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 issue 111
what’s inside? RegulARs
SportsClub News 4
Letters 6
Subscriber Benefits 8

FeATuRes Faceoff 12
Sports Shots 14

22
best of enemies
Numbers 20

22
An improved Bok team faces the ultimate acid test
How To 28
red rom
31
Lukaku joins the Theatre of Dreams Extreme Sport 36
Poster 38
the real deal
40
Golovkin-Alvarez is a fight for the purists Mind Game 49
Wacky World 55
king of cool
44
For NFL fans, Beckham Jr is the hottest ticket in town Action Stations 56
Sports Calendar 63
going the distance
50
31
Sandes conquers his demons to win Western States Time Capsule 66
Catalogue 69
big impact
58
44
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your news grass court king
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F
or many millions of rugby fans in South Africa, their first
taste of a Springbok-All Blacks Test would have been the epic
1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg – a
victory for the Boks that truly transcended the sportsfield and
which is still spoken about in revered tones. Who can forget
the image of treasured former president Nelson Mandela
wearing Bok captain Francois Pienaar’s No 6 jersey as the trophy was
held aloft in a moment of pure ecstacy? Those memorable victories against
our biggest rivals have become few and far between in the intervening
years, which only makes it more special when we meet the men in black
on the battlefield. The All Blacks are still the ultimate challenge ...
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 FACEOFF

Has northern hemisphere rugby

SportsClub staff THE BIG
DEBATE
caught up with the south?
discuss sport’s
burning issues

MARIETTE ADAMS CRAIG LEWIS

For years, New Zealand, South Africa On 8 July, the British & Irish Lions

NO
and Australia were streets ahead of the
chasing pack. The skill of the Kiwis, flair
of the Aussies and physicality of the
Saffas could not be matched by their
snatched a piece of history when they
salvaged a 15-15 draw against the
All Blacks in the decisive third Test,
which also ensured the series would
YES
northern counterparts. end 1-1. It was just the second tied
That domination was demonstrated Lions series, but provided an example
two years ago when the All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies and Argentina of just how much the north has caught up to the south.
contested the World Cup semi-finals in the UK, while co-hosts England Take a moment to consider that when the Lions edged the All Blacks
and Wales and their Six Nations rivals imploded. 24-21 in the second Test, it was a first defeat on home soil for New
There can, however, be no denying that rugby in the northern Zealand in 48 Tests since 2009. And although the Lions couldn’t close
hemisphere has changed for the better over the past 18 months. out the series, there is no doubt the visitors were by far the happier of
And there’s a case to be made that the embarrassment of RWC 2015 the two teams when it came to settling for a draw. After all, the Lions
was the launchpad for this rapid improvement. had come to New Zealand as rank underdogs, with this status seeming
But to suggest that gap has been bridged would be to underestimate to have been vindicated when the Blues and Highlanders secured
the decline of the south. The Springboks hit an all-time low when they midweek wins over the tourists, while the Hurricanes claimed a draw.
lost eight of their 12 Tests last year; Australian rugby is arguably the However, when it came to the Test arena, the Lions unequivocally
weakest it has been; Argentina have gone backwards since the 2015 matched the All Blacks blow for blow, with the men from the northern
World Cup; the annual Rugby Championship is so stagnant the All Blacks hemisphere making their presence felt on defence and attack. At the
have won five of the past seven titles; and Super Rugby, once the premier end of the day, the best from the north fronted up to the best from
club competition in the world, has deteriorated emphatically. the south, and the end result was a 1-1 draw. Of course it was an
But the question has to be asked: If all Test nations compete at the amalgamate team made up of the best players from the four home
peak of their powers with nations, but then again,
no slumps in form or player a lack of preparation and
exoduses, which side of cohesion always works
the globe would succeed? against a composite side.
I’d back the big three of As it is, England extended
the south. an incredible winning streak
The north are making to 18 games as they equalled
up lost ground (due to an the All Blacks’ record for
embarrassment of excellent successive tier-one Tests wins
coaches from the southern during the Six Nations. And
hemisphere, I might add) as of 10 July, England and
ANDREW CORNAGA/BACKPAGEPIX

and the divide is rapidly Ireland featured in the top five

narrowing. But you get the of the world rankings, while
sense that top southern Scotland, Wales and France
hemisphere Test nations were sixth, seventh and eighth
need to stumble along a little respectively. Make no mistake,
longer. And that won’t be the the north has caught up with
case, at least not this year. the south.

12
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 sportsshots

SportsClub takes a look at

some great action images
from the world of sport

swing for the heavens

Skydiver Marco Fuerst soaks up the
atmosphere in Fromberg, Austria
Philip Platzer/Red Bull Content Pool
15
making a splash
The UK’s Gary Hunt dives from a height
of 27m in Polignano a Mare, Italy
Dean Trem/Red Bull Content Pool

16
 sportsshots

upward slog
Participants take on the gruelling Red Bull 400 at the
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo, Japan
Suguru Saito/Red Bull Content Pool
dropping in
British Columbia, Canada was
the setting for JT Holmes’ ski run
Blake Jorgenson/Red Bull Content Pool
 sportsshots

smoking hot
Irek Rizaev leaves a trail
in Moscow, Russia
Denis Klero/Red Bull Content Pool

19
 numbersgame

SportsClub adds up the career

Downhill World Cup
of SA downhill mountain
overall champion biking legend Greg Minnaar

figure
(2001, 2005, 2008)

Downhill World Downhill World

Cup wins Championship wins
(2003, 2012, 2013)

minnaar Profile Jonathan Leibson/bartosz WoLinski/red buLL content pooL/getty images/gaLLo images
Downhill World
Nickname: GM Championship
Date of birth: 13 November 1981 medals (three
Height: 1.88m gold, four silver,
Weight: 86kg
three bronze)
Hometown: Pietermaritzburg
High School: Carter High School
Team: Santa Cruz Syndicate
USA Cycling points series
UCI World Cup debut: 1999
champion (2003, 2004)

C h eC k U S o Ut At w w w.S p o rt S C l Ub.C o.z A

20
T
hree years ago, in the buildup to the another town called Wellington in the Western
Rugby Championship clash between the Cape, my mates and I were sitting in front of the
Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park, TV,’ Burger said. ‘We watched as the Boks met
Test veteran Schalk Burger was asked the challenge of the All Blacks and went on to
to speak about the rivalry that exists win the Test. Afterwards, we were so pumped,
between two of the planet’s proudest so excited, that we decided to play a match in
rugby nations. Burger captivated reporters with the back garden. We even soaked the grass
a tale of a young South African who had grown with a hose pipe to emulate the wet conditions
up watching these epic sporting battles unfold in New Zealand.
on television. That boy, he explained, went on
to become a Springbok. He realised one lifelong
dream when he stared down the haka and then
another when he beat the mighty All Blacks,
twice, in New Zealand.
‘The Boks played the All Blacks in Wellington
back in 1998. On the other side of the world, in

22
Best of
 SpringbokSvsAll blAckS

‘All you want as a youngster growing up
in South Africa is a chance to play against the
All Blacks,’ he continued. ‘You watch the haka.
You want to be part of it. You want to meet that
challenge as a South African. I’ve been privileged
enough to get a few wins against the All Blacks
during my career, but let’s be honest, it’s always
a tough assignment. South Africa and New
Zealand have a lot of respect for one another.
FRANCK FIFE/GEtty ImAGEs/GAllo ImAGEs
We know it’s going to be a challenge every time
we meet. That doesn’t change. As a player, you
want a victory in every single Test you play, but
there’s something extra at stake whenever you
play the All Blacks. There’s a lot of history and
the players are fortunate to be part of it.’
A few days after telling that tale, Burger and
the Boks added another All Blacks scalp to their
tallies. Pat Lambie came off the bench to kick

