A Little Less Hype Please.

Serfontein: Highly Talented

Young centre Jan Serfontein is undoubtedly a very talented rugby player. Last year, he won the IRB's Junior Player of the Year after starring in the South Africa under 20 team that won the IRB Junior World Championship.

Prior to the start of this year's Super Rugby tournament, his potential is being talked up and some have gone as far as naming him the brightest talent in the centre position that SA has had since Danie Gerber, the great Springbok centre of the 1980s and early 1990s. That's a pretty big rap to give someone so young and also considering that over the last 10 or so years SA has had centres like Robbie Fleck, Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.

I reckon we have to be careful in South Africa about hyping up our young players. Serfontein is still only 19 and will in all probability turn out for the Baby Boks again this year. We've also got to remember that he has minimal Currie Cup experience and hasn't got a Super Rugby game under his belt yet. Now, I am all for young talent and firmly believe in the mantra that goes "if he's good enough, he's old enough"; but we have to be responsible with our expectations. It is one thing to say a guy has talent but totally another to compare him to the greats in the infancy of his career.

We have the benefit of hindsight to point at instances of youngsters we expected so much from but didn't fulfill their potential in our eyes. In 2002, Derick Hougaard scored a record 26 points in the Blue Bulls' Currie Cup triumph that year and soon after was compared to Naas Botha. He debuted for the Boks in the 2003 Rugby World Cup against Uruguay and went on to play 7 more games in the green and gold. I would think that he is proud to have represented his country in those 8 games but at the same time i do think he would have liked to played in more games for the Boks and many of the rugby public think he could have as well. Victor Mpitsang holds the distinction of being the youngest ever South African to play in a One Day International game for the Proteas at age 18. He was compared to a young Makhaya Ntini and some said he was in fact a better prospect than theMdingi Express. He may have had the world at his feet back then, but since his debut he only played in 1 more ODI game for the Proteas. Ntini played in 101 Tests and 173 ODIs.

I don't dispute his talent and Serfontein may well prove that the hype was justified one day.
We have to manage our expectations.  I don't think it is necessary to point fingers, name names and compare youngsters to the greats. I don’t think it is helpful to the athletes we compare and it doesn’t really achieve anything other than to give us something to talk about at braais, at the pub or on social networks. There's time enough for things like that when careers have been forged and when they've built their own names.

6 South African Young Guns WIth a Big 2013 Ahead

1. Wandile Mjekevu.

Remember in early 2010 when a young, 19 year old Lions winger burst onto the scene and scored a hat trick of tries against the Chiefs in one of his first Super Rugby games? Well, that young winger is now 21 and he will turn up in the colours of the Sharks this year. Mjekevu is a seriously talented lad who perhaps many, me included, thought would be the brightest young player in SA by now. Things haven't turned out quite as we expected and some troubles with the suits at the Lions have led him to the sign with the Sharks. The fact that Mjekevu can produce not only at age-group level but also when brushing shoulders with the big boys is not in dispute but this is the year that he has to show that he can do it consistently and that he is not just another story of a precociously talented age group star.

2. Aya Gqamane

What are the chances that a dusty, rural village in the Eastern Cape could produce two national cricket sensations? It might seem like a case of lightning striking in the same place twice, but surely the chances of Mdingi village, famed for producing Makhaya Ntini, of producing such talent would be just on par with any other, right? Well, the village hasn't quite produced 2 international cricketers just yet but if its latest prodigy continues to perform as exceptionally as in his breakthrough season for the Warriors, he will be Mdingi's second Protea sooner rather than later.

You're probably not used to hearing the phrase "diminutive fast bowler", but you will pretty soon. But 23 year old Gqamane is a lot more than that. Along with taking 22 wickets in his 3 matches in the Sunfoil Series, he has also scored 107 runs. With Gary Kirsten and Proteas management seemingly keen on giving young talent a chance, don't be surprised to see Gqamane in the green and gold. Either way, expect a big 2013 from him.

