Prize giving day.

Rovers Trophy for the best of the best.

On Saturday the 13th Rovers FC family got a fabulous get together at Ritvlei Zoo Farm as previously scheduled. It started as a Swiss clock. 12 O’clock.

The place was crowded with people, all seated on camping chairs, others in the blankets, almost everyone had a Coleman with delicious stuff. But for sure there was not short of beer.

Very briefly, the chairman thanked for the presence and support from grannies, parents, players, teams management...

Glenn, the chairman, started by acknowledging the support of parents during the season, the collaborators, the fund raisers, sponsors. Thanked the players for the outstandind achievement during the year.
The chairman spoke about the improvements in the facilities, the investment in the players...

In overall, he said that the club had outperformed the previous years (and did not lie).

The table with all the medals, trophies, and super trophies was unveiled, everyone become more anxious to hear their kids name being called. Like me, many parents made sure to take cameras to immortalize the moment of recognition.

The U/12 team with Coach Jason

The names started rolling with the U/12 team.
They have improved their performance, the medals where ceremoniously attributed to the players, having given a trophy for most goals scorers Candeon, Miguel and Adlen, most dedicated players Adlen and Viren, and most improved player Bradley.
Sad note on this chapter is that coach Jason will not be returning next year; fortunately/unfortunately he has other professional commitments. We at Rovers will miss him and wish him the best of life.

The U/11 team with Coach Basil (right) Glenn (left) and Angela (backwards next to Glenn )

Coach Basil also had delivered fabulously. He leaded the U/11 team.
The boys where given medals and trophies. Then, the most outstanding performers where presented with super trophy’s. They where, top scorer Devon Peterson, player of the year Stuart Papworth, best improvement Tristan Muthree, top goal scorer Devan, most dedicated Jardel Lopes and added a special category, "the coaches trophy" which is to present the one that listens to the coaches instructions the most went to Joshua Reece.
From now on, the destiny of the U/11 is solemnly in coach Siva’s hands.

But we where not free of the black cloud yet; the chairmen announced that after being with Rovers for six sweet years, coach Basil decided on a "retirement"... After some many years, finally, his wife will not sit alone to watch the sunset.

The U/8 team

Continuing was acknowledged the tremendous 360 degree turn that Coach Martin delivered with the U/8 team. From losing almost every game last year, this year they scored joint second place in the league.

In the beginning of the season, the boys had a crawling start, loosing couple of games, but from around the second month of the season, were simple systematic good performances.
All players got their medals closer to their heart, some boys where distinguished with extra honors for best Player Jordan, Best Improvement Alldair and Blane.

The U/7 team

The Unbeatable, the mighty U/7 team coached by Coach Dave did not stop surprising us. They went 2 years without loosing a single match. It’s a fantastic achievement hain? When we believed that there was nothing more in the bag, they finally lost... the last game of the season, but the title was in the bag. They won the U/7 league and the "Rovers top team" trophy. What a trophy.

Then last but not the least, Glenn called on Claudio, our “in house referee” and quoted one of his positive attitudes when refereeing the small ones…
- “He always makes sure to explain to the kid, why of giving a certain punishment. It is important for the kid, to learn with his mistakes so that in future it doesn’t happen again.”

After the prize giving, the fires that were lit long before, were put to good use. All the t-bones, beefs, boerwors, chickens landed in the braii. The smell filled the air all around us. Everyone was exited, parents and coaches chatting, the kids running around playing... Ball.

Since this is the month of fasting for the Muslims like me, I guessed I would be much conforble somewhere else where the main activities were not lunch.
I landed home watching the Beijing Paralympics on TV.

Celso Amade