USSA titles for Maties rugby and cycling : 2017-07-17
On Wednesday the Maties cycling team won the USSA title for a third consecutive year after total domination on the road.
This follows the success of the Steinhoff Maties rugby team that finally won the USSA title with its fourth final. The tournament took place in Johannesburg.
In Port Elizabeth the Maties men and women’s team won the road competition. Gert Heyns and Frances du Toit were the individual winners. Riders from Maties won every stage. Max Sullivan won the green jersey as best sprinter en Heyns the polka-dot jersey for best climber.
The Maties rugby team beat Pukke 19-13 in the final played at the Wits stadium. Braam Venter and his team started the week with a victory over CUT (84-7) and easily dispatched Shimlas (50-7) in the semi-final.
It was a thriller of a final against the team from Potchefstroom that eliminated the home university Wits in the semi-finals.
“I am very pleased and relieved that we could win the final. We have come close to winning other for the last few years. To win the title means a lot to us. We can now build on this for the rest of the WP league and what we’ve learned here we can even use in next year’s Varsity Cup tournament,” said Venter.
Maties is now the USSA champions for both 15man and Sevens rugby. Venter was also the captain of the sevens team that won the last USSA tournament for sevens. The USSA Sevens Rugby Tournament is in September this year.
The rugby team is the only team to win a title last week. The Maties cycling team is currently in Port Elizabeth where the team is the two-time defending champion.
The Maties gymnastics team won the team competition and ended second overall to Pukke. The badminton and tennis teams were both third.
Other USSA results: Gymnastics – 2nd – won the team event; Badminton – 3rd; Tennis – 3rd /B team 2nd B Division; Netball – 5th; Hockey – 5th; Soccer – 5th B Division; Squash – 5th; Golf – 6th / B team won B Division; Basketball – Women 8th / Men 14th
USSA-titels vir Maties rugby en fietsry : 2017-07-17
Die Maties-fietsryspan het Woensdag vir die derde agtereenvolgende jaar die USSA-titel gewen na totale oorheersing op die teerpad.
Dit volg op die sukses van die Steinhoff Maties-rugbyspan wat met sy vierde eindstryd die laaste paar jare verlede week in Johannesburg uiteindelik die 2017 USSA-titel verower het.
In Port Elizabeth het die mans- en vroue-fietsryspan die padkompetisie gewen. Gert Heyns en Frances du Toit was in die algehele eerste plek. Maties se ryers het elke skof gewen. Max Sullivan het die groentrui vir beste naelryer gewen en Heyns was die beste klimmer in die toer.
Maties-rugbyspan het Pukke in die eindstryd in die Wits-stadion met 19-13 geklop. Braam Venter en sy span het die week begin met ‘n sege oor CUT met 84-7 en in die halfeindstryd maklik met Shimlas (50-7) afgereken.
Dit was ‘n riller van ‘n eindstryd teen die span van Potchefstroom wat die tuis-universiteit Wits in die halfeindronde uitgeskakel het. Maties was die heeltyd voor in die wedstryd.
“Ek is baie bly en verlig dat ons die eindstryd kon wen. Ons het die laaste paar jaar elke keer naby gekom. Om die titel te wen beteken vir ons baie. Ons kan nou hierop bou vir die res van die WP-liga en wat ons hier geleer het selfs gebruik in volgende jaar se Varsitybeker-toernooi,” het Venter gesê.
Maties is nou die USSA-kampioene vir 15man- en sewesrugby. Venter was ook die kaptein van die sewespan wat die laaste USSA-toernooi vir sewes gewen het. Die USSA-sewesrugbytoernooi is in September vanjaar.
Die rugbyspan is die enigste span wat ‘n titel gewen het verlede week. Die Maties-fietsryspan is tans in Port Elizabeth waar die die span die tweemalige verdedigende kampioen is.
Die Maties-gimnastiekspan het die span kompetisie gewen en algeheel tweede na Pukke geëindig. Die pluimbal- en tennis-span was albei derde.
