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Kearsney College first XI dig deep at Hilton
Kearsney lost the toss and were asked to field in a 60/50 declaration game on the Hart-Davis Oval at Hilton College on Saturday, 22 January 2022.
In this format, as I understand it, the team batting first are allotted 60 overs in their innings with the team batting second allotted 50 overs. If the team batting first do not utilise all 60 overs the balance is transferred to the team batting second.
The feedback received from Kearsney hereunder: Information on the outstanding Hilton players in the match would be much appreciated.
“The Hilton track, which was flooded a week ago, was surprisingly batting friendly and the bowlers had to toil for any joy. The strong Hilton side, who bat deep, amassed 259/9 in their allotted 60 overs despite being 120/5 at one stage.
Pick of the Kearsney bowlers were Bryce Wiggett with 3/43 and Hayden Bishop with 3/95. Kearsney’s batting response started disastrously, with the openers back in the hut in the first over, with a solitary run on the board.
However, Hayden Bishop and Ross Coetzee knuckled down and soon utilised the batting conditions to their advantage, despite hostile bowling from the Hilton quicks, and bounce and turn from their very competent spinners.
Bishop (52) and Coetzee (82) ensured the draw with their stoicism and patience, despite a small hiccup in the latter stages where Kearsney lost three quick wickets for 13 runs. Kearsney finished on 160/7 in their allotted 50 overs – an excellent result considering the quality of the opposition on home turf.
Photo caption: Kearsney College’s number 3 batsman Hayden Bishop looks to play the ball through the off-side at Hilton.
It was a treat to see the return of competitive schoolboy cricket in KZN.
1st X1 Hilton 259/9 (B Wiggett 3/43, Bishop 3/95)
1st X1 Kearsney 160/7 (Coetzee 82, Bishop 52)
Match drawn
* The Kearsney College first XI host Durban High School first XI in a 100-ball match on the AH Smith Oval come 3pm this afternoon, 26 January 2022:
Kearsney first XI vs DHS today (3pm)
1 Ross Coetzee
2 Adam Zeller
3 Hayden Bishop
4 Michael de Beer (wk)
5 Bryce Wiggett (capt)
6 Fritz Rheeder
7 Dylan Wiggett
8 Ross Phillips
9 Matthew Bergset
10 Nhlakanipho Ngubane (vice-capt)
11 Asande Nyawose
Coaches: Andre van Zyl and Matt Savage
Kearsney first XI matches so far this year:
* Festival matches at Kearsney
* 10 Jan: vs Michaelhouse
Match abandoned
* 11 Jan: Kearsney 137 all out
Dolphins Academy 141 for 5
Dolphins Academy won by 5 wickets
* 12 Jan: Kearsney 177 all out
Maritzburg College 178 for 7
Maritzburg College won by 3 wickets
* 13 Jan: Clifton 129 for 8
Kearsney 130 for 5
Kearsney won by 5 wickets
22 Jan: (Declaration match at Hart-Davis Oval, Hilton College)
Hilton 259 all out
Kearsney 160 for 7
Match drawn
Upcoming on 29 Jan: vs Glenwood first XI at Kearsney
# Hilton College first XI vs Kearsney College: Jake Carstens (vice-capt), Charles Swart, Ivan Lockem, Matthew Stewart, Casey Nicholson, Kristofer Watt (capt), Jarryd Pike, Ross Boast, Matt Wilson (wk), Kieran Kilmartin (vice-capt), Christopher Roy
Coach: Dale Benkenstein
# Other Hilton first XI result: lost a T20 match by 4 wickets away to Bishops on 15 January.
Hilton 135 for 8
Bishops 137 for 6
Bishops won by 4 wickets
# Next up, Hilton play Westville first XI on Thursday in a T20 match at Eston Country Club (3.30pm start) before meeting the same team at Hilton’s Hart-Davis Oval in a declaration match on Saturday, 29 January (9am start).
Westville first XI notch win on Goldstones
Westville and Maritzburg College were involved in a heartening 15 cricket fixtures on Saturday and while College won 11 of those matches it was the Westville first XI who took the honours on Goldstones.
The visiting Westville skipper won the toss and put the College first team in to bat on their home turf in the KZN capital.
Feature pic: After their win on Goldstones the Westville first XI went to Snows to support their U14A team to victory.
“College were not able to put together any meaningful partnerships up front and the Westville bowling attack was able to restrict College to 52 for 4 at tea,” said College coach Robbie Coutts.
Westville were able to pin the College batsmen down and runs were scarce. The solitary substantial partnership was that between Luc Jacobs (61) and Bryn Brokensha (27). With wickets falling at crucial times College weren’t able to kick on and the outcome was a total of 151 for 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
In contrast, Westville got off to a flier with 30 runs on the board after the first 3 overs and at the start of over 16 the opening batsmen were still together. Cayden Hohls then managed to break up the openers but at afternoon tea Westville were in a strong position at 105 for two.
Maritzburg College’s Luc Jacobs, running in from the Princess Margaret Drive End, launches into his delivery stride.
Credit: Justin Waldman Sports Photography
Westville navigated the home stretch well and reached their winning target for the loss of 3 wickets and with more than 50 balls to spare.
There was an outstanding 77-run win for the Maritzburg College U16A team against the strong Westville side at Collegians Club while College won the U15A match by 7 seven runs and Westville U14A were comprehensive 90-run winners.
SCORES IN BRIEF
First XI: Maritzburg College 151/9 (Jacobs 59; Ngugi 3-28, Mahomed 3-31) Westville 152/3 (Gopalan 52, Pillay 48*, Simpson 33) Westville won by 7 wickets.
Second XI: Westville 217/9 (Thandar 60, Maxwell 37) Maritzburg College 218/6 (Quin 52, Woolridge 40, Currie 34, Armstrong 30) College won by 4 wkts.
Thirds: Westville 131/8 (Young 38) MC 134/3 (Thompson 50) College won by 7 wkts.
Fourths: Westville 75 (Stead 4-14, McIlrath 3-7, Lawrence 3-12) MC 76/8 won by 2 wkts.
U16A: College 223/7 (De Costa 60, Miller 50, Hosking 37) Westville 146 (Robertson 32, Jordaan 30, De Costa 3-17) MC won by 77 runs.
U16B: College 69 (Hughes 5-17, Bremer 3-23) Westville 70/1 won by 9 wickets.