The Springboks will always be measured by their battles against

the men from the land of the long white cloud. By Jon Cardinelli

enemies
 107682

FRESH EGGS
NOURISH THE BODY
 SpringbokSvsAll blAckS

HEAD To HEAD
All blAckS won
bokS won
DrAw
ovErAll
3

55 Played
93 35
in south AfricA
1
Played
22 48 25 ‘All you wAnt As A youngster growing up in south
AfricA is A chAnce to plAy AgAinst the All BlAcks.
in new zeAlAnd you wAtch the hAkA. you wAnt to Be pArt of it. you
wAnt to meet thAt chAllenge’ – schAlk Burger
2
9
a long-range penalty goal that guided the hosts for the game. That’s why two minutes after
to a 27-25 victory. It wasn’t the first time an the match we are able to shake hands, walk
Played Ellis Park crowd had witnessed a clutch kick
at a crucial point of a South Africa-New Zealand
off the pitch and have a chat with them.’
No Test team boasts a better win record
42
31 contest. Indeed, Joel Stransky kicked a drop goal
during extra time of the 1995 World Cup final.
On that momentous day, the Bok defenders
against the All Blacks. South Africa have won
just 38% of their matches against New Zealand,
but they are still streets ahead of the rest of the
showed no small amount of courage to keep chasing pack in this respect.
the more fancied All Blacks ball-carriers at bay. The Boks have enjoyed less success against
neutrAl ground A year later, on the eve of the 2015 World the All Blacks in the professional era, though.
Cup semi-final between New Zealand and South Between 1996 and 2016, the All Blacks have
Africa at Twickenham, veteran All Blacks centre won 37 and the Boks a mere 14. Twenty-two
stEvE BARdENs/GEtty ImAGEs/GAllo ImAGEs

Conrad Smith shared his own story regarding Tests have been played in New Zealand during
rugby’s ‘ultimate’ rivalry. ‘I grew up during this period, and only three of those have been

Played the apartheid era, when Australia were our won by the Boks (namely the aforementioned

3 1 traditional foes,’ Smith said. ‘But now South

Africa have come back into it and it’s got back
triumph in Wellington in 1998, as well as the
wins in Dunedin in 2008 and Hamilton in 2009).

2 to where it was. They are our ultimate rivals.

There’s something special about playing them.
We have a good relationship with most teams
we play, but South Africa have a special respect
The Hamilton win was part of a monumental
year for South African rugby in that the Boks won
a series against the British & Irish Lions as well
as the Tri-Nations title. The latter tournament

25
 SpringbokSvsAll blAckS

‘the two defeAts in south

AfricA were mAyBe A good
lesson. it wAs the moment
thAt got us on the right
trAck for the 2011 world
cup’ – richie mccAw
in the second match of the series in Wellington.
That result marked the end of the All Blacks’
47-game winning streak in New Zealand.
Other Test teams may take heart from
the fact that that series ended in a 1-1
draw. Argentina, Australia and South Africa
may now believe that a win against the All
Blacks is within reach, even in the coming

rEcorDS THAT MATTEr Tests staged in New Zealand.

The recent results of the Super Rugby matches

139
played between New Zealand and South African
teams do not make for encouraging reading,
Springbok flyhalf though. Last year saw South African teams
Morne Steyn’s losing 11 matches against New Zealand
witnessed three straight wins over the All Blacks. points against sides across 15 regular season games.
That season also heralded a significant change New Zealand In 2017, the South African teams
in the approach of the New Zealand coaches fared even worse during the
and players. The All Blacks took those failures conference stage, losing
to heart, and proceeded to alter their tactics 13 out of 15 against

255
and mindset to develop a strategy similar
New Zealand flyhalf Kiwi sides and failing
to that of the Boks. dan Carter’s points to record one victory
‘The two defeats in South Africa were against Sa (an on New Zealand soil.
a good lesson,’ former All Blacks captain overall Test record The Boks thumped France 3-0
Richie McCaw said after his retirement by an opponent in June to make a positive start
in late-2015. ‘We went back home and against Sa) to the Test season. Significant
felt we would beat them there. Then improvements were made in
we lost in Hamilton. It was the areas like defence. Players
lEE WARREN/KAI sChWoERER/dAvId RoGERs/GEtty ImAGEs/GAllo ImAGEs

8
moment that got us on the right showed more intent to win the
track for the 2011 World Cup.’ Springbok wing collisions and breakdowns and thus provide
Consider how dominant the All Bryan Habana’s the backline with a steady supply of front-
Blacks have been between 2010 foot ball. But the Boks should know that
and the present. New Zealand have
tries against Australia and New Zealand will demand
won two World Cups and five Rugby New Zealand more of them physically and mentally in
Championship titles during that the Rugby Championship.
period. Overall, they’ve won 87 of The fixtures against the All Blacks, the No 1

the last 98 Tests for a win-record
of 90%.
That record includes the recent stumble
against the Lions. The composite side from
Great Britain and Ireland became the first
team to win a Test in New Zealand since
2009. The Lions beat the All Blacks 24-21
10
New Zealand fullback side in the world, should reveal how much the
Boks have progressed. South Africa will tackle
Christian Cullen’s tries New Zealand in Albany on 16 September and
against Sa (an overall again in Cape Town on 7 October. The Boks will
Test record by an be desperate to atone for what transpired in 2016
opponent against Sa) – a 41-13 loss in Christchurch as well as a record
57-15 defeat to New Zealand in Durban.

26
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 hOwTO

Keeping ABOUT BASSON

Twenty-one-year-old Basson is
from Uitenhage in the Eastern

abreast
Become an ace breaststroke
swimmer, with Alaric Basson
Cape. A third-year building student
at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University in Port Elizabeth, he has
represented South Africa at a number
of international meetings, the biggest
being the 2016 World Short Course
Championships in Canada. At this
year’s National Championships he
won a silver medal in the 100m
breaststroke behind Olympian
Cameron van der Burgh.

28

The dive
‘A swimmer needs to use every part of the
body to launch off the blocks as quickly as
possible. This is achieved by finding your
personal “launch position” – to not pull
back too far and also not lean forward too
much, with one leg in front of the other.
Some swimmers prefer flicking up the
back leg, some prefer pushing from the
front leg. Pulling with the arms to initiate
that explosive motion is essential. Entry
into the water is important, as you want
to carry the momentum from the dive
into the swim by minimising drag as
soon as possible and piercing the water
like an arrow.’
Underwater work
‘A swimmer is allowed one butterfly kick
and one pull-down [pulling arms and
hands down from the streamline position
down to the waist] and then a breaststroke
kick where you bring the arms forward to
GLYN KIRK/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/STEvE HAAG/EzRA SHAw/GETTY ImAGES/GALLo ImAGES
the surface and start the first stroke of
breaststroke swimming. The first stroke
is important when trying to maintain
the momentum from the underwater
work. It is normally a wider, stronger
pull to launch out of the water, taking
momentum into the following strokes.
The dive, underwater work and breakout
go hand in hand to achieve maximum
speed and momentum. I’ve been told by
an older, more experienced swimmer that
the person who wins the race is not the
person who swims the fastest, but the
person who “slows down the least”.’
The stroke
‘The breaststroke is considered one of
the most versatile and unpredictable
forms of swimming as there are so many
swimmers who have completely different
styles yet still swim extremely fast. Some
pull very wide and some pull very narrow;
some have a wide kick and some a narrow
kick; some keep their body low and flat on
the water while others rise high out of the
water. Ultimately, it comes down to your
preference. To be a fast breaststroker,
one needs to combine explosive power
with the ability to be streamlined and
minimise drag. Try to prevent your knees
from dropping by looking down when
underwater. It allows your body to be
flat and streamlined for the glide.’
The turn
‘On the turn you have to touch the wall with
both hands so it’s important to anticipate
the touch and be able to get off the wall
as fast as possible. The most common
mistake on breaststroke turns is missed
timing and uncertainty whether to glide
into the wall for a touch or whether to take
an extra stroke and touch with short arms
[arms not extended]. You want to touch the
wall on a complete stroke, not gliding but
also having your arms fully extended.’
Dry land work
‘It’s important to incorporate some cross-
training to get an edge when swimming
breaststroke. It is an explosive stroke
so a good breaststroker needs to be an
explosive athlete. Every swimmer goes
by their own programmes but I try to fit
in three sessions of gym work per week,
and that, I feel, is the bare minimum.
I find box jumps, pull-ups, push-ups,
straight arm pull-downs, squats, skipping,
rowing and sit-ups very helpful – basically
focusing on developing muscle groups
related to pulling and kicking specific
to the stroke.’
Mental preparation
‘This is the most important part of swimming
as it determines the outcome of your race.
Every swimmer agrees that even while
standing on the block you sometimes get
a positive feeling and you just know it’s
going be a good race. This is because your
mind is in a positive state. It’s important
to become mentally positive by constantly
using affirming words and getting rid of
all negative thoughts.’
Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC)
launches Heritage View @ Newtown Jozi