Ander USSA-uitslae: Gimnastiek 2de; Pluimbal 3de; Tennis 3de; Netbal 5de; Hokkie 5de; Muurbal 5de; Sokker 5de; Golf 6de; Basketbal (vroue) 8ste; Basketbal (mans) 14de.
Craig, Kobus Maties’ silver lining : 2017-05-04
Craig Barry (Maties No15) with the final try of the game – 2017 Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff, FNB and STEERS. Monday 20 February 2017
FNB MATIES vs FNB NNMU-Madibaz at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Photo by: Liam Hamer Nel
Every dark cloud has a silver lining and for the Maties rugby team it is the individual awards for Kobus van Dyk and Craig Barry.
Maties lost the final of the Varsity Cup in Pretoria against Tuks (21-28). Van Dyk was not only named the Player of the Tournament, but also voted the best forward in the series. Barry was rewarded as the best backline player.
The duo, along with Duncan Saal was also included in the Dream Team that will play against the Junior Springboks in the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday. There are also three Maties on the bench. They are Ernst Stapelberg, Michal Haznar and Johan Momsen.
The disappointment was big for Barry and his men. Barry, however, made it clear that the defeat cannot undo the good things that have happened over the past few months.
“The tournament was actually a huge success for us. Several players had the opportunity to prove themselves and were very successful. For us that was not the end which we have worked or planned for, but there are many positive aspects that we can take from the tournament. The Maties jersey is certainly in a better place. We as a team are not defined by the defeat, but by the collective effort we all put in run-up and during the course of the tournament,” Barry said.
For Barry it was his last Varsity Cup. With 42 games he is the player who made the most appearances ever in the series and with his 16 tries – nine in the last series – he is also the Varsity Cup’s leading try-scorer.
Craig, Kobus Maties se silwerrandjie : 2017-05-04
Elke donker wolk het ‘n silwerrandjie en vir die Maties-rugbyspan is dit die individuele toekennings vir Kobus van Dyk en Craig Barry.
Maties het die eindstryd van die Varsitybeker-reeks in Pretoria teen Tukkies met 21-28 verloor. Van Dyk is egter nie net die Speler van die Toernooi nie, maar ook as die beste voorspeler in die reeks aangewys. Barry is as die beste agterspeler beloon.
Die duo is saam met Duncan Saal ook in die toernooi-span ingesluit wat Dinsdag teen die Junior Springbokke in die Danie Craven-stadion speel. Daar is ook drie Maties op die plaasvervangerbank. Hulle is Ernst Stapelberg, Michal Haznar en Johan Momsen.
Die teleurstelling was groot vir Barry en sy manne. Barry het dit egter duidelik gemaak dat die nederlaag nie die goeie dinge wat die afgelope paar maande gebeur het, ongedaan kan maak nie.
“Die toernooi was eintlik ‘n reuse-sukses vir ons gewees. Verskeie spelers het die geleentheid gekry om hulself te bewys en baie was suksesvol. Vir ons as Maties-span was dit natuurlik nie die einde waarvoor ons gewerk of beplan het nie, maar daar is baie positiewe aspekte wat ons uit die toernooi kan neem. Die Maties-trui is beslis in ‘n beter plek. Ons as span word nie gedefinieër deur die nederlaag nie, maar deur die gesamentlike poging wat ons almal ingesit het in aanloop en met die verloop van die toernooi,” het Barry gesê.
Vir Barry was dit sy laaste Varsitybeker-reeks. Hy is met 42 wedstryde die speler wat die meeste verskynings al ooit in die reeks gemaak het en met sy 16 drieë – waarvan nege die afgelope reeks – ook die Varsity Beker se voorste driedrukker.
Boonzaaier’s detour into Maties team worth every step : 2017-05-04
Logan Boonzaaier’s story is not just one that proves dreams do come true, or that hard work will get rewarded, but also that the structures Stellenbosch University and Maties Sport put in place to help prospective and current student-athletes, work.