U16C: Westville 146/6 (Madison 31, Paverd 31; Samuel 3-30) MC 147/6 (Bernstein 80*; Maseko 3-27) MC won by 4 wkts.
U15A: College 155 (Bester 38; Pillay 3-26) Westville 148. MC won by 7 runs.
U15B: College 122 (Mitchell 3-9) Westville 91 (Sutcliffe 33; Van der Vliet 4-15, Clark 3-3). MC won by 31 runs.
U15C: Westville 128/6 and MC 122/7. Westville won by 6 runs.
U14A: Westville 261 (McGough 56, Delvin 33, Baudach 48; Gasa 3-47) College 171 (De Bruyn 39, Du Toit 34; McGough 4-25). Westville won by 90 runs.
U14B: Westville 85 and MC 90/3 for MC to win by 7 wkts.
U14C: Westville 35 and MC 36/3 for MC to win by 7 wkts.
U14D: Westville 86/9 (Ncula 4-14) MC 89/2 (Maud 42) MC won by 8 wkts.
U14E: MC 118/5 and Westville 101/5 (Lee 46) MC won by 17 runs.
New Shane Warne documentary sure to entertain and inform
It seems a long time ago that we had Test cricketers with the personality and sheer entertainment value of Shane Warne.
I may be wrong, but it is almost as if players have, for the most part, been herded into a regulated “sameness” that discourages overt displays of originality. Perhaps that is due to the intense media scrutiny they find themselves under.
A new documentary on Australian leg-spin legend Shane Warne looks set to remind us of what we have lost, but at the same time it leaves us appreciating the true-blue characters of the game. Let us hope we will see more of his like sometime soon.
I don’t personally know Shane, so my observations come from the “outside”, and are purely based on what I have read and seen. He has always fascinated me and is certainly someone that I would love to know.
Straight and to the point, the full-length film is simply titled Shane, and was released on digital download in the UK recently. And the reviews of it suggest it is a must-see for every sports enthusiast. I am not sure if it is available in South Africa yet and something that I am looking forward to.
“I liked loud music, I smoked, I drank and bowled a bit of leg-spin,” Warney says in characteristic fashion. “I don’t have any regrets.”
Well, there were plenty of things – as more comprehensively highlighted in his compelling autobiography – No Spin, written with the assistance of Mark Nicholas – that I am sure Shane Warne would manage differently if he could go back in time. But, just like every single one of us, he is a fallible human being who makes mistakes.
One thing is certain: Shane Keith Warne has packed a lot of “life” into his life. Perhaps he could best be characterised as someone who wasn’t afraid to “have a go” – at just about everything and anything. And, most of the time, his innate self-confidence has served him well.
The film also offers insights into what his peers thought of him; greats of the game like (Lord) Ian Botham share their views, while his friendship with fellow celebs, like superstar singer Ed Sheeran, is an example of how well Shane has fitted into the celebrity world.
There are also closer-to-home interviews with his ex-wife Simone Callahan (a 10-year marriage) and their three children – Jackson (22), Summer (24) and Brooke (20).
Shane’s relationship with actress and model Elizabeth Hurley was plagued by unrelenting media attention; the demands of different career paths meant much time apart – and was probably the primary cause of their eventual break-up.
English actress and model Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne were the subject of unrelenting media scrutiny during their relationship.
It’s interesting that despite all the hurt his indiscretions caused, the 52-year-old Shane has still managed to maintain a pretty good relationship with all those closest to him – and just about everyone else who has crossed his path in what has been an action-packed life.
Born in the Melbourne suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully on 13 September 1969 – Shane is certainly a fascinating person. A natural storyteller, Warney was a certainty for a media role after his playing days were over.
The insights he offers on his own life, his thoughts on his evolution as a cricketer, reveal a man who is perceptive when it comes to the subjects he knows so well – and who has a caring side to him that may not be readily apparent to the casual onlooker.
Warney was a hugely competitive, evolving cricketer who explored, developed and employed every weapon he could in his bowling armoury. He certainly had an early appreciation of how body language could be used as an additional advantage in the leg-spinner’s bag of tricks.
Something that came as a complete surprise to me was the revelation that, at just six years of age, both his legs were broken in a playground accident. His dad made a trolley for him, and the determined way Shane propelled himself around, using just his hands and wrists (which became immensely strong), for six long months suggest – in hindsight – perhaps an early indication of the person, and type of cricketer, he was destined to become.
With Shane it has been, at times, a constant battle between his “up for anything” persona and his more thoughtful side.
In the early days.
It would serve us well to understand that nothing prepares a person for the all-encompassing attention that celebrity brings.
As Shane says in another interview: “People meet the headline and not the person. It’s confusing and potentially derailing. My personal life has been played out on the front pages, back pages, the women’s magazines.
“Sitting on my balcony, and I get papped (photographed by a member of the paparazzi) with my shirt off… I said, ‘Are you serious? I’ve got my big fat guts out on the balcony’.
It’s time for the batsman to concentrate on that ball like never before.
“I resented it (the constant attention) for a while. I understand it now, but to try and deal with it every single day might be hard to understand.
“When you grow up you think fame could be pretty cool. When I was 21, 22 years of age I had my first exposure to it. There’s no school you can go to, to learn about it. You’ve just got to try and do your best to learn and deal with it.”
Always up for a bit of fun, part of his enduring appeal is that he is able to laugh at himself. And he is honest, admitting, that he was selfish in his pursuit of cricketing immortality – and family did take a back seat at times.
A magical spin bowler, yes. As a dad and partner? Quite a handful but, one suspects, well worth the “extra effort” in the end.
Never boring, that’s for sure.
Shane Warne with 2 of his 3 children, Brooke and Jackson, in 2019.
Maritzburg College 1st XV beat Glenwood for first time in 11 years
It was a moment to savour for the Maritzburg College first XV when they overcame an 11-year hoodoo to beat the Glenwood first XV 20-12 on Dixons in Durban on Saturday.
Red Black & White head coach Cameron Fraser said that the College boys under the captaincy of flanker Corbin Thunder were determined to break the first XV win drought against Glenwood.
Justin Waldman Photography feature pic caption: The powerful Maritzburg College first XV left winger Siphozola Radu finds some space with flyhalf and head boy James Beauclerk in support.