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 ROMELULUKAKU

RED Rom
Manchester United’s
marquee signing is
determined to live up
to his £75-million price
tag. By Gary Lemke

A
courtship that started the moment
the pre-season transfer opened,
continued to blossom after Jose
Mourinho got his man, nicked from
under the noses of English Premier
League champions Chelsea.
The relationship only got stronger once
Romelu Lukaku had become, up until that
stage, the world’s most expensive striker
in a £75-million switch from Everton to
Manchester United. It was a dramatic
signing, as Chelsea were viewed as near-
certainties to have the Belgian replace LED M17R
wantaway bad boy Diego Costa. from Duesouth
Lukaku is a bit of an enigma, what
KevorK Djansezian/getty images/gallo images

many call a ‘flat track bully’. Sure, his

goals tally in the Premier League is
impressive, but a more worrying statistic
– perhaps coming from those sour at the
big man’s decision to join the Manchester
giants – is that he has scored only five
goals in 35 matches against top-six clubs
in the past three seasons.
Manchester City’s Sergio
Aguero, by comparison, has
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31
 ROMELULUKAKU
‘Who Would say no to the biggest club in the
World? the best stadium in england, the best
fans. i mean, it’s the perfect opportunity’
netted 19 times in the same period against
Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and
Manchester United. Gary Neville, a United
legend, took to social media to suggest that
Lukaku ‘goes missing in the big games’.
Still, that might have been because Everton
were unable to unlock the defences of the clubs
above them often enough to give Lukaku the
opportunity to score more. That will change
from this season as United’s creative players
are sure to give him a better platform on which
to showcase his skills.
He is certainly not goal-shy and last season
banged in 25 league goals, second on the
top-scorers’ list behind Tottenham’s Harry
Kane (29). He also scored two hat-tricks,
against Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Still only 24, Lukaku is a dangerous customer;
big (1.90m), strong and visibly delighted to
be in United colours. It could be that he proves
a bargain buy at £75-million and should he
make a vital contribution, Old Trafford will
be bouncing again.
When £54-million is an acceptable fee for
a defender like Manchester City’s Kyle Walker
(from Tottenham), then £75-million could yet
become regarded as a snip should the Belgian
fire in the Premier League and the Champions
32
spLAsh thE cAsh
What the equivalent of r1.2-billion
(£75-million) could buy you in south africa …
89
nike Mag sneakers (the
entire liMited edition, at
r600 000 eaCh) and still
have r1.1-Billion in Change
20 upMarket wine FarMs
in the western Cape
4 Most expensive houses
ever sold in sa, in Cape
town’s Bantry Bay
80
League. If he does, that transfer fee – plus
the £12-million agreed to go to his agent new sChools that
– will quickly be recouped. That’s the nature Could Be Built
of modern football, which has become a
personal playground for billionaire owners.
7 5
Lukaku made no bones about his decision, inala –
which caused chaos back at Stamford Bridge the ‘super
BuFFalo’, nkandla
headquarters, leaving Antonio Conte and team sold For hoMesteads
management to start looking elsewhere for r168-Million
120
a quality striker on the eve of their own pre-
season tour. It had been a frustrating time
in the transfer market for Conte, whose high-
voltage touchline antics and attention to detail
ignited his first season in the Premier League.
Lukaku, meanwhile, was a picture of
happiness.
‘United’s a club that is hungry to win the
supplied/shaun Clark/getty images/gallo images
league again, to be dominant in the world again.
It’s the sort of opportunity I’ve always wanted
since I was a child. When they came calling Ferrari F12
I didn’t have to think twice, so I’m really
delighted be part of history,’ he said.
Berlinetta Coupe ats
‘Who would say no to the biggest club in
the world? The best stadium in England, the
best fans. I mean, it’s the perfect opportunity.’
Despite his unveiling coinciding with a social
media snap of him displaying a heavy first touch,
with online trolls quickly calling it ‘a pass’ and
 ROMELULUKAKU
he has formed a strong
friendship With the
World’s most expensive
buy, midfielder paul pogba
‘the touch of an elephant’, he has fitted in well
and nothing suggests he won’t be a resounding
success at United.
He scored his first goal in the United jersey,
albeit in their black away kit, on the pre-
season tour of the US and has formed a strong
friendship with the world’s most expensive buy,
midfielder Paul Pogba.
Mourinho and Lukaku are revelling in their
second honeymoon. After all, in 2013 Mourinho
– then the Chelsea manager – had ‘no regrets’
in sending the striker out on loan to Everton,
saying ‘it’s one thing to play for Everton, another
to play for Chelsea’.
It was a costly mistake on Mourinho’s part
as there was no buy-back clause in the move
and as the clock moved forward a few seasons,
it’s clear United outsmarted Chelsea over the
striker’s final destination.
And Mourinho himself seems to still have
no regrets about letting him go at Chelsea,
even suggesting some of the credit should
go to him for the player’s development.
34
After scoring his first United goal against Real people, he attacks crosses, he works when
Salt Lake, Mourinho was at his self-praising the team loses the ball, he presses well.
best. ‘When he came for the water before he
scored, I told him, “I love everything you do
‘I like everything he does. For me, it’s easy
to feel it because he was my player four years
on the pitch; don’t be worried about scoring
or not scoring because it is not important.”
ago or something like that and his evolution
was great. He’s now a top striker and the goal
‘He holds the ball so well, he plays one touch,
two touch so well. He moves, he gets behind
is just a detail. Not important.’
In his next life Mourinho could well become
a spin doctor, because there are thousands
LUKAKU’s LEAGUE JOURNEY of fans at Chelsea who were bemused at his
decision to send Lukaku on loan – and then
watched in despair as the Belgian
2009 became such a force at Everton.
The date to mark in the diary is
anDERlECht
2010 (sCoRED 33 goals) 4 November, when Mourinho brings his
KevorK Djansezian/stanley Chou/peter poWell/getty images/gallo images
Lukaku-led United team to Stamford
2011 Bridge. In the corresponding fixture
ChElsEa (Bought FoR
£18-million, DiDn’t sCoRE) last season there was an outpouring
2012 of football love for the Portuguese
wEst BRomwiCh alBion manager who had brought so much success
(loan, 17 goals) and joy to the Blues, before again being shown
2013
EvERton the door by owner Roman Abramovich.
(loan, 15 goals) However, the Portuguese’s
2014
homecoming quickly turned sour.
Pedro scored inside the first minute
2015 and Chelsea went on to win 4-0, with
EvERton (Bought FoR
£28-million, 53 goals) Mourinho and Conte having a clash
2016 of words at the final whistle.
This time, it will be all business for
2017 Mourinho, United and Lukaku – and you can be
manChEstER unitED
(Bought FoR £75-million) sure the reception will be as frosty as the early
winter’s Sunday afternoon it will be played on.
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 S
outh African-born Mike Horn is
considered by many to be the world’s
greatest contemporary explorer. The
Swiss adventurer, and nowadays
French TV personality, has in 20 years
probably seen more of the world than
any other. His accomplishments as a solo
explorer include swimming the Amazon River
unsupported; circumnavigating the globe at
the equator unmotorised; walking to the North
Pole in the dark season – believe it or not, more
people have been to the moon – and climbing
all of the world’s 8 000m-plus peaks.
Horn was born on 16 July 1966 in
Johannesburg and spent most of his childhood
outdoors with his three brothers and sisters.
Both of his parents were university lecturers.
He has said in interviews it was the army
that taught him survival. ‘I hate war, but
DmitrySharomov/martiN BUrEaUaFP Photo/Gallo imaGES

ChAsing This month: Mike Horn

Adventure
 extremesport

I think it prepared me for what I do today,’