Boonzaaier has just made his debut for Maties in the Varsity Cup series. His first match in the Maroon jersey is only the end of a very interesting story of determination.
“I was eager to study at the Stellenbosch University. So I applied for the SciMathUS programme 2015 so that I could improve the necessary marks and become a Matie. SciMathUS not only helped me to improve my marks and get admission to the US, but it has also taught me to prioritize better. For me to study and get my degree is the most important. I want to achieve something in my life. I want to someday get a good job,” said the native of Franschhoek.
This programme offers learners, who have already passed Grade 12 (with an average of at least 60%) but who do not qualify for higher education, a second opportunity to improve their NSC results in specific subjects to enable them to re-apply for university programmes. he programme offers students a choice between a Science and Accounting stream. Students therefore take either Mathematics and Physical Sciences. These students rewrite the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination in both subjects; or Mathematics and Introduction into Financial Accounting and Introduction in Economics. These students rewrite the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination only in Mathematics. The other two subjects are offered and assessed by Stellenbosch University as part of the Extended degree programme in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. The programme follows an active learning approach where students learn to take responsibility for their own learning.
Boonzaaier got admission and is currently studying BCom Financial Accounting. Boonzaaier played for PCA in the first year tournament last year. Without realising this was his next step to the Maties rugby team. “Everything happened quite unexpectedly. The coach of the Maties Young Guns, Christoff Lotter saw me play. He called me and told me to come train with the Young Guns. I could not believe it! Part of being a Matie for me is to play rugby for Maties. I then played the season for the Young Guns. Shortly before the end of the year I got another call, this time from Coach Hawies (Fourie, Maties’ coach). He asked me if I would be interested in playing for the Varsity team. Will I be interested! I could not believe it. Another dream come true. I give all the glory to God for the wonderful way things happened in my life thus far.”
Boonzaaier se ompad in Maties-rugbyspan elke tree die moeitewerd : 2017-05-04
Logan Boonzaaier se storie is nie net een wat bewys dat drome waar word, of dat harde werk beloon word nie, maar ook een dat die strukture wat die Universiteit Stellenbosch en Maties Sport in plek sit om voornemede en huidige student-atlete te help, werk.
Boonzaaier het pas sy debuut vir Maties in die Varsitybeker-rugbyreeks gemaak. Sy eerste wedstryd in die Maroon-trui is egter net die einde van ‘n baie interessante storie van vasbyt.
“Ek wou bitter graag aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch studeer. Ek het dus aansoek gedoen vir die SciMathUS-program vir 2015 sodat ek die nodige punte kon verbeter en ek ‘n Matie kon word. SciMathUS het my nie net gehelp om my punte te verbeter en so toelating tot die US te kry nie, maar dit het my ook geleer om beter te prioritiseer. Vir my is om te studeer en my graad te kry die heel belangrikste. Ek wil graag iets bereik in my lewe. Ek wil eendag ‘n goeie werk hê,” het die boorling van Franschhoek vertel.
SciMathUS is ‘n oorbruggingsprogram waartydens leerders ondersteun word om hul matriekresultate in kernvakke te verbeter en sodoende toegang tot universiteit te verkry. Studente volg een van twee kurrikulums: Wiskunde en Fisiese Wetenskappe en herskryf die Nasionale Senior Sertifikaat (NSS) eksamen in beide vakke; of Wiskunde en Inleiding tot Finansiële Rekeningkunde en Inleiding tot Ekonomie en herskryf die NSS-eksamen in Wiskunde. Die ander twee vakke word deur die US aangebied en geassesseer.