Coach Cameron said of the 3-tries-to-2 victory that turning the 11-year tide of losses in this decades-old contest between two proud rugby schools required a brave performance from the lads in Red Black & White.
And they duly delivered, did captain Thunder’s young men.
“College managed to win the physical battle upfront and avoided ill-discipline as best as they could,” said the coach.
The men from PMB gained the early ascendancy when right wing Kuhann van den Berg chased after a telling attacking kick from scrumhalf AJ Knoetze and managed to offload the ball to inside centre Liam Prinsloo, who raced over in the corner for the opening points of the game (5-0).
Coach Cameron said the match was of an exceptionally physical nature and the number of penalties conceded was a by-product. College’s lively number 9 AJ Knoetze slotted a penalty goal towards the end of the first half to leave the visitors with a handy 8-0 lead going into the changeover.
“Glenwood struck back early in the second half after some powerful surges from their forwards,” said the College coach.
“Glenwood caught College unawares at the breakdown to eventually crash over the line on the blindside.”
Now within just 3 points of College (8-5) Glenwood then leaked a penalty and Thunder’s men conjured up a very destructive maul to bring the Red Black & White within striking distance of touchdown.
And after a number of pick-and-go’s there was no stopping the inspirational Red Black & White captain and flanker Corbin Thunder, as he breached the try-line whitewash despite the attention of a posse of Glenwood players on his back.
Scrumhalf AJ Knoetze converted captain Thunder’s try and with the scoreboard reading 15-5 College had regained a bit of breathing space.
Going into the last quarter of the game, alert Maritzburg College hooker Quentin Pitout contrived to pinch an overthrow off a Glenwood lineout and then demonstrated his mobility and rugby intelligence to swerve inside and outside the approaching Glenwood cover defenders before offloading to his left winger team-mate Sipho Radu who dived over in the corner.
With College now in a comfortable 20-5 lead and 10 minutes left on the clock, the never-say-die Glenwood lads hit back with a converted intercept try under the posts (20-12).
The gutsy Glenwood men were on the attack as the match drew towards its close but it was a superb Willian Pretorius turnover at the breakdown that saw the Red Black &White number 8 deny the Green Machine and put the College victory beyond doubt.
A memorable moment captured by the educated lens of Justin Waldman Photography as Team College enjoy the satisfaction of a hard-earned victory over the Glenwood first XV on Dixons in Durban on Saturday, 4 September 2021.
“It was a special performance by the College 1st XV who will be highly motivated to repeat this result in the return fixture on Goldstones this coming Saturday [11 September 2021],” Red Black and White coach Cameron Fraser concluded.
It certainly looks to be an absolute belter of a match in store between these two age-old rivals on what we hope will be a balmy Goldstones spring afternoon.
MARITZBURG COLLEGE FIRST XV vs GLENWOOD
1. Mawande Mdanda
2. Quintin Pitout
3. Roydon Swift
4. Joshua Kähler
5. Christian Williamson
6. Corbin Thunder (capt)
7. Wela Takata
8. Willian Pretorius
9. AJ Knoetze
10. James Beauclerk
11. Siphozola Radu
12. Liam Prinsloo
13. Lusanda Mtshali
14. Kuhann van den Berg
15. Spha Ngcobo
The flame that fires superstar Ronaldo
It is a personal interest of mine; trying to get inside the head of a sporting superstar… What makes them tick? In this case, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has returned to Manchester United. Ronaldo was signed by Man U from Juventus late last week after initial interest was shown by Manchester City, and is due to make his English Premier League (EPL) return in September, after the international matches break.
A five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) regarded as one of the most sought-after individual awards in football, I discovered that Ronaldo possesses certain characteristics which, allied with natural talent, set him on the path to greatness from an early age.
Feature caption AP: Ronaldo could well be donning the famous number 7 shirt again in his return to Manchester United and Old Trafford.
Ronaldo first signed for Man U at the age of 18, moving from Sporting CP in his native Portugal, and 18 years later he is back. The teenager’s initial move to United’s Old Trafford was his springboard to greatness.
The familiar look of the ultra-competitor that is Cristiano Ronaldo… during his most recent tenure… 3 years at Juventus. Reuters
Long-time friend Luis Lourenco says the mindset of the now 36-year-old Ronaldo remains as hungry for success as the self-confident teenager he once was. This is a now super-fit mature footballing superstar whose remarkable work ethic and single-minded pursuit of trophies remains undiminished. Ronaldo’s physical attributes, goalscoring skills, leadership and big match temperament have been recognised financially, too.
These stats below should give an idea as to why Ronaldo, at 36, could be forgiven for wanting to take it easy, rather than strive for more.
Apart from the World Cup, Ronaldo has won everything that he has set his sights on in football. He has more money than he knows what to do with. His new wages at Man U have been estimated to be in the region of £600 000 pound (12,1 million South African rand) a week (about R50 million a month), making him the highest paid player in the history of the EPL.
As of 6 April 2021, the respected Forbes magazine ranked Ronaldo third* on its list of the highest paid athletes in the world, with annual earnings of £87 million in 2020 of which £36m came from commercial ventures. Ronaldo’s net worth is £363m or R7,325 billion.
He is, with good reason, considered by many to be the most influential athlete of all time: Six months ago, Ronaldo became the first person in the world to reach 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Man U fans in the crowd at Wolves on Sunday post their desire to see Ronaldo back in harness. Rex
Among a raft of major awards and career milestones, five months ago Ronaldo passed all-time great Pele’s tally, to reach 770 goals in all competitions. He is a five-time winner of the Fifa World Player of the Year title, three times an EPL winner and five times a European Champions League winner. And a Euro 2016 winner, in masterminding Portugal to their only major title.
Last year, Ronaldo became the first active team-sport athlete to top $1 billion in career earnings. Apart from a lucrative lifetime deal with Nike, Ronaldo the business also has major income streams from his CR7 branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms. News today indicates that Ronaldo will be given special dispensation to don the fabled Man U number 7 jersey again – previously worn by legends George Best (who said Ronaldo was the most exciting player he had ever seen) and David Beckham.
I mean, what more could this guy want? What is it inside the mind of this once-boy from Madeira** in Portugal that continues to drive the adult Ronaldo ever onward and upward?
