With the Currie Cup season getting to a really critical time, the DFA thought it’s an ideal time to speak to Griqua supporters to get a feeling of how they feel about their team’s chances of making the Currie Cup play-offs this season.
THE BULLS, wounded, shaken and with bruised pride, are headed to Windhoek Draught Park for their Currie Cup showdown with Griquas on Saturday. The last time the two teams met, at Loftus Versfeld in April, the Bulls were in a similar downward spiral and picked themselves up to absolutely hammer Griquas 40-3 on that occasion.
So with the Currie Cup season getting to a really critical time, the DFA thought it’s an ideal time to speak to Griqua supporters to get a feeling of how they feel about their team’s chances of making the Currie Cup play-offs this season.
The DFA had a quick chat with a couple of people – supporters and some who are involved in rugby – asking what their thoughts are on the Currie Cup season thus far this year and if they see Griquas in the quarter-finals or even the finals.
🏈 Windhoek Draught Griquas
vs. Vodacom Bulls
📌 Windhoek Draught Park
📅 13 May. 2023 – 15:00
🎟 Tickets- https://t.co/YXVZqjvvru
➡️ 10:00 SPU Ladies
vs. Prieska Ladies
12:00 SPU vs. Black Warriors
🍺 👇 pic.twitter.com/KMQWixOAhE— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) May 9, 2023
This is what some people had to say:
Leon Karemaker
Head of sport at Diamantveld High School, Leon Karemaker, said that the Griquas stand a good chance of winning the match against the Vodacom Blue Bulls this weekend because playing at home will count in their favour and they already have a good track record for playing home games.
“It’s never easy playing at Windhoek Draught Park, and the other teams know it, so they are well aware of the danger awaiting them when they step foot on our field on Saturday. The Griquas have had a few bad luck games, but overall they have been putting up solid performances while having good depth in the team.
“I think the Griquas can be positive this weekend to take the win. Griquas all the way,” said Karemaker.
Essman Fischer
Essman Fischer, a local Griquas supporter, said that as long as the Griquas don’t play catch-up rugby, they will stand a good chance of winning the game.
“This game is going to be a 50/50 game because it all depends on whether the Bulls are going to make use of their URC players. If they do, the Bulls will have a better and stronger side than the Griquas, but you can never put the Griquas down; we will have to see on the day.
“GRIQUAS all the way!”
Ockert Fourie
Another big supporter of the Griquas in Kimberley is Ockert Fourie, who said that the Griquas team has to suffer player losses every year and they have to build up a new team due to them not being able to keep their players at the union.
“You can’t blame a player for leaving for a bigger union with more money and where they will get more exposure.
“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t have much hope for them, but they actually surprised me. They played some good games, and then there were games we don’t want to speak about. One thing that frustrated me was their handling errors during games as well as too many kicks into the air, giving their possession away most of the time.
“If the Griquas want to make a statement, they need to keep more balls in hand because they have the players to do that. Opening up the game will help a lot, especially now that they are starting to gel together,” said Fourie.
Fourie mentioned that last time the Bulls pushed their URC players into the game, they made it difficult for the Griquas, but the Griquas also played really bad in that game. But looking at the team, he thinks it will go better in this game because the Griquas can beat them with home ground advantage.
Fourie feels that with the current points the Griquas have and the way they are playing now, they will be able to reach the semi-finals.
“I want to wish the boys well for the game on Saturday and hope that they will play for each other and for the people of Kimberley. I know they will make us proud. I believe in my Griquas team. Since 1963, I have been a proud supporter, and it is nice to support them through thick and thin. “Always remember that there are a lot of people in Kimberley cheering for you, so go and make us proud,” Fourie concluded.
Deon Carney
Head of rugby at Northern Cape High School, Deon Carney, said that the Griquas are doing very well, and they have been doing well for a couple of seasons already. They are in a situation where they often lose coaches and players. Once a player performs and does well, the bigger union snatches them up, and off they go.
“I know coach Pieter Bergh; he is a very good coach, and what he is doing with a small union is amazing. The Griquas are a strong team, especially on home turf, and we know the Bulls don’t like playing here, so the Griquas have a good chance of winning the game here on Saturday,” said Carney.
Carney also said that the Griquas are in a good place now. They are focused and play well together as a team, while the Bulls have problems of their own they need to sort out. The Bulls have two or three teams playing in different competitions, and that is causing them to not have any consistency in their teams.
“For Griquas to be a force to reckon with in the future, they will need to try and keep the local talent Kimberley has because the youngsters leave the province, taking their talent with them. If they can manage their junior structures better and make it worthwhile for them to stay, then they can only grow in strength.
“I believe if the Griquas can commit, we will see them in the finals again and hopefully bring home the Currie Cup,” said Carney.
Johan de Villiers
Well-known Griquas supporter Johan De Villers said that he thinks the team is doing very well so far.
“I’ve always said, you have to win your home games, and when you do, it should be with a bonus point. The same goes for when playing away; you need to try to get the win, but if you lose, at least try to walk away with a bonus point.
“The guys have slipped up at times, not winning home games when they should, but I know they can win the remaining games that are being played at home.
“The problem now with the Bulls game is that the Bulls team is now going to be boosted with Springbok players coming back from the URC, and that might make it difficult for the Griquas to win at home.
“I think it’s going to be a tough battle to the semi-finals; the Pumas this year are very, very good; they are super fit and well coached, and with the points they have racked up, I don’t think they will be taken off that top spot,” said De Villiers.
Speaking about the game against the Bulls on Saturday, De Villiers said that the Bulls will want to get every point in the bag, and the only way to do that is to bring in the URC players.
But he also noted that the Bulls can definitely be beaten in Kimberley if the Griquas players stand together and do not only play for the second half of the game.
“Catch-up rugby should not be on their minds against the Bulls, because if they lose, then reaching the semi-finals becomes harder to reach. But I will shout for the Griquas to the dying end; win or lose, I will remain a loyal Griqua supporter.”