Boonzaaier het toelating gekry en studeer tans BCom Finansiële Rekeningkunde. Boonzaaier het verlede jaar vir PSO in die eerstejaarstoernooi gespeel. Niksvermoedends was dit sy volgende tree na die Maties-rugbyspan. “Alles het nogal onverwags gebeur. Die afrigter van die Maties Young Guns, Christoff Lotter het my gesien speel. Hy bel my toe gebel en sê ek moet saam met die Young Guns kom oefen. Ek kon dit nie glo nie! Deel van Matie wees is vir my om vir Maties rugby te speel. Ek het toe die seisoen vir die Young Guns gespeel. Kort voor die einde van die jaar kry ek toe nog ‘n oproep. Die keer van Coach Hawies (Fourie, afrigter van Maties). Hy het my gevra of ek sal belangstel om vir die Varsitybeker-span te kom speel. Sal ek belangstel!? Ek kon dit nie glo nie. Nog ‘n droom wat waar geword het. Ek gee alle eer aan God vir die wonderlike manier waarop dinge in my lewe gebeur.”
Beyers calls halt on rugby career : 2017-05-04
He would have loved to end his career on his own terms, but to take chances with his health was not an option for Maties legend Beyers de Villiers.
De Villiers recently called halt on his career after the game against Tuks – the first in the Varsity Cup – in which he got a hard knock on the head and specialists advised him not to play again.
“Since my school rugby days I got concussed some 13 times and the last two years it was every two or three months. The side effects only became worse. I had headaches, difficulty with concentration and there were also times of amnesia. Before this year’s Varsity Cup I returned to the specialist and they told me that if I get concussed again they wont clear me to play. I lost consciousness for a few moments after the knock in the game against Tuks. And I knew … It just became too dangerous to play,” said De Villiers.
“It was a difficult, but also an easy decision to stop playing. The injury in fact made the decision for me. The doctor gave me no choice but to stop playing. There was no choice for me. So in that sense, it was easy. The hard part is that I am missing out on my last year of rugby. And that it happened at the beginning of the season. I would love to have played this year.”
To play with his health was never worth the risk, said De Villiers. “Any other injury – shoulder, leg, knee, hand – you can recover from. With good rehabilitation and treatment you can play, but with your brain…”
De Villiers made his debut for Maties in 2011. After six seasons what De Villiers will miss most at Maties is the off the field memories. “The culture, the feeling of being part of a family and the lessons I have learned. These are the highlights. I have made many friends and build relationships. Stellenbosch is also special. We played in two Varsity Cup finals, but unfortunately did not win. So I will remember the family culture the most form my time at Maties.”
In his time at Maties De Villiers played under Chean Roux, Chris Rossouw and now Hawies Fourie. “Maties Rugby is definitely on the right track. Hawies’ approach is one of establishing structures for support and a professional culture. Players get support so that they can study, go to the gym, etc. We will soon be where we should be. Like those universities that are linked to a union, such as Tukkies.”
De Villiers’ advice is to get complete concussion tests at the beginning of each season. “Find out what your baseline is. If you get with a few knocks – it’s difficult to assess the damage with every knock – go for tests again. Be honest with yourself about the symptoms. You’ll know instantly if it gets worse; when your memory or concentration deteriorates. Do not throw away your life because you want to play rugby for another year.”
Beyers klaar rugby gespeel : 2017-05-04
Hy sou baie graag sy rugbyloopbaan op sy eie terme wou afsluit, maar om kanse te waag met sy gesondheid, was nie ‘n opsie vir Maties-legende Beyers de Villiers nie.
De Villiers het onlangs halt geroep op sy rugbyloopbaan nadat hy in die wedstryd teen Tukkies – die eerste in die Varsitybeker-rugbyreeks – ‘n harde stamp teen sy kop gekry het en spesialiste hom aanbeveel het om nie weer te speel nie.
“Ek het sedert my skool-rugby dae al 13 keer of meer harsingsskudding gekry en die afgelope twee jaar was dit elke twee of drie maande. Die newe effekte het net erger geword. Ek het kopseer gehad, gesukkel met konsentrasie en daar was ook kere van geheue verlies. Voor vanjaar se Varsitybeker-reeks was ek weer by die spesialis en daar is toe vir my gesê as ek nog een stamp kry, hulle my nie verdere toestemming kan gee om te speel nie. Teen Tukkies was die stamp so hard ek was vir ‘n paar oomblikke bewusteloos. En toe weet ek… Dit het net te gevaarlik geraak om te speel,” vertel De Villiers.