The answer is simple, says his childhood mentor Leonel Pontes: “Ronaldo is different. He has never been a lamb that follows others. It is not life that sets challenges for Ronaldo; he sets his own challenges.”
ALREADY GOT ‘THAT LOOK’: A young Ronaldo with early mentor Lionel Pontes in Portugal.
That, clearly, is the flame that keeps this now-father-of-four going, always striving for more.
Born in humble conditions to a mother who was a cook and a father who was a gardener, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro nearly didn’t make it into this world. With an alcoholic father and a mother achingly aware of their poverty-stricken life, mom Maria, already a mother of three, was only prevented from aborting Ronaldo by a doctor.
Fiercely proud and full of self-belief at a very young age, Ronaldo was once expelled from a school for throwing a chair at a teacher who he claimed was disrespecting him. He gave up formal schooling when barely a teenager to pursue a career in professional football.
“He was just 12 when he came to Sporting,” says Pontes, “and obviously he missed his family a lot. But he had this love for training, for the game, for competing. Deep inside, this is what moves him. He always knew what he wanted – and that made things easier.”
Ronaldo in his youthful previous days at Manchester United, here against major rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Reuters
But, for the second time, it was almost all over before it had even begun when, at the age of 15, Ronaldo had to undergo major heart surgery. The surgery was a success and the rest is history.
Luis Martins, who worked with Ronaldo the youth at Sporting, says Ronaldo’s decision to return to Man U was not a romantic one based on the nostalgia of past glories.
Martins: “Going back to England, more specifically to the club where he felt so good in the past and grew up a lot as a player and a person, will always feel like a return home.
“It would have been much trickier had he joined Man City due to the rivalry with United. But it’s important to bear in mind that Ronaldo doesn’t pay much attention to these things – above anything else, he’s a player more focused on his performance and the performance of the team. Any way you look at it, it made sense for him to choose United.”
A Juventus moment for Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is understood that a call from one of his great mentors, Sir Alex Ferguson, was a key factor in Ronaldo opting for Man United rather than Manchester City. Ronaldo sees Sir Alex as a father figure and probably the biggest influence on his life.
Ronaldo is a renowned scorer of goals, but he is also a leader. Look no further than how he has inspired the Portuguese national team. Rather than be burdened by leadership, the extra responsibility made Ronaldo an even better player. Leading by example, Ronaldo has been able to pull his team-mates together when they have wilted, as well as stick up for them with management.
Martins says the razor-sharp Ronaldo, who at 36 would put most of his peers to shame in the conditioning stakes, has always believed in hard work as the key to his success. And he listens: “If you tell Ronaldo something, if he feels it will be beneficial, he will add it to his life straight away.
“What motivates him is being able to perform. He won’t change that now.”
xxxxx
*Another football megastar, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, was estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of £94,1 million. Forbes listed Messi as the world’s second highest-paid athlete in 2021. Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer was listed by Forbes as being the world’s highest-paid athlete. Federer moved just a touch ahead of the football superstars in 2020.
**Ronaldo’s childhood home was in Madeira (population 260 000), a four-island archipelago and autonomous region of Portugal off the northwest coast of Africa.
A sporting phenomenon… Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, previously of Juventus, now once again of Manchester United.
Lions have shown that Bok physicality will not be enough
I am not going anywhere near contentious first Test decisions; the video questioning of match officials etcetera. It has been done by dozens already. When all is said and done, what happened cannot be changed. The Lions won.
There is a new referee for this match. What damage has been done by all the commenting by team officials and pundits, we don’t know.
The Lions’ first Test starting pack was heavier than the Bok eight; the Springboks don’t have the monopoly on “massive” forwards. The Lions gave away nothing in terms of fronting up to the physical challenge, despite an overall lacklustre first half from the tourists.
A game of two halves it was, and the crux was that the Lions were able to adapt and improve whereas the Boks weren’t. The Lions were able to right their wrongs of the first half in convincing fashion.
The Boks were neither able to take their world-renowned intensity to a new level nor were they able to sustain the intensity that they had managed to build in the first half. The Lions are fitter.
There are Covid-related reasons, yes, matches played and matches cancelled, yes, the worst possible Bok build-up to a Lions series ever, yes, but it doesn’t change the reality facing the Boks in this Saturday’s second Test.
An enduring mystery is how little an impact the Boks’ much-vaunted bomb squad front-row had when they entered the fray immediately after half-time. They could not reverse the gathering Lions momentum.
The Boks’ starting front-row, in contrast, were outstanding – and that dominance played a significant role in the momentum that generated a 12-3 half-time lead. We can only hope there will be a sustained effort over the full spectrum of the second Test match.
The bottom line is, the team that is better able to limit its penalties conceded (especially the unforced penalties in goal-kicking areas) will likely win a close Test match. And that is very closely linked to who dominates at scrum time, and therefore who is able to establish momentum.
The first-half penalty count belonged to the Boks. The second-half penalty count was a Lions landslide. The penalty count was determined by who was in control of the game. The team that is most disciplined, in not giving away soft penalties; this will be key.
The Lions also redirected their kicking game in the second half, punting the ball higher and a little shorter, distance-wise, which enabled more hanging time and hence more competitive kick-chases.
In the first half, the Lions were generally awkward and the composed Boks looked to be cruising to victory, but critically the men in green and gold didn’t punch home that advantage with a try or two. Marginal decisions in this match played a role, but however you look at it, the Boks need to create more try-scoring chances.
It was only in the second half that a put-upon South Africa seriously looked like scoring – and that came from situations where they were improvising in the moment. The Boks were forced by game situations to step out of their comfort zone and improvise. More of this is needed… this is an instinctively, naturally, talented Bok back three. Use them more.
As mentioned, match fitness was a key factor; the Lions are definitely in better physical condition than the Boks. The Covid problems in the Bok camp leading into the Test severely impacted their ability to last the pace in the second half, whereas the Lions just seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.
I fear that, with just 7 days between Tests it leaves no time to close this gap sufficiently enough to nullify the marked advantage that the tourists have in this facet.
Granted, and as mentioned, there were the tiniest of margins in several potentially match-altering moments but my prevailing feeling is that the Lions ultimately deserved the first Test win.
A critical factor, alluded to above, is that, between them, our match-winning wings hardly got the ball; barely a handful of times; in 80 minutes. There have to be ways found to include them more. They are major weapons in the Bok armoury.