Horn said, referring to his time in the then
South African Defence Force. ‘I was only an
18-year-old kid when I discovered one will
do anything to stay alive.’
Horn studied human movement sciences
at the University of Stellenbosch, but quit his
job when, at age 24, he first felt the call of the

wild. He moved to Switzerland and started his
career as a professional adventurer, embarking
on his first big expedition in 1997: a six-month
solo traverse of South America.
Horn achieved fame in 2001 after circling
the equator unaided and with no engine-driven
support – a world first. The expedition began
in Gabon in 1999 and crossed the Atlantic to
Brazil on a trimaran. He traversed Brazil and
Ecuador on bike, canoe and on foot. He then
crossed the Pacific Ocean, reaching Indonesia
wise words
In 2010 and 2011, Horn held motivational
sessions for India’s cricket team at the request
of their South African coach, Gary Kirsten. The
team went on to win the 2011 World Cup for
only the second time in 28 years. Horn has since
assisted the Proteas and, more recently, the
Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. The latest team
to benefit from his experience was the German
football team. The entire squad went on a sailing
trip with Horn during their preparations for the
2014 Fifa World Cup. Germany eventually won
the tournament, held in Brazil, after 24 years.
5 100km
via the Galapagos Islands, and crossed Borneo
and Sumatra on foot, before crossing the Indian
Ocean. To finish, he crossed Africa on foot
through the Congo and Gabon.
Another world-first followed in 2006. During
the Arctic night, Horn and Norwegian explorer
Borge Ousland set off on a two-month voyage
to the North Pole. From February to March the
pair walked on skis, dragging sleighs, from
Cape Artichesky in Russia. They walked in
total darkness and often on paper-thin ice.
Horn completed his latest expedition,
‘Pole2Pole’ – a two-year circumnavigation
of the globe via the South and North Pole
The disTance covered in
horn’s recenT anTarcTic
crossing as parT of his
pole2pole expediTion
– in January 2017. He travelled by land and
on his sailing vessel, Pangaea. During this
voyage, which was partly sponsored by Prince
Albert of Monaco, he completed the longest
solo, unsupported north-to-south traverse
of Antarctica. He arrived at the South Pole
on 9 January after covering a distance of
5 100km in 57 days, using kites and skis.
Tragedy struck in 2015 when Horn’s wife,
Cathy, died from breast cancer. Asked about
how he and their two daughters dealt with
their loss, he said, ‘We did what we do best,
we embarked on an expedition. She encouraged
me to chase my dreams, to never say never.’

37
USAIN BOLT’S
CAREER NUMBERS
As one of the greatest sportsmen in history calls it a day,
SportsClub takes a look at Bolt’s staggering statistics

Profile
Date of birth: 21 August 1986
Weight: 94kg
Height: 1.95m
Nationality: Jamaican
World records
100m: 9.58 (Berlin, 2009)
200m: 19.19 (Berlin, 2009)
4x100m: 36.84 (London, 2012)
World Junior records
200m: 19.93
olymPic gold medAls
100m
200m
4x100m

World chAmPionshiP
gold medAls
100m
200m
4x100m

GolovkinvsAlvArez
I
t’s just as well the long-awaited Gennady
Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez middleweight title
fight takes place just three weeks after the
gaudy freak show featuring loudmouths
Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Conor McGregor.
Someone will need to clean up after
the circus act has passed through Las Vegas.
Even by Sin City’s extravagant standards, not
to mention boxing’s, the cross-code fight is
nothing more than a hideously expensive
promotion that will make fools of us all.
No matter. Even with that wild shindig
looming large, boxing is in credit. We can
thank Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko
in the main. In April the pair waged a
heavyweight battle for the ages in front
of a frenzied 90 000-strong crowd in London.
It had echoes of Rocky as both men hit the
deck and showed incredible courage to wear
one another down. Joshua prevailed, and in
an instant a decent, dignified (and thoroughly
dangerous) figure was installed as the new
heavyweight king.
Meanwhile, new stars continue to emerge
– take a bow Vasyl Lomachenko, Errol Spence
and Terence Crawford – while an old one (Andre
Ward) defied age and the power of beastly Sergey
Kovalev to draw new followers to a sport that
constantly evolves in the public consciousness.
Ah, but what about the robbery of Manny
Pacquiao in his recent fight against little-known
Jeff Horn of Australia? Forget it, there have been
100 other results in the past decade that were
far worse. Besides, controversy is the oxygen
that boxing thrives on.
The only dispute around September’s
Golovkin-Alvarez fight has been why it took
two years to make. Alvarez is the so-called
‘lineal’ middleweight champion on account
of beating Miguel Cotto, but after doing so
he dropped down in weight and ignored loud
calls to do business with ‘GGG’, who by common
consensus is the best fighter at middleweight.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya explained it
away by saying that it would do good to let the
fight ‘marinate’ to ensure maximum interest
and buckets of cash for the adversaries. He
might have been right.
Pressed on the issue after blasting out
Amir Khan last year, Alvarez (far right) was
unequivocal that he would take the fight …
The Re
The Kazakh and the Mexican will meet at
middleweight in a bout that has true boxing
fans salivating. By Clinton van der Berg
eventually. Believing his manhood was being
questioned, he told fans that Golovkin (near
right) would get his turn when he was ready.
‘Us Mexicans, we don’t f**k around.’
In pure boxing terms, it’s the perfect fight.
Despite being Kazakh, Golovkin has traded
on ‘Mexican style’ boxing, borrowing heavily
from the greatest Mexican fighter of them all,
Julio Cesar Chavez Snr. What’s more, he has
long ingratiated himself with Mexican fans
by praising their natural fighting instincts
and trying to emulate their best.
Golovkin is also that most appealing of
boxers. He allies furious power with his deadly
rhythm, giving him the ability to box and punch
to devastating effect, a blend that fans adore.
Until his last fight, a surprisingly arduous
outing against Danny Jacobs, GGG hadn’t
been the distance in nine years, having
accumulated 23 successive stoppage wins.
Not even middleweight greats Marvin Hagler
or Carlos Monzon could boast that sort of run.
Despite his excellence – unbeaten in 37
fights with 33 KOs – Golovkin has lacked
a career-defining fight. Until now.
Whereas Sugar Ray Leonard had Tommy
Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler,
Golovkin has had to make do with a shallow
pool of rivals. It’s not his fault, but he now
has a challenge that could define his legacy.
The only blot on Alvarez’s 51-fight ledger is
a points defeat to Mayweather four years ago.
He beat everyone who mattered at welterweight
and, Mayweather apart, banged out a crop of
elite junior-middleweights before fleetingly
visiting the middleweight division.
He’s a devastating body-puncher with
a beautiful jab, but not nearly as powerful
as Golovkin. Perhaps more importantly,
and critical to the outcome, is that he
isn’t a natural middleweight like Golovkin.
He’s a relentless, smooth hitter whose
remorseless style makes him the biggest
star in Mexican boxing and the natural heir
to Chavez Snr. Ironically, in his last fight
he thoroughly dominated Chavez Jnr,
a decent fighter who squandered his
good genes through disinterest.
What’s at stake is more than
just confirmation of the best 72kg
fighter on the planet. Both boxers
are on the top 10 pound-for-
pound list. Whoever wins
will stake a claim to the
No 1 spot nominally held
by Lomachenko or Ward,
depending who you ask.
If the Mexican triumphs,
he’ll enter superstar status
beyond his Mexican enclave.
He’s still just 26 and although he
doesn’t speak English, a win would help
break him into the mainstream. Any number
of big fights could be made down the line.
Golovkin is already 35, so age isn’t on his
side. He has few mountains left to scale and
is focused on ensuring his legacy is cast
in iron. If he beats Alvarez, it would be
 xxxx

JOHN GURZINSKI/Al BellO/Getty ImAGeS/GAllO ImAGeS

eal Deal

41
 GolovkinvsAlvArez

BOXING’S WEIGHT DIVISIONS THREE LEGENDARY

MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHTS

61.235kg liGhTweiGhT
63.503kg supeR liGhTweiGhT
58.967kg supeR FeaTheRweiGhT

66.678kg welTeRweiGhT T
57.153kg FeaTheRweiGhT hT

69.85kg supeR welTeRwT

55.225kg supeR BanTaMhTwe

72.574kg MiDDleweiGhleweiGhT
53.525kg BanTaR FlyweiGhT

76.203kg supheRT heavyweiGhT

79.378kg RuiseRweiGhT
Rocky GRaziano
52.163kg su weiGhT

90.892k kg heavyweiGhT
+90.893
50.802kg liGhT FlyweiGhT
48.988k g MiniMuMweiGhT
47.627k

vs Tony zale (1947)

Seventy years ago, Graziano and Zale smashed one

gc
another for six rounds in one of the greatest fights

liG
g
Fly
pe

of all time. Graziano’s eyes were cut and swollen

and he often looked on the verge of being stopped,
MweiG

MiDD
only to roar back in the sixth, scoring a dramatic
TKO. Later, Graziano remarked, ‘This was no boxing

eiGh
match. It was a war and if there wasn’t a referee,
iG

one of the two of us would have wound up dead.’