“Dit was ‘n moeilike, maar ook maklike besluit om op te hou speel. Die besering het in werklikheid vir my besluit. Die dokter het namens my besluit! Daar was geen ander keuse vir my nie. So in daardie opsig, was dit maklik. Die moeilike deel is dat ek nou uitmis op my laaste jaar van rugby. En dat dit sommer aan die begin van die seisoen gebeur het. Ek sou baie graag die jaar nog wou speel.”
Om met sy gesondheid te speel, is egter nooit die moeitewerd nie, sê De Villiers. “Enige ander besering – skouer, been, knie, hand – kan herstel. Met goeie rehabilitasie en behandeling kan jy weer speel, maar jou brein…”
De Villiers het in 2011 sy debuut vir Maties gemaak. Ná ses seisoene is De Villiers beslis oor wat hy die meeste gaan mis van Matie-wees. “Die kultuur, die gevoel dat jy deel van ‘n familie is en die lesse wat ek geleer het. Dit is die hoogtepunte. Ek het baie vriende gemaak en verhoudings opgebou. Stellenbosch is ook besonders. Ons het in twee Varsitybeker-eindstryde gespeel, maar ongelukkig nie een gewen nie. So vir my is dit die familie-kultuur by Maties wat ek altyd sal onthou.”
De Villiers het in sy tyd by Maties onder Chean Roux, Chris Rossouw en nou Hawies Fourie as afrigters gespeel. “Maties Rugby is beslis op die regte pad. Hawies se benadering is een van strukture vir ondersteuning en ‘n professionele kultuur daar te stel. Spelers kry ondersteuning sodat hulle kan studeer, kan gym toe gaan, ens. Daar word hard gewerk aan die kultuur en strukture. Ons sal binnekort wees waar ons moet wees. Soos dié universiteite wat gekoppel is aan ‘n unie het, soos Tukkies.”
De Villiers se raad aan ander is om vir volledige harsingskudding toetse aan die begin van elke seisoen te gaan. “Vind uit waar jou basislyn is. As jy weer ‘n paar stampe kry – dis so moeilik om te bepaal wat die skade met elke stamp is – gaan weer vir toetse. Wees altyd eerlik met jouself oor die simptome. Jy sal dadelik weet wanneer dit erger word en wanneer jou geheue of konsentrasie agteruitgaan. Moenie jou lewe weggooi omdat jy graag nog ‘n jaar of wat wil rugby speel nie.”
National event huge success for Maties : 2017-05-04
With several national records and the very important qualifying times for the World Championships Maties Para Sport athletes returned form the recent South African national championships.
The national event took place in Port Elizabeth.
More than 10 athletes won gold medals and got qualifying times. For two of the athletes – legends Arnu Fourie and Ilse Hayes – it was their last national event.
Both won their numbers and qualified for the world championships in London from July 14 to 23. It will take place in the same stadium as the 2012 Paralympics.
Fourie won the 100m and 200m (T44) in 11:37 and 23:30 seconds respectively.
Hayes (T13) also won has her sprint numbers, but more important than the victories, was progress after an Achilles injury. “It was a race against time to get Ilse ready for the event. The 100m was her first full 100m from the blocks and as well as the 200m. We did not really know what to expect. Our biggest hope was that her Achilles survived the maximum impact. In the 100m and 200m, she impressed with her good technique. Although her times were far from her personal best, she showed we can now proceed to the next phase, “said coach Suzanne Ferreria said. Hayes’ times in the 100 and 200 were 12:40 and 26.45 respectively.
Dyan Buis (T38) and Anruné Liebenberg (T44) both won three gold medals in the sprints. “Dyan ran three good technical races. His times were also good. In the 400m, he literally had the wind from the front and it was a hard race. In all three races he was in the lead from start to finish,” said Ferreira.