And there is no superstar in number 8 Duane Vermeulen to give us renewed hope. His injury-enforced absence was never more evident than in the first Test.
My feeling on the second Test is that it is for the Lions to lose. They are in the pound seats right now.
A solid physical and tactical performance should be enough for the Lions this Saturday (and I hope I am wrong) whereas the Boks have a number of gears to change in order to get things right and level the series.
The first half will be crucial. The Lions will not give an inch physically. Somehow, the Boks will have to impose themselves on this match. It is going to take intelligence and power. Our men in green and gold must find a way. Key moments must be won.
It is a tantalising prospect. Bok win please.
1sts soccer flashback 14-8-2019: Men of House outplay Hilton
Oh how I miss it… flashback to 14 August 2019 and the opening of the newly minted Zungu Soccer Pavilion at Hilton College’s newly dedicated football ground, Zungu Field…
Results in recent years suggested there wouldn’t be much in it, but visitors Michaelhouse were full value for their first team’s 2-0 soccer victory over home side Hilton College on this balmy Autumn afternoon (14 August 2019) in the beautiful KZN midlands.
Jono Cook feature image: The Hilton and Michaelhouse first teams line up before the 14 August 2019 match that heralded the opening of the Zungu Soccer Pavilion on Zungu Field at the Hilton campus.
These results are told from the Michaelhouse perspective: From August 2016, leading into the 14 August 2019 match-up it has been a pretty close race between the Hilton and Michaelhouse first soccer teams.
It is worth mentioning that Boys of Hilton were without their talismanic 2018 SA U17 soccer captain, match-winning goalkeeper and Manchester City trialist Constandino Christodoulou, who is out for two weeks due to injury.
And it is worth speculating whether Costi could have kept out the brace of goals that eluded his replacement, Jacob Kethro, but it would have taken a pair of phenomenal saves to deny first the on-song Men of House striker Alex Vermeulen and then fellow frontrunner the irrepressible Thabo Dlamini.
In truth, Jacob was offered very little protection by his defenders on both extremely well-taken goalscoring occasions so, Costi or no Costi, I think that this match belonged to House by a distance.
The Michaelhouse victory stage was set from the get-go, and Hilton were never given a chance to get back in the game or seriously threaten the visitors’ control.
Michaelhouse striker Alex Vermeulen was a constant threat upfront.
After the initial midfield tussle for possession, a superb through-ball into the big box in the 5th minute found the athletic Michaelhouse striker Alex Vermeulen, who was strongly tackled before he could get in a goalshot.
In the 9th minute, great play on attack by Men of House centre back Luc Pousson saw a turnover but the versatile first XV rugby player was back in a jack-flash to close down a Hilton College counter-attack. This standout cameo of the Michaelhouse intent proved to be a blueprint for the game – Hilton were seldom given space.
Two minutes later a superb curling left-to-right free-kick by Michaelhouse left midfielder Mugabi Lubinga was placed square in the aerial zone of the dangerous Alex Vermeulen but a top-class header out of danger, under tremendous pressure, by Hilton College centre back Tapiwa Mushonga snuffed out the real and present danger.
Then nippy Michaelhouse marksman Thabo Dlamini got in the first of numerous goalshots in this absorbing match but Hilton keeper Jacob Kethro handled the threat comfortably.
Hilton College first team centre back and 2019 SA Schools hockey player Suubi Mugerwa-Sekawabe had a busy afternoon.
It was all Men of House in the opening stages but the Hilton College tackles were decisive, accurate and very hard – there was no quarter asked or given in this annual soccer match – and one sensed that Boys of Hilton were beginning to find their feet.
The snag, though, was that Michaelhouse marksman and incisive 2019 KZN Inland U18 hockey forward Thabo Dlamini and partner upfront Alex Vermeulen [the 2021 Michaelhouse 1st XV captain), ably assisted by Siyanda Mkhize, were looking exceptionally sharp – and being supplied with a striker’s dream – lots of quality ball.
In the 17th minute Michaelhouse’s busy Gareth Kemp – playing in an attacking role behind the forwards – got in on the act but once again the goalshot attempt was fielded with relative comfort by the alert Hilton keeper Jacob Kethro.
A minute later it was Thabo Dlamini’s turn to just about wriggle his way through the crowded Hilton College goalmouth but the hungry sharpshooter was dispossessed at the moment critique.
2019 Michaelhouse first team soccer captain and ace goalkeeper Noah Stanger before the match. Photo Jono Cook
Uncertainty under the sustained Michaelhouse pressure in the attacking third began to reveal itself when Siyanda Mkhize intercepted an errant Hilton College clearance but the Gareth Kemp goalshot was superbly saved by keeper Jacob Kethro diving to his left.
Into minute 21 and Gareth Kemp and Thabo Dlamini both got in (off-target) goalshots before a heavy tackle on Gareth Kemp a minute later earned Michaelhouse a direct free-kick just outside the big box, but the Alex Vermeulen strike flew high and wide.
The neutral scoreline was finally altered soon after, when Michaelhouse’s Kwanele Khumalo threaded his way through the left channel before his layoff was slammed into the Hilton College net by striker Alex Vermeulen to make the score Michaelhouse 1 Hilton 0.
Into the 25th minute and following a wayward Alex Vermeulen goalshot, Hilton took the opportunity to break out fast but their rare attacking move amounted to zero, as Men of House’s back four moved smartly to contain the threat.
Michaelhouse retaliated with back-to-back attacks at the other end that came close to nudging the scoreboard further in their favour.
About 29 minutes gone and finally Hilton garnered a great goalshot opportunity but captain Simi Bhembe blazed his strong strike over the crossbar, which led into halftime, the score reading Michaelhouse 1 (Alex Vermeulen) Hilton College 0.
* One could not help surmising that Men of House might come to regret they didn’t convert at least one more goalshot opportunity into something tangible on the scoreboard, but that would depend on what unfolded in the second half.
Hilton College Old Boy Rory Smith of Absolute Containers supports KZN10.com. Absolute Containers, no wonder you are the trendsetters in customised containers and modular solutions! Take a look https://absolutecontainers.co.za/
Into the second half we went and I don’t know what Hilton College coach Cele Mbanjwa said to his lads but they looked a much-improved outfit. Would it be sustained throughout the half, though? Michaelhouse were certainly not going to give up their lead without a fight.