AlvArez is A devAstAting
body puncher with A
beAutiful jAb, but not
neArly As powerful
As golovkin. More MaRvin haGleR vs
ToMMy heaRns (1985)
iMportAntly, he isn’t A Billed as ‘The War’ (above), Hagler’s bout with

nAturAl Middleweight Hearns was action-packed from start to finish

difficult leaving him out of a list of the top five
middleweights in history.
Sugar Ray Robinson is the best boxer of all
time, let alone middleweight, so Golovkin would
likely fit in somewhere between two and five. A
fight against Monzon would be a brutal, bloody
brawl, pitting remarkably similar styles and their
ability to wield sledgehammer fists. (Monzon
died in 1995, aged 52, in a car crash during
a weekend’s leave from the 11-year sentence
he was serving for killing his wife.)
The other rival for middleweight primacy is
Hagler, the great southpaw who might have
had the best chin in the division’s history.
Golovkin’s isn’t bad either: he’s never been
dropped in over 300 amateur fights and an
11-year professional career.
Leonard only briefly fought at middleweight,
famously beating Hagler, and is generally rated
at welterweight. So too Hearns. Duran dabbled
in the middleweight division, but he was a
lightweight great.
Even so, I expect Leonard would have had
too many moves for Golovkin, while a Hearns
fight would go the same way as what Hagler
did to Hearns, lulling him into a brawl before
sparking him in the third.
What truly matters is that we have the best
middleweight fight since the 1980s close at
hand. It has the makings of a classic.
before the dramatic denouement in the third when
Hagler bombed out Hearns on a night of Las Vegas
bedlam. Widely considered the most exciting fight
in middleweight history, it was Hagler’s finest hour.
suGaR Ray leonaRD vs
MaRvin haGleR (1987)
After a three-year retirement, the ageing Leonard
stepped up in weight to challenge Hagler, who
hadn’t lost in 11 years. To the surprise of most,
Leonard’s smooth style and fast hands prevailed
over Hagler’s power in a memorable fight, winning
a split points decision that fans continue to argue
etHAN mIlleR/RIcHARd HeAtHcOte/Getty ImAGeS/GAllO ImAGeS
over. Hagler could not overcome his bitterness and
never boxed again.

42
OdellBeckhamJr

T
he question of what Odell Beckham Jr
is, is significantly harder to answer
than who he is.
We know who he is. To the NFL and
New York Giants he is an extremely
valuable commodity. A prolific running
back – possessing what most observers consider
to be the best hands in the business – and
a pop culture poster child, the league and
Jonathan Daniel/Getty imaGes/Gallo imaGes
Giants benefit directly and indirectly from
Beckham Jr’s involvement.
He moves chains and merch, and they drop
cheques, all of which combined will total just
short of $19-million by the end of his contract
term (due in 2019, pending new negotiations).
When all is said and done, it is nothing more
than a business transaction, the kind the NFL
has been doing with outrageously gifted young
footballers for decades.
Odell Beckham Jr has transcended
American football. He is a cultural
phenomenon. By Ryan Vrede
Cynical, sure, but understanding Beckham
Jr’s relationship with the NFL helps us best
understand what he is. I speak with authority
as I’ve had the OBJ experience.
It was early in September 2016, in New York
City. I’d just become fascinated with American
football, but it grew into an obsession once
I visited the US, with the New England Patriots
and their dynasty led by Tom Brady the focus
of my obsession.
I quickly learned not to share this obsession
with Giants-crazed New Yorkers. When I’d say
Brady, they’d counter with OBJ, arguing that he
was going to lead the franchise out of the maze
of mediocrity they had been trapped in.
I delved deeper into the OBJ hype. He polarised
the opinions of the New York Times sports writers,
Complex magazine couldn’t get enough of him, the
street-style pack drooled, high-end magazine titles
like Vogue, GQ and W crowned him the ‘King of
Cool’ and a legion of pre-teens spent long summer
days making YouTube videos trying to replicate
OBJ’s signature move – the one-handed catch.
I was sold. But you know what wasn’t sold?
Giants jerseys with ‘Beckham Jr’ on the back.
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Not one to be found in all of the city. ‘Sorry sir,
the Beckham shirt sold out at the start of the
summer,’ was the standard line from sales
assistants. ‘No restock?’ I’d enquire. ‘Yeah,
we’ve restocked a couple of times. People
queue the night before and they’re gone
as soon as the doors open.’
Damn, who was this kid?
I’d booked a ticket to watch the Giants
host the Patriots in the last pre-season
fixture before the start of the new league.
Surely, I thought, one of the two huge fan
stores at the MetLife Stadium would have
the elusive piece of sportswear.
Nope.
New York is a big city, but it is hardly a
football city to the degree of some of those
in the country’s south. And Beckham Jr is
cool, but this? Then I saw a Kardashian
rocking his jersey on Instagram, while hip-hop
artist French Montana draped himself in one
in a paparazzi shot ... You get the picture.
What is Odell Beckham Jr? A cultural
phenomenon.
The roar of the crowd when a camera sprayed
his face across the Jumbo Tron before kick-off
that evening still lives in me. Beckham Jr,
so aware of what he is, played to the crowd,
breaking out in a dance that culminated in
a dab. Chaos.
When you consider that Beckham Jr rendered
his quarterback that evening, Eli Manning –
a two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time
Super Bowl MVP and first-round draft pick
– a sideshow, you better understand the
magnitude of his impact.
This doesn’t happen by accident and it has
less to do with the marketing gurus at big
organisations than it does with Beckham Jr’s
45
 OdellBeckhamJr
Beckham Jr’s
endOrsement deals
$25-million
What nike Will pay him over five years
$48-million What the endorsement deal
could rise to over eight years
if certain incentives fall into place
the numBer of athletes Who have
Bigger american endorsement deals
than oBJ. they are leBron James –
nike (estimated $1-Billion lifetime
deal), david Beckham – adidas
($160-million lifetime deal), kevin
durant – nike (est $285-million),
derrick rose – adidas (est $260-
million) and maria sharapova –
nike (est $100-million)
the estimated amount it cost head
& shoulders to make Beckham Jr
their nfl spokesperson
$3-million
2.5-million
What lenovo are reported to have
handed over to him as endorsement
46
‘I really don’t care what anyone says. Just because
I’m In the club wIth a$aP rocky In June, doesn’t
mean I’m goIng to be any less good for the gIants’
commitment to excellence. After only three
seasons in the league, Beckham Jr has already
smashed numerous Giants and NFL records.
Those performances are the primary reason that,
by the time you read this, the Giants are likely to
have made him the highest-paid wide receiver
in the NFL. Everything else he brings with him
– the shirt sales, the marketability – is a bonus.
His detractors maintain that his value is
exaggerated, that he is lazy and pampered, that
he is ‘too New York’. They want him to be like
Manning, or his iconic brother Peyton – honest
pros who obsess about the game. They are blind
to the fact no athlete of Beckham Jr’s standing
ascends to that position without hard work.
They weren’t there at Louisiana State
University when he and best friend (Miami
Dolphins wide receiver) Jarvis Landry’s training
sessions would start at 10pm and continue
well past midnight. They’d be up at 6am for the
team’s official practice and do it all over again
that night. The haters aren’t there when he
calls up friends after Giants training sessions
to assist him with drills he has formulated to
improve a key performance area.
The haters rejoiced when the NFL fined
him for dancing in the end zone, a sanction
so archaic, so draconian, so plain dumb that
even the game’s most conservative voices
have called for reform. The haters point to his
disciplinary record as proof of him possessing
a questionable temperament. They argue that
his pending new contract will further entrench
what they perceive to be a sense of entitlement.
‘I don’t care. I really don’t care what anyone
says,’ Beckham told ESPN. ‘I know the truth. Just
because I’m in the club with A$AP Rocky in June
doesn’t mean I’m going to be any less good for
the Giants from August to February.’
This speaks to a maturity that is rare in elite
athletes. What he is doesn’t determine who he is.
We know he is a devoted son to a mother,
Heather van Norman, who, having had him
ViVien Killilea/Jason miller/Getty imaGes/Gallo imaGes
young, carried him around the LSU campus
and into classes. In July he posted a pictured
on Instagram captioned ‘I told my momma
when I was 14 we would see better days ...’
He is a ride-or-die friend to Landry, who
has countered the perception of a selfish
Beckham Jr by saying, ‘He is the most selfless
person I know. When it comes to people he
loves, nothing is too much.’
Finally, we know he is faithful to himself.
It defines everything he does, every decision he
makes. That, in the greater scheme of things,
is far more impressive than what he is.
Who would’ve thought
a bald head
would give me hope?