About Liebenberg she added: “She ran good technical races, but she has run faster this season in 200m and 400m. It was also a privilege and very special for her to run the 100m and 200m with Ilse at Ilse’s last SA meeting. ”
The field athletes coach Karen le Roux was also very happy with her athletes’ performances. Veteran Zanele Situ (F54) qualified for the World Championships in three events. “Reinhardt Hamman (F38) came very close to his personal in the javelin just a few months after a major knee operation,” said Le Roux.
Another athlete who made his return is Jean Joubert (F44). He did not participate for two years. He broke the national record in shot put. “Kerwin Noemdo (F46) is also in very good shape and threw a personal best in the shot put and so improve his own national record.”
Nasionale byeenkoms reuse-sukses vir Maties : 2017-05-04
Met verskeie nasionale rekords en die baie belangrike kwalifiserende tye vir die Wêreldbyeenkoms het Maties se Parasport-atlete van die pas afgelope Suid-Afrikaanse byeenkoms teruggeekeer.
Die nasionale byeenkoms het in Port Elizabeth plaasgevind.
Meer as twee handevol atlete het goue medaljes en kwalifiserende tye behaal. Vir twee van die atlete – legendes Arnu Fourie en Ilse Hayes – was dit hul laaste nasionale byeenkoms.
Beide het hul nommers gewen en gekwalifiseer vir die Wêreldbyeenkoms in London van 14-23 Julie. Dit sal in dieselfde stadion plaasvind as die 2012 Paralimpiese Spele.
Fourie het die 100m en 200m (T44) in onderskeidelik 11.37 en 23.30 sekondes gewen.
Hayes (T13) het ook haar naelloop-nommers – 100 en 200 – gewen, maar wat nog belangriker as die seges was, is haar vordering na ‘n Achilles-besering. “Dit was omtrent ‘n wedloop teen tyd om Ilse reg te hê vir die byeenkoms. Die 100m was haar eerste volle 100m uit die blokke en haar 200m ook. Ons het nie werklik geweet wat om te verwag behalwe dat ons grootste hoop was dat haar Achilles die maksimale impak gaan oorleef. In 100m en 200m het sy met haar goeie tegniek deur die wedloop beïndruk. Hoewel haar tye ver van haar persoonlike beste was, het sy gewys ons kan nou na die volgende fase gaan,” het afrigter Suzanne Ferreria het gesê. Hayes se tye in die 100 en 200 was 12.40 en 26.45 onderskeidelik.
Dyan Buis (T38) en Anruné Liebenberg (T44) het albei drie goue medaljes gewen in die naellope. “Dyan het drie goeie tegniese wedlope gehardloop. Sy tye was ook goed. Met die 400m het hy letterlik die wind van voor gehad en dit was ‘n harde wedloop. In al drie wedlope was hy van begin tot einde voor,” het Ferreira vertel.
Oor Liebenberg het sy gesê: “Sy het goeie tegniese wedlope gehardloop, maar sy het al vinniger die seisoen in 200m en 400m gehardloop. Dit was ook vir haar ‘n voorreg en baie spesiaal om die 100m en 200m teen Ilse te hardloop op Ilse se laaste SA byeenkoms.”
Die veldatlete se afrigter Karen le Roux was ook baie tevrede met haar atlete se vertonings. Veteraan Zanele Situ (F54) het gekwalifiseer vir die Wêreldbyeenkoms in drie nommers. “Reinhardt Hamman (F38) het baie naby aan sy persoonlike beste gekom in die spiesgooi net ‘n paar maande na ‘n groot knie operasie,” het Le Roux gesê.
Nog ‘n atleet wat sy terugkeer gemaak het, is Jean Joubert (F44). Hy het vir twee jaar nie deelgeneem nie. Hy het die nasionale rekord in gewigstoot verbeter. “Kerwin Noemdo (F46) is ook in baie goeie vorm en het ‘n persoonlike beste gegooi in die gewigstoot en so sy eie SA rekord verbeter.”