And as if to underline the Men of House resolve, a crucial intercept by Michaelhouse centre back Luc Pousson stymied a top-quality Hilton attacking sortie out left.
7 minutes into the second half and a beautifully-weighted through-ball ball by Michaelhouse centre midfielder Michael Ross set up Alex Vermeulen but his goalshot brought a fine reflex save from Hilton keeper Jacob Kethro.
After their promising start to the second half, the pressure on the Hilton defence was beginning to build again – a la the first half –and not much more than a minute or two after the Kethro save, it was the pocket Men of House rocket Thabo Dlamini put in the clear… and he coolly picked his spot to jettison Michaelhouse into a 2-0 lead.
Star goalkeeper Costi Christodoulou was the outstanding footballer of his era at Hilton College and was recently awarded a prestigious scholarship to a top American university.
A match constant was the Michaelhouse and Hilton supporters cheering, chanting and drum-rolling their first teams on to greater heights as they searched for victory in this annual match in the long history of these two great South African schools.
Well into the second half, Michaelhouse captain and keeper Noah Stanger finally got a meaningful touch on the ball but the Hilton chance was once again lost and the retaliation from deep saw Michaelhouse striker Thabo Dlamini set free with a seemingly sure-fire gold-rush opportunity – only to see his goalshot flash past the wrong side (the right side, from a Hilton perspective) of the far post.
A heavy tackle in midfield on Hilton College captain Simi Bhembe saw a Michaelhouse man yellow-carded and one pondered whether this could be the moment opportune for Hilton to erase the 2-goal deficit?
However, Michaelhouse centre back Nick Crampton again displayed a telling example of the Men of House’s resolve in this intriguing derby – tall and strong – a tower of stability and measured calm – in the heart of the visitors’ defence.
Then when Hilton had a player banished to the sin-bin after a heavy tackle, the visitors’ 2-0 lead in this annual marquee soccer match was already inscribed in the history books for the Men of House.
And so it was; leaving the big crowd satisfied with what they had witnessed as a spectacle, albeit with slightly mixed emotions depending on which side of the N3 your allegiances may lie.
FINAL SCORE
Hilton College 0
Michaelhouse 2
Alex Vermeulen
Thabo Dlamini
TEAMS
Hilton College
1 Jacob Kethro
12 Motheo Makwana
2 Kopano Segoale (vc)
14 Tally Tshekiso
3 Tapiwa Mushonga
6 Suubi Mugerwa-Sekawabe
11 Tanaka Matsa
7 William Raw
9 Wandile Zulu
10 Simi Bhembe (c)
8 Jonathan Tlhagoane
18 Sabelo Moshesh
15 Lwazi Mkatshana
13 Onye Adirika
17 Mamucha Munthali
5 Vuyo Zungu
Head coach Celo Mbanjwa
Michaelhouse
1 Noah Stanger (c)
3 Luc Pousson
8 Nick Crampton
5 Michael Bradford
6 Mugabi Lubinga
10 Kwanele Khumalo
1 Conor MacColl
7 Gareth Kemp
4 Michael Ross
13 Alexander Vermeulen
9 Thabo Dlamini (vc)
18 Matthew Craigie-Stevenson
14 Hugo Ayo
11 Letlotlo Kebonang
15 Arden Scholtz
12 Siyanda Mkhize
Head coach Ryan van Wyk
Message of appeal for recent Maritzburg College rugby star Philani Simamane
Anyone who has seen Philani Simamane play rugby will know the feeling: a quickening of the senses as one realises one is watching something special.
I, for one, will never forget the hat-trick of tries that centre Philani scored for the Maritzburg College first XV on a magical winter’s day against Westville on Goldstones back in 2019.
Feature image: Philani’s 2019 first XV rugby jersey. The names of all donors to his appeal are being embroidered on the jersey and he will be taking this keepsake with him when he departs for the States. A lovely reminder of all the people who are part of his adventure and whose best wishes he takes with him.
That College lost a 54-point thriller to a very good Westville side by 2 slender points (26-28) should not in any way detract a Maritzburg College supporter from the fact that this was a magnificent spectacle of KZN schoolboy rugby.
Philani pictured at the induction to the Maritzburg College Old Boys’ Association in 2019.
Philani, as is the case with all aspiring young rugby players, be they in-school or recently matriculated, is facing new challenges – but in this instance not of the Covid-related kind.
Andrew Soden, who was head prefect of Maritzburg College in 1991, is one of the directors of the Sikhona Foundation, a local non-profit organisation and has been pioneering an appeal to help Philani realise his dream of attending university and playing rugby in Georgia in the USA – and that dream is on the cusp of being realised.
Philani has been accepted at university but what remains is the nitty gritty of putting together the financial nuts and bolts to make this dream real, and to that end, Andrew (a College boy from 1987 to 1991) put out a recent appeal that is told in a delightful way – and goes to the heart of what Maritzburg College rugby – and being a Maritzburg College Old Boy – is all about.
Maritzburg College outside centre Philani Simamane was on fire in this memorable match. Photo Justin Waldman
Here is Andrew’s story in full, as addressed to the writer in an e-letter today (the bold text etc is mine):
“Hi there Jono
“Any theory on why College boys blacken out their boots?
“The generational re-tellings and the hand-me-down stories as to the origin of this tradition may have diluted the reason over the decades.
“But, for me, its real impact has been highlighted in the ongoing appeal for the young lad in the photo below, Maritzburg College Old Boy Philani Simamane (OC2019).
Philani (right), who played primarily at scrumhalf in 2017, pictured during that year with fellow 1st XV player Fezo Mbatha, who played for the 2017 SA Schools side and is now with the Sharks senior team.
“We have been raising money and support to help Philani follow his dream of a university degree.
“This young man, from a very humble background, worked hard for his scholarships to primary school and Maritzburg College, but we know that the journey is not yet done and it is important to help Philani finish what he started.
“The blackening out of our boots makes us equal; none more important than the rest. It signals solidarity and directs our focus and energy towards a shared cause. It bonds us together, with the tacit acknowledgement that we are there for each other when the need arises.
KZN10.com website and social media thanks the outstanding #HalfwayToyota Howick dealership and its general manager, Maritzburg College Old Boy Brandon Brokensha, for their support. I cannot do this alone. Contact me at joncookroy@gmail.com for info on the various advertising options. #TogetherWeAreMore. And why not e-mail Brandon or give him a call.