In 1997, the Reach For A Dream Foundation

fulfilled my dream of going to Disneyworld.
But, it was my friends’ shaving their heads
to look like me, which really moved me.
- Sam Pretorius
Help us continue to inspire hope in children with
life-threatening illnesses. Call 0860 DREAMS
or visit www.reachforadream.org.za.
 mindgame

Test your sports

knowledge with 2
1 1

our crossword 4
3

4 6

8
7

10 10
9

2
Gerhard duraan/andrew CornaGa/GerrY PennY/rYan wilkiskY/BaCkPaGePix

issue 110 k i nG sP a r k
a
F Across
solution a
e
4. Which PSL club defended their Nedbank Cup title in June by beating Orlando Pirates 4-1?
6. Which record-breaking Manchester United striker rejoined his former club, Everton, in July?
l
n 7. Where will the Springboks play the All Blacks in October?
l ne wZ e a l a nd 10. Who is the Proteas’ Test wicketkeeper?
o a a d r
n Y C r i s T i a no ro n a l d o Down
d r r l F 1. Name the Spanish tennis player who was eliminated from Wimbledon after the
J o hn Mi T C hel l a ninth five-set match of his career at the tournament.
n o n B
n w e 2. Which South African franchise won the Africa 1 Super Rugby Conference?
s h n 3. Name the Junior Springbok who was named the World Rugby U20 Player of the
F a F du P l e s s i s i Tournament for 2017.
n T T
n e e
5. Name the team Bafana Bafana beat to record their first head-to-head competitive victory.
a l Z 8. Which national football team won their maiden Fifa Confederations Cup in June?
e 9. Who scored a century in his first Test as England captain in the series opener against
Y
the Proteas in June?

C h eC k U S o Ut At w w w.S p o rt S C l Ub.C o.z A

49
Corinna Halloran/red bull Content pool

GoinGdiStance
the
The Western States is one
of the most prestigious trail
races in the world. How did
it feel to win it?
It was a dream come true, as
Western States is the one race
I’ve always wanted to win. It
was a brutal day out; I won’t
lie, I don’t think I’ve ever been so shattered, but
at the same time so elated. I finished second
there on my debut in 2012, but in 2013 I injured
my ankle six weeks before the race. In 2014
I finished fifth, but after too much racing that
year I was overcooked. In 2015 I got sick two
days before the race and almost collapsed just
trying to register, so I just stumbled back to the
hotel. Then in 2016 I didn’t go, so I wanted to
go back in 2017 and give it everything.
Take us through the race in terms
of the challenges you faced and
your experience of it.
This was the toughest year they’ve had
conditions-wise. After a huge winter, there
was loads of snow on the mountains; they
even had a ‘Plan B’ to avoid the snow, but
they announced two days before the race
that we would run the original route. The
first 30km was all snow, which took up to
SandeS’ overall
time for the 2017
WeStern StateS 16hr 19min 39sec
ryansandes
South African trail
runner Ryan Sandes
overcame heavy snow
and blistering heat to
win the iconic Western
States 100-miler.
By Sean Falconer
20% more energy than normal, and then we
were whacked by extreme heat. At times it felt
like I couldn’t breathe, and it came down to
managing the heat and keeping cool. American
Jim Walmsley went out really hard after saying
he was going to run 14 hours flat. He gave it
a full go, but speaking to him afterwards, it
was cool that he didn’t make any excuses – he
said he burned all his matches and set himself
alight. I was lying second for most of the race,
and at the back of my mind I thought Jim might
come unstuck, so I tried to stay within reach.
At Forest Hill, around 100km in, the gap was
around 45 minutes, but I got feedback that
he wasn’t looking good. I passed him around
the 120km mark, just before the Rucky-Chucky
River crossing. He was walking and looked
pretty broken, and I knew I had it if I just
kept going.
What makes the Western States such
a special race, from a physical and
emotional perspective?
It’s an iconic event – the original 100-mile trail
race – and has a lot of history. The legends of
the sport have run it, and it’s very cool to have
won the trophy alongside legends like Scott
Jurek, Kilian Jornet and others. But for me,
what makes the race so cool is the community
51
 ryansandes
The Big Five
tranSGrancanaria (canary iSlandS)
‘A really brutal but beautiful course, and the
fanatical support from the islanders is amazing.
The whole island comes to a standstill!’
WeStern StateS (US)
‘It’s the original 100-miler and there is so much
history behind this race.’
Ultra trail mont Blanc (france)
‘The UTMB has grown into the world’s biggest
trail run. It’s the Tour de France of trail running
in terms of support.’
leadville (USa)
‘The high altitude makes it really tough, but
that area is steeped in history, and the race
is almost mystical, in a sense.’
Ultra trail (cape toWn)
‘It’s going to become the ultra trail race in SA,
because you can’t do better than running on
Table Mountain, and it’s now part of the Ultra
Trail World Tour.’
that gets behind the race. Well over 2 000
volunteers work on a race that only takes
around 350 entries each year.
Describe the preparation you went through
for this year’s race.
I haven’t raced as much this year, because
I wanted to focus on Western States. I had
a good block of seven weeks leading up to
the race, and while I wasn’t averaging huge
mileage – only about 160km per week – it
included 5 000m of ascent and 7 000m of
descent per week, to mimic the Western States
52
course and conditions. Also, I ran mostly around
midday, to get used to running in the heat.
The past two years have not gone according
to plan, due to illness. Tell us about that, and
how you were able to bounce back.
I think it goes back to 2014, which was a really
big year for me. I won the TransGranCanaria in
Spain, the first race in the Ultra World Trail Tour,
which encouraged me to over-race to maximise
the points. I finished second overall in the tour
and probably did way too much racing, having
also done the Drakensberg Traverse challenge. It
caught up with me when I contracted glandular
fever at the beginning of 2015 and that whole
year was a write-off. At the end of 2015 I took
two months off, then decided to go back to the
core reason I run – to enjoy it. Some days, if I
wasn’t enjoying a run after 10 minutes, I would
turn around and head home. Luckily I worked
through that and in 2016 I had consistent
results again [fourth at Grand Raid Reunion,
third at Tarawera Ultra in New Zealand, fourth
at Ultra Trail Australia]. I ended up fourth
overall in the World Ultra Trail Tour, but
I knew I could do better.
Now that you’ve ticked off such a big
milestone win, what does the future
hold for your running?
Western States was that one race I dreamed of
winning; the other is Ultra Trail Mont Blanc. Part
of me wants to go back to Western States next
year to defend my title, but another part says I’ve
ticked that off, so rather focus on UTMB. In 2015
I dropped out at UTMB because of the effects of
the glandular fever – my legs were nowhere after
just 40km. I went back in 2016 but had stomach
issues and dropped out again. It’s one of those
races where you need to go out hard if you want
to be in with a chance.
Lastly, what do you think the future holds
for trail running? Is the sport still growing?
It has actually exploded and it’s getting more
professional. I think a lot of people want to get
out and have that contact with nature, because
we’re constantly in front of computers. Interaction
with nature is important and it’s a lot more
enjoyable to run 5km on a mountain than
10km on a busy road! Kelvin trautman/Corinna Halloran/red bull Content pool
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 wackyworld

