Rugby, but we have to ensure our under-19, u-21 and Craven Week teams all come up to scratch.”
Solomons disclosed in an interview earlier this year that recruitment of South African players plying their trade abroad would be a big part of the Kings’ strategy in the coming year.
“Fans can expect an almost totally revamped team for this year’s Currie Cup and then Super Rugby. About 70% of the squad could be new players,” Pamba said.
Asked what the biggest challenge facing the Kings was ahead of their Super Rugby debut Pamba replied: “Survival.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday March 17, 2012.

Urgent bid to return ‘big-time’ soccer to Bay

By George Byron 

MAJOR new plans have been announced in an urgent bid to bring “big-time” soccer back to Nelson Mandela Bay following the decision last week by Bay United’s owners to relocate their club.

An innovative strategy was announced on Friday by Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium managing director Stefan Pretorius.

“Our long-term aim is to get a top team to relocate to the city and play at the stadium and build up support.”

Although he would not divulge teams that had been approached, it is believed they rank among the bestknown names in the South African game.

“In the short term we will do everything possible to get as many big matches as possible to be played at the stadium,” Pretorius said. “It is very sad Bay United have decided to relocate and the first prize for soccer lovers would have been if they had stayed in the city.”

Pretorius said the stadium wanted two major anchor tenants and that rugby was one of them. “We want soccer to be the other and we are doing everything possible to make that happen.”

Soccer administrator Boya Chetty said he would back any moves to get big-time soccer back. “It is in the interests of the stadium to have major soccer played at their venue and I hope they have success in attracting a top team.

“Because of the way soccer is structured it will be very difficult to get back to the top flight via the route of promotion. We are right at the bottom of the ladder.

“There is tremendous potential for soccer to become a big drawcard in Port Elizabeth. I will back the management at the stadium to the hilt,” Chetty said.

Bay United general manager Lungsi Mooi said the reasons stated by the club’s Limpopo-based owners for relocating were based mainly on the “lack of support received from the metro”.

The location of the city in terms of travel from regions where “quality teams” were based was another factor.

No major soccer has been played at the stadium since last year’s Fifa World Cup and the stadium is now the home of the EP Kings rugby team who are bidding for promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division this season.

But while soccer fans are still reeling from the news that Umlilo are relocating, they can at least look forward to a clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the stadium in July.

The “Soweto derby by the sea” forms part of the Vodacom Challenge and more than 30000 fans are expected. Stadium management will be keen to see whether soccer still enjoys the tremendous pulling power of previous years when Chiefs play Pirates.

How Bay really won the Sevens bid

By George Byron

ONLY tense manoeuvring behind the scenes at the highest level stopped heavyweights Cape Town from derailing Port Elizabeth’s successful bid to host the star-studded international IRB World Sevens rugby tournament later this year.

Last-minute lobbying of key players who favoured international tourism hotspot Cape Town caused the decision to be delayed on several occasions before last week’s announcement.

This has been revealed by EP Rugby Board member and parliamentary house chairperson of committees Cedric Frolick who played a key role in ensuring Port Elizabeth’s bid enjoyed exclusive government backing.

EP’s bid was also given extra impetus by the support of SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskin who threw his full weight behind Nelson Mandela Bay’s effort. Frolick is well connected at the top levels of South African sport and was previously deputy chairperson of the parliamentary sports portfolio committee.

“While Port Elizabeth’s bid had the full backing of EP Rugby, the municipality and government, the Cape Town bid was fragmented with its municipality and WP Rugby not always seeing eye to eye,” Frolick said. “They also did not enjoy government backing.” The sponsors also had to be told that Port Elizabeth was not this “little town down the coast” and that it had performed admirably when staging Fifa World Cup matches.

“There was lots of work done to ensure our bid was successful. Though they only entered the race late, once Cape Town put their name in the hat they were always going to be a major force.”

It is believed one of the biggest battles EP had to fight was to win over the confidence of Emirates Airlines – one of the major sponsors.

“Obviously Cape Town is a world brand and the airline has a big footprint in the city with its own terminal at Cape Town International Airport,” said Frolick.  “However, we spoke to Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and they have agreed to accommodate the airline in every way possible in PE. They can bring their aircraft in here and have facilities inside the airport.

“The success of this bid shows EP is now firmly on the path to secure Super Rugby status in 2013. The first step was the awarding of the Tri Nations Test to the city, when the Springboks will face the All Blacks on August 20.

“We now have stability in EP rugby and everything is starting to fall into place.”

Frolick said he had entered into negotiations with Hoskin to convince the SA Rugby boss the city would be the ideal host. “I told Hoskin if George lost out he should not take the tournament away from the region. Every year thousands of PE fans travelled to George to watch the event and PE was the next logical option.”

While Port Elizabeth’s bid was unified, the same could not be said for Cape Town.

“Rugby does not have a footprint at the new Greenpoint Stadium which is administered by the municipality which made the original bid to host the Sevens.

“The municipality offered WP Rugby the chance to play at the new stadium at exorbitant fees which was turned down by rugby, who have continued to play at their traditional home at Newlands. It was only right at the end that WP Rugby threw their weight behind the Cape Town bid.

“I think that when considering the bids the rugby (bosses) decided they did not want to get involved in the local politics of WP Rugby.”

Frolick said the new stability brought to EP rugby by president Cheeky Watson and chief executive Anele Pamba had renewed SA Rugby’s faith in the region.

Frolick also heaped praise on the efforts of Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile, who said his city was ready to welcome the world.

“I also believe another big plus was the massive 48000 crowd which attended EP’s Currie Cup playoff match against the Pumas last season.”

Pamba said the event could bring in revenue worth about R80-million to the city.

“This event will be televised to between 16 and 20 countries and we can expect a massive influx of tourists,” said Pamba, adding there were plans to organise an additional week-long Sevens tournament leading up to the main event.

And it will also be a special occasion for Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu, who will relish the chance of a return to the city where he played for EP at the end of his career. Treu completed his masters studies in education psychology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

The tournament will be held in December over two days which have not yet been announced.

(The print version of this article was originally published in Weekend Post on Saturday, April 16, 2011.)