“Over the past months the inspirational and humbling responses to Philani’s appeal for support has highlighted for me the extraordinary bond that Old Boys of this impressive institution share.
“This show of strength and unity has really restored my faith; a testament that when the situation demands it a College boy will always rise to the occasion.
“Along with Philani we are so very grateful for the encouragement and the support already pledged.
“I would love to share with you some of those interactions that have helped restore my faith:
“One of our supporters, a veteran College Old Boy, well into his 80’s, responded personally with words of encouragement for Philani along with a gift of R500 – which I know is a princely sum for this Old Boy!
“Even though he has never met Philani, or perhaps even heard of him until recently, he is just so excited for this young beneficiary of his support, and has asked us to keep him up to date!
Philani Simamane has try-time on his mind during one of his trademark storming first XV performances in the #RedBlackWhite of Maritzburg College.
___
“An Old Boy in the United States has generously offered to provide Philani with the sponsor’s letter which he needs to obtain his student visa.
____
“Other US expats have offered Philani weekend/holiday accommodation with them, some are helping find vacation work for him while another is putting together a small gathering to welcome Philani to the great state of Georgia!
_____
“An Old Boy and 1st XV winger from 1984 got in touch this past month and offered his support. He has a son and daughter at the same university that Philani is heading to and both are also part of the rugby programme. He ‘is up there most weekends and looks forward to helping Philani out with whatever he needs’.
______
“In the midst of these offerings of support this familiar quote came to mind:
‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’
“I know that Philani’s journey still seems so ‘far’ but he has received wonderful support from his ‘team-mates’ and with your help he will achieve his academic goal of a university degree.
Wearing the familiar 13, Philani Simamane on his way to the corner during the 2019 epic on Goldstones. Photo Martin Ashworth
“If you are still a believer in why College boys blacken out their boots please join in and support Philani’s appeal.
“You can make your contribution through
1. a donation via Direct Deposit (bank details will be emailed to you once your pledge is made); or
2. our verified PayFast platform which allows for CreditCard, Masterpass and Instant EFT donations.
Every contribution, no matter the size, is gratefully received and appreciated.
Stay safe and take care of yourself.
Warmest regards
Andrew Soden
(Blackened out boots from 1987 to 1991)
https://sikhonafoundation.co.za/our-causes/
https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/thesikhonafoundation
The above links refer to the (i) Direct Deposit and (ii) Payfast payment options.
Andrew Soden +27 (0)83 456 1092
andrew@sikhonafoundation.co.za
Jonathan Cook of KZN10.com website and social media thanks Hilton College Old Boy Rory Smith of Absolute Containers for ensuring that Jono is fully charged when it really matters!!! A heartfelt thank you, dear Absolute Containers! No wonder you are the trendsetters in customised containers and modular solutions! Take a look https://absolutecontainers.co.za/
5 KZN10 Old Boys get rare crack at British & Irish Lions Saturday
It looks like 3 Glenwood Old Boys, 1 Kearsney College Old Boy and 1 Maritzburg College Old Boy are in with a rare career chance (a one-in-12-year-chance) of facing the British & Irish Lions come 6pm this Saturday at Emirates Airlines Park (aka Ellis Park) in Johannesburg.
Recent Glenwood Old Boys, the first XV flyhalves Jordan Hendrikse (20 years today and back from his stint with the Junior Boks) and utility Fred Zeilinga, are in the 26-player (SA franchise) Lions squad that was named late yesterday afternoon to take on the British & Irish Lions in the tour opener of this renowned touring team’s sojourn to South Africa.
Tracey van den Aardweg feature image: Kearsney College’s Sibu Sangweni in his heyday as captain of the first XV here against Michaelhouse.
Recent Kearsney captain and loose forward Sibusiso Sangweni is also among the Lions squad of 26. And Ruhan Straeuli, son of Lions boss Rudolf, who spent his early high school years at Glenwood before relocating with the family to Gauteng where he finished his schooldays at his dad’s alma mater, Menlo Park.
What a thrill at this relatively early stage in their post-school careers.
For all your Toyota needs, Maritzburg College Old Boy Brandon Brokensha is your go-to man. KZN10.com is very proud to be associated with Brandon and the outstanding Halfway Toyota Howick dealership.
And former Maritzburg College centre Dan Kriel, twin brother of Springbok Jesse, is also among the local Lions’ 26 for Saturday at Emirates Airlines Park (aka Ellis Park).
And with Jesse in the Bok mix for the Test series, it adds more Kriel Family colour to the palette.
In November last year, Jesse revealed that his great grandfather, John Hodgson, a loose forward, played for the touring British Lions (as they were then known) in New Zealand and Australia all of 91 years ago.
John Hodgson played for the 1930 British Lions team that beat the All Blacks 6-3 in the Dunedin Test match and in the 15-10 loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.
In all, Dan, Jesse and younger brother Matt Kriel’s maternal great grandad John, a flanker, represented the touring British Lions a total of 15 times and also earned 7 Test match caps for England including against the 1932 Springboks in London.
The Kriel brothers’ mother is Angela, and great grandad John’s Lions cap was sent by English relatives to Angela’s aunt Diana in South Africa during the international travel restrictions late last year.
A wonderful story all-round.
The Johannesburg-based Lions’ 26-man squad is: Pieter Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Jannie du Plessis, Jordan Hendrikse, Francke Horn, Dan Kriel, Jacobus Kriel, Sibahle Maxwane, Nathan McBeth, Reinhard Nothnagel, Burger Odendaal, Marthinus Pelser, Manuel Rass, Carlu Sadie, Sibusiso Sangweni, Ruben Schoeman, Sithembisu Sithole, Dillon Smit, Ruhan Straeuli, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka, Jamba Ulengo, Morne van den Berg, EW Viljoen, Gerrit Visagie and Fred Zeilinga.
* If there is a KZN10 Old Boy or two that I have somehow overlooked among the 26 players above, please let me know.
Thank you Hilton College Old Boy Rory Smith of Absolute Containers for sponsoring these 2 wonderful Powerbanks to ensure that Jono and his smartphone remain fully charged when it really matters!!! No wonder Absolute Containers are the trendsetters in customised containers and modular solutions! Take a look https://absolutecontainers.co.za/
VACANCY: KZN INLAND CRICKET U16 BOYS HEAD COACH
KZN Inland Cricket is looking for a likely candidate to fill the position of Head Coach of the KZN Inland U16 boys age-group squads.