kick
about
SportsClub explores the
wide world of sport.
This month: sepak takraw

W
e travel to Southeast Asia
on the next leg of our journey detailed court dimensions
the quarter circle
through the wide world of
boundary line 0.9m radiuS
sport, to catch up with a
game played across the
region … sepak takraw.
‘Sepak’ is the Malay word for ‘kick’, service circle
3.05m
while ‘takraw’ means ‘woven ball’. In fact,
if you pictured a game of volleyball played
6.1m 0.3m 2.45m
with the feet and head, rather than hands, radius
centre line
you’d have a good idea of what to expect.
The size of a sepak takraw court and
the height of the net (made from fine
cord or nylon) are similar to those used
in badminton and there are three players
on each team. While the rules are similar
to those used in volleyball, there are 13.4m
important exceptions: the use of hands
is not allowed; each player may touch the with several countries claiming ownership of it, set of rules. At the same gathering, the Asian
ball only once before it is kicked or headed it is believed the game evolved from an ancient Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF) was formed,
over the net; and a team scores a point Chinese military exercise, which involved soldiers setting the stage for the first international sepak
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP PhOtO/GAllO imAGEs

even if the ball touches the net before
falling into the opposition’s court.
The ball is spherical in shape with
a circumference of 42cm, and is made
of woven synthetic fibre in a variety
of colours.
While sepak takraw’s origin is a matter
of intense debate across Southeast Asia,
keeping a feathered shuttlecock airborne by
kicking it back and forth.
Due to the game being played in several
countries, there were inconsistencies in
terms of how the game was judged. In 1960,
representatives from Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Lao and Thailand met in Kuala
Lumpur to come up with a standardised
takraw competition, held in Malaysia in 1965.
Due to the gravity-defying kicks, aerial twists
and speed of play, sepak takraw is one of the
fastest growing sports in Asia, where nations
are lobbying for it to be given Olympic status.
Thailand and Malaysia are the teams to beat,
but Myanmar, South Korea, Singapore and
Vietnam are catching up fast.

55
 ACTIONSTATIONS

STAR PLAYER Everton vs

Tottenham Hotspur
Wayne Rooney 9 September, Goodison Park
Everton are very much where Spurs
were three years ago – a club
perpetually on the outskirts of the
league’s top four, looking for a way
in. The club from north London
proved it can be done, finishing in
the Champions League positions
in the past two seasons. Everton
are in a strong position to achieve
the same feat, with astute manager
Ronald Koeman sanctioning over
£100-million in spending, including
the acquisition of one Wayne Rooney.
If Everton are to take the next step,
they will need to win home games
against top-four rivals, so expect
a titanic tussle.

THE NUMBER OF
PREMIER LEAGUE TITLES
ROONEY WON WHILE AT
MANCHESTER UNITED

Australia vs
5 ESSENTIAL FIXTURES
South Africa
9 September, nib Stadium
An away victory over the All
Blacks may be a step too far
for a Springbok side still very
much in the development stage.
However, after Australia’s poor
showings in their mid-year

GERRY PENNY/LUKE WALKER/BACKPAGEPIX/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

Tests – which included a
shock loss to Scotland and an
STAR PLAYER
unconvincing win over Italy –
the Boks will fancy their chances
of picking up a Wallaby scalp
Jan Serfontein
in their own backyard. It could
be argued that Australian
rugby has never been weaker
in the professional era, and if
South Africa display the same

2012
cohesion and work ethic on
attack and defence as they
did against the French in June,
THE YEAR IN WHICH
they should have too much SERFONTEIN WAS
firepower for a Wallabies side CROWNED WORLD
low on confidence. RUGBY JUNIOR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR

C HEC K U S O U T AT W W W.S P O RT S C L U B.C O. Z A

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 sportsachiever
You scored seven tries
in five games at the World
Rugby U20 Championship.
How would you describe
the level of competition?
It was higher than anything
I had experienced up to that
point. But I didn’t expect anything less against
the best U20 players from around the world. It
was also a new experience to play in front of a
crowd as passionate as the Georgian supporters,
especially when we faced them in our second
game. The stadium was full whenever they
played and the fans were really vocal and
got behind their team.
Did you ever think you’d return home from
the tournament ranked as the best U20
player in the world?
Not at all. I was just so happy to have made the
final squad. Given the strong competition there
was in the squad, my goal was to fight for a
place in every game. Receiving the award was
SportsClub catches up with
World Rugby U20 Player of the
Tournament Juarno Augustus.
By Mariette Adams
Impact
58
special. To be honest, I couldn’t believe it when
they read out my name. I didn’t expect it at all.
Springboks Jan Serfontein and Handre Pollard
won the award before you. Does that give you
hope of following in their footsteps and playing
Test rugby?
It sure does. Hopefully, with continued work
and dedication, I will become a Bok one day.
I’m sure Jan and Handre worked even harder
after they graduated from U20 level and that
is what I have to do now.
You can play across the back row. What
is your preferred position?
I enjoy playing No 8 – I played there throughout
my junior career. But I’ll play wherever the
coaches want me to. I’ll have to adapt.
What are your strengths and what aspects
of your game do you need to improve?
It’s hard to single out strengths and weaknesses
because as a player you always want to improve
BIg
Mark runnacles/getty iMages/gallo iMages
 sportsachiever
your overall game constantly. Over and above
that, it’s still early in my career. However, if I
have to single out areas of my game, I think ball-
carrying and defence are among my strengths,
and I’d like to improve my fitness levels.
You played for Whistling Wheels RFC.
How has the club rugby scene helped
your development as a player?
It’s brutal and rough playing in those leagues
[laughs]. I think that experience improved
my physicality.
You joined the Western Province Institute
last year and played in the U19 competition,
but your breakthrough came in the U20
Championship. How did this newfound
fame change your life?
I haven’t had a chance to process the last
couple of weeks, really. Everything happened
so quickly and when we returned I joined the
Western Province and Stormers squads. I think
when the season is over, I’ll sit down and pinch
myself to make sure I’m not dreaming [laughs].
You made your debuts for WP and the
Stormers in the space of two weeks after the
U20 Championship. Do you feel mentally and
physically ready to play senior rugby regularly?
That is a call the coaches have to make. As
a player, all I can do is keep working hard
60
‘I thInk when the season
Is over, I’ll sIt down and
pInch myself to make sure
I’m not dreamIng’
and give it my best shot whenever I get
opportunities to play at that level.
How did you get the nickname ‘Trokkie’?
It was at the Stormers. Some of the guys found
it hard to pronounce my name and the next thing
I knew they started calling me ‘Trokkie’. It’s in
reference to how I’m built and how I play.
Injury prevented you from being in contention
for WP’s Craven Week squad in 2015. Did the
disappointment of that missed opportunity
affect you in a good or a bad way?
I think every youngster wants to announce himself
at Craven Week. I was heartbroken at the time,
but it was for the best.
U20 pLaYer oF the
Year WiNNers What were your goals for this season and
what are your long-term aspirations?
2008 Luke Braid (New Zealand)
2009 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand) I wanted to play at the U20 Championship,
2010 Julian Savea (New Zealand) Super Rugby and Currie Cup. So, I’ve ticked
2011 George Ford (England) two of those boxes [as at mid-July]. It’s still
2012 Jan Serfontein (South Africa) far off, but I want to play for the Boks.
2013 Sam Davies (Wales)
2014 Handre Pollard (South Africa)
2015 James Chisholm (England) Tell the readers about your background.
2016 Max Deegan (Ireland) I grew up in Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape,
2017 Juarno Augustus (South Africa) but my family moved to Strand when I was
young. I am one of three children. My mother
is a school teacher and she and my sister are
both fond of netball. I attended Somerset West
Primary, then went to Gordon High and later
Hoerskool Tygerberg.
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Sports Trust con�nues to encourage more young women to par�cipate in sport this
Woman’s Month. Sta�s�cs have shown that women who play sport have higher
self-esteem, less risk of depression, a lower likelihood of engaging in high-risk
behaviors and achieve be�er in their academic performance. Suppor�ng and
nurturing the spor�ng talent of our female youth is essen�al to transforma�on in
sport and we invite Corporate South Africa to support our ini�a�ves so that we can
help tomorrow’s female spor�ng heroes today.