The role of the Head Coach is to develop and implement a high-performance coaching programme with the support of the Provincial Coach Education Manager for the Under 16 Age Group squads.
The primary purpose for the position is to have a positive impact in the preparation and coaching of both squad cricketers with the intent of enhancing the individual performance of the identified players.
KEY JOB OUTPUTS – PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The incumbent will be responsible amongst other things for the following key delivery areas:
•To develop the cricket specific components of the Player Performance Plan for identified cricketers.
•To Coordinate the interventions for the identified players as part of the Personal Development Plans of a cricketer.
•To guide the selection panel in the selection of the Provincial Under 16 training squad.
•To lead the identification of talent within National, Provincial or Franchise pipeline structures.
Shane Burger is one of KZN Inland Cricket’s favourite sons. Shane captained the senior team and went on to establish himself as a highly regarded international coach.
KEY DELIVERY AREA 1
To develop the cricket specific components of the Player Performance Plan (PPP) for identified cricketers.
•Manage the planning process and ensuring that each identified cricketer has a plan aligned to the deliverables of the PPP.
•Work closely with the Provincial Coach Education Manager to establish and approve the planned outcomes of the PPP for each identified cricketer.
•Ensuring that support systems and structures for the identified cricketers are enhanced to sustain adequate individual performance standards.
•Outline performance expectations to the identified cricketers as well as his coach (i.e. school, club, Hub, etc.).
•Establish regular performance reviews and assessment of the identified cricketers.
Former Hilton College all-rounder Michael Booth captained his school first XI as well as KZN Inland U19 in his grade 12 year, which also included impressive performances for the KZN Inland senior team. Photo Martin Ashworth.
KEY DELIVERY AREA 2
To Coordinate the interventions for the identified players as part of the Personal Development Plans of a cricketer.
•Ensure that an adequate needs analysis is conducted on each identified cricketer covering the following developmental aspects:
▪Physical (Physiological conditioning and Nutritional status).
▪Cricket Skills (Technical, Tactical and playing exposure).
▪Medical (Injury or illness).
▪Psychological (Socio-Psychological health and Mental Performance).
▪Socio-Culture (School Education, Post School Activities, Support networks, Socio-Economic status and Team Environment).
•Ensuring that adequate specialists are available to be assigned for the intervention measures with the support of the Provincial Coach Education Manager.
•Ensuring that regular communication and reporting with relevant stakeholders takes place (i.e. pipeline and other coaches, parents, specialists, etc.).
Mondli Khumalo and Jayden Gengan are both products of the Maritzburg College and KZN Inland pipeline.
KEY DELIVERY AREA 3
To guide the selection panel in the selection of the Provincial Under 16 squad.
•To develop and implement structures within the province that can sustain talent identification aligned to the provincial pipeline structural requirements.
•To ensure that there is support and understanding of the programme undertaken by the key role players within the Provincial Schools’ cricket system through the assistance of Youth Cricket Coordinator/Cricket Services Manager.
•To work closely with the coaches of the identified cricketers within the squad by ensuring that the individual deliverable plans are supported and actioned.
•Introducing benchmark performance required to be attained by identified cricketers for each cricket discipline.
Former Westville Boys’ High star Luke Schlemmer is now an integral part of the KZN Inland senior team.
KEY DELIVERY AREA 4
To lead the identification of talent within the National, Provincial or Franchise pipeline structures.
•To play a key role in the preparation and coaching of the selected Provincial Under 19 squad.
•To conduct off-season coaching programmes and camps.
•Prepare player reviews for implementation as per the PPP.
•To manage the identifying of talent for the franchise region talent camps and potential cricketers for the Cubs XI.
KEY JOB KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
•Understanding the Player Performance Plan.
•Be able to Coach and Identify talent.
•Be able to evaluate and prepare training programmes to meet the needs of the identified cricketer.
•Be able to evaluate and monitor progress.
•Understanding the various coaching styles.
•Understanding of the CSA Long Term Player Development process.
•Knowledge of the domestic cricket systems.
•Understanding of the challenges of BA players within the CSA pipeline.
•Basic Mentoring principles.
Former Maritzburg College first XI captain Jacques van der Walt is one of many talented cricketers to have represented KZN Inland at age-group level.
KEY ATTRIBUTES
•Development & nurturing focus.
•Conscientious
•Results focused.
•Integrity.
*Self-motivated & high work ethic.
•Deadline Driven (Critical).
•Confidentiality.
•Persuasive.
•Resilient.
QUALIFICATIONS
•Minimum Level 3 Coaching Qualification, plus:
•Played Cricket at First Class Level will be an advantage.
•Driver’s Licence with own vehicle.
EXPERIENCE
•More than 3-years’ credible coaching experience of elite cricketers.
REPORTING TO
•The Cricket Services Manager.
KZN10.com website and social media thanks the outstanding #HalfwayToyota Howick dealership and its general manager, Maritzburg College Old Boy Brandon Brokensha, for their support. I cannot do this alone. Contact me at joncookroy@gmail.com for info on the various advertising options and more. Together we are more. And why not give Brandon a call at 083 514 1089.
APPLICATIONS
Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply for the position by submitting an application together with a comprehensive CV, certified copies of applicant’s South African ID, Valid RSA Driver’s Licence, Valid CSA Level III Coaching Accreditation qualification, Valid Police Clearance and other appropriate qualifications relating to the post, and at least two contactable references, to: Jason Sathiaseelan: jasons@cricket.co.za by the close of business on Monday, 28th June 2021.
In making the final selection
*Consideration will be given to the employment equity objectives of KZN Cricket.
*A performance agreement shall be entered into with the successful applicant.
*The right not to make an appointment is reserved.
*Should you not be contacted within 30 days of the closing date, you may consider that your application is unsuccessful.
Jonathan Cook of KZN10.com website and social media thanks Hilton College Old Boy Rory Smith of Absolute Containers for sponsoring these 2 wonderful Powerbanks to ensure that Jono and his smartphone remain fully charged when it really matters!!! Thank you, dear Absolute Containers! No wonder you are the trendsetters in customised containers and modular solutions! Take a look https://absolutecontainers.co.za/