The Sports Trust’s focus is in disadvantaged schools and communi�es, and we act as
an implementa�on partner for sport development by providing spor�ng kit,
equipment and building or renova�ng facili�es on behalf of our donors, and
according to their CSI sport ini�a�ves. In addi�on to this we can assist companies
with their alignment towards BBBEE as we are a NPO, PBO and Trust and can issue
Sec�on 18A Tax Cer�ficates to our donors.
 sportscalendar

rugBy
rugby championship
DATE MATCH VENUE TIME
9 New Zealand vs Argentina Yarrow 09:35
9 Australia vs South Africa nib 12:00
16 New Zealand vs South Africa North Harbour 09:35
16 Australia vs Argentina GIO 12:00
30 Argentina vs New Zealand Jose Amalfitani 12:00
30 South Africa vs Australia Free State 17:00

currie cup
DATE MATCH VENUE TIME
1 Blue Bulls vs Griquas Loftus Versfeld 19:00
2 Golden Lions vs Pumas Ellis Park 15:00

september
2 Sharks vs Cheetahs Kings Park 17:15
8 Griquas vs Golden Lions Griqua Park 19:00
9 Pumas vs Sharks Mbombela 17:15
9 Western Province vs Cheetahs Newlands 19:30
15 Pumas vs Western Province Mbombela 19:00
16 Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls Ellis Park 17:15
16 Griquas vs Sharks Griqua Park 19:30
sports events you just can’t miss 23 Cheetahs vs Pumas Free State 15:00
23 Western Province vs Griquas Newlands 17:15

FOOTBALL 23
29
Sharks vs Blue Bulls
Sharks vs Golden Lions
Kings Park
Kings Park
19:30
19:00
30 Griquas vs Cheetahs Griqua Park 14:00
premier League
DATE MATCH VENUE TIME
9 Man City vs Liverpool Etihad 13:30
9 Arsenal vs Bournemouth Emirates 16:00
9 Everton vs Spurs Goodison Park 16:00
9 Leicester vs Chelsea King Power 16:00
9 Brighton vs West Brom Amex 16:00
9 Southampton vs Watford St. Mary’s 16:00
9 Stoke vs Man Utd bet365 18:30
10 Burnley vs Crystal Palace Turf Moor 13:30
10 Swansea vs Newcastle Liberty 17:00
11 West Ham vs Huddersfield London 21:00
15 Bournemouth vs Brighton Vitality 21:00
16 Crystal Palace vs Southampton Selhurst Park 13:30
16 Huddersfield vs Leicester John Smith’s 16:00
16 Liverpool vs Burnley Anfield 16:00
16 Newcastle vs Stoke St James’ Park 16:00
16 Watford vs Man City Vicarage Road 16:00
16 West Brom vs West Ham The Hawthorns 16:00
16 Spurs vs Swansea Wembley 18:30
17 Chelsea vs Arsenal Stamford Bridge 14:30
17 Man Utd vs Everton Old Trafford 17:00
23 West Ham vs Spurs London 13:30
GERRY PENNY/JohaN PREtoRius/backPaGEPix/Gallo imaGEs

23 Burnley vs Huddersfield Turf Moor 16:00

23 Everton vs Bournemouth Goodison Park 16:00
23 Man City vs Crystal Palace Etihad 16:00
23 Southampton vs Man Utd St. Mary’s 16:00
23 Stoke vs Chelsea bet365 16:00
23 Swansea vs Watford Liberty 16:00
23 Leicester vs Liverpool King Power 18:30
24 Brighton vs Newcastle Amex 17:00
25 Arsenal vs West Brom Emirates 21:00
30 Huddersfield vs Spurs John Smith’s 13:30
30 Bournemouth vs Leicester Vitality 16:00
30 Man Utd vs Crystal Palace Old Trafford 16:00
30 Stoke vs Southampton bet365 16:00
30 West Brom vs Watford The Hawthorns 16:00
30 West Ham vs Swansea London 16:00
30 Chelsea vs Man City Stamford Bridge 18:30

63
 sportscalendar

GAme ON!
Two R5 000 Game shoppinG
expeRiences up foR GRabs!
MOTOrSPOrT
FormuLa one
DATE EVENT VENUE TIME
3 Italian GP Monza 14:00
17 Singapore GP Marina Bay 20:00

motogp
DATE EVENT VENUE TIME
10 San Marino MotoGP Misano Adriatico 14:00
24 Spanish MotoGP Aragon 14:00

TENNIS
DATE EVENT VENUE
18-24 Moselle Open Arenes de Metz
TurN TO Pg 8 FOr MOrE dETAILS 18-24 St Petersburg Open Sibur Arena
27 Sep – 1 Oct Shenzhen Open Shenzhen Longgang Tennis Centre

CrICKET
sa-bangLadesh series gOLF
DATE MATCH VENUE TIME pga tour
28 Sep – 2 Oct 1st Test Senwes Park 10:00 DATE EVENT VENUE
1-4 Dell Technologies Championship TPC Boston
14-17 BMW Championship Conway Farms GC

GabRiEl bouYs/muNiR uZ ZamaN/afP Photo/GEttY imaGEs/Gallo imaGEs

21-24 Tour Championship East Lake GC

european tour
DATE EVENT VENUE
7-10 European Masters Crans-sur-Sierre GC
14-17 KLM Open The Dutch
21-24 Portugal Masters Oceanico Victoria GC

ATHLETICS
DATE EVENT VENUE
1 Brussels Diamond League King Baudouin

dATES ANd TIMES SuBjECT TO CHANgE

64
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 timecapsule
Steven Gerrard
1998-2015
Steven Gerrard eStabliShed himSelf aS
one of the greatest players of his generation
after spending most of his playing career in
midfield for liverpool and england.
the former reds captain was a box-to-
box midfielder in the classic english mould,
and had a habit of scoring some spectacular
goals. he could play across the midfield, as
a second striker or even at right back.
born in Whiston, merseyside, Gerrard
made 710 appearances for liverpool
and scored 186 goals in his 17 seasons
at anfield.
a loyal servant of the club, Gerrard was
a respected leader and was named in the
Pfa team of the Year a record eight times,
the Uefa team of the Year and fifa World Xi
three times respectively, while being named
Uefa Club footballer of the Year in 2005, Pfa
Players’ Player of the Year in 2006 and the
fWa footballer of the Year in 2009.
the only trophy to evade his grasp was
the Premier league, with liverpool finishing
66
as runners-up on three occasions – 2001-
02, 2008-09 and 2013-14 – during his time
at the club.
Gerrard joined the reds academy at the
tender age of nine, before signing his first
professional contract at 17 and making his
senior debut a year later in 1998.
he helped liverpool secure a treble of the
league Cup, Uefa Cup and fa Cup during
the 2000-01 campaign, followed by a Uefa
Super Cup and another league Cup, before
being appointed captain in 2003.
the highlight of Gerrard’s career
was undoubtedly liverpool’s sensational
Champions league victory in 2005. down
3-0 in the final at half-time to italian giants
aC milan, he pulled his team back into the
game with a captain’s performance for
the ages, scoring liverpool’s first goal and
winning the penalty kick for the third, as
the reds came back to win the game after
extra time and penalties in what became
known as the ‘miracle of istanbul’.
Premier League
Legends
there were also moments to forget in
Gerrard’s career. the reds were on course
to win the Premier league in 2014 before a
meeting with Chelsea at anfield, but during
the match, Gerrard miscontrolled the ball
in a crucial area and slipped over to gift
demba ba the first of two goals for the
blues, which ultimately handed the title
to manchester City.
Gerrard joined major league Soccer
club la Galaxy in July 2015, spending one
and a half seasons there before retiring
on 24 november 2016.
at international level, he is the fourth-
most capped player in the history of the
england national team with 114 caps,
scoring 21 goals. he made his international
debut in 2000, and represented his country
at the 2000, 2004 and 2012 euros, as well
as the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
after retirement the decorated midfielder
returned to his old stamping ground, anfield,
where he serves as their U23 coach.
Alex livesey/Getty imAGes/GAllo imAGes
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 www.sportsclub.co.za
Ergonomically shaped to fit your body and
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73
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74