3. Cobus Reinach

No flash. Quietly impressive. Does the business, gets the job done. That's really all that needs to be said of the Sharks scrumhalf who had a breakout season in the Currie Cup last year. I reckon Reinach's role in the Sharks side throughout their charge to the Currie Cup final was largely underrated maybe owing to the number of stars playing for the Durban outfit but certainly he was one of the most efficient and industrious players. If he has a Super Rugby campaign anywhere near as good as his 2012 Currie Cup, he will be one THE players to watch in 2013, I think he will do big things and achieve higher honours.

4. Elton Jantjies

I don't know about you, but I have been dying to see young Elton playing regularly behind a strong pack of forwards with excellent service from the halfback on his inside and a quality no.12 on his outside and this year I'm gonna get just that when Jantjies turns out in the colours of the Stormers in the Super Rugby tournament. I thought he was pretty good playing for the Lions but I think with the quality of Stormers players all around him, he will get better. First he will have to slug it out with Peter Grant for a starting position but he'll be better for it and he needs a strong season with the Cape Town outfit to enter into the reckoning for a regular spot in the Springbok line up.

5. Quinton de Kock

The 20 year old Joburger has had quite the summer so far. He has been anointed as Mark Boucher's long term successor as the Proteas glove man. That he is talent is not at question, but a few cricket writers have suggested that he is not yet ready for international cricket. He is highly rated and the hype around means more people will be critical of him. De Kock has to perform out of his skin to justify his place in the Proteas' line up going and he has the extra weight of having to be the face of the decision to exclude Thami Tsolekile from the Proteas' reckoning. 2013 will be a great test of character for young de Kock.

6. Rudi Second

While de Kock faces his examination in the public eye, another young wicketkeeper/batsman has his head down and going about his work quietly but efficiently. Second welcomed 2013 with a double century for the Knights against the Titans. South Africa should be excited that they have a keeper in the making that can occupy the crease like Second and score big runs when needed.  Rudi Second may not have the media hype around him but that does not diminish his talent and it might suit him not to be the boy wonder everyone expects so much from. Expect Rudi Second to breathe down the neck of de Kock this year and enter into conversations about the best young keeper in SA before long.

Lack Of Ambition Stunting SA Clubs in the Transfer Market.

The mid-season transfer window has come and gone and we can all breathe easy agin after the delirium caused by the rumour mill. Well, in South Africa, the rumour mill isn't as active as the one overseas with most clubs only admitting interest in players only after they've signed on the dotted, except for Kaizer Chiefs who would rather unveil a player's jersey complete with name and number hoping they will sign eventually; but Eric Matoho’s jersey is a story and a laugh for another day. 

Anyways, last month, fans of local football were treated to a tasty little rumour linking former France and Manchester United striker, Louis Saha, with a possible move to either Mamelodi Sundowns or Bidvest Wits. Now I would have thought such news would have been greeted with inordinate amounts of excitement, I for one would love to see Louis Saha play and do well in the PSL, whether it is for the team I support or not. Sadly though, if twitter is anything to go by, much of the local response to Saha possibly signing for a South African team was negative. A few 'lols' and these (:''D) smiley faces and sentiments of "how the mighty have fallen" were the order of the day.

I think South Africans underestimate the professional league over here. It is as competitive as any in Europe where any team could any other on any given day. I mean for the bulk of the first half of the season, Sundowns, one of the richest and most successful clubs in the PSL era were languishing at the very bottom of the log table. I think South Africa and the league over here are very attractive. You need only look at some of the players who have played for South African clubs in the past and presently. For instance UEFA Champions League winner Benni McCarthy signed for PSL champions, Orlando Pirates; former Netherlands and Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld plays for Ajax Cape Town; Luis Boa Morte, an ex Portugal and Arsenal winger had a brief stint with Pirates; and in years past Manchester United legend George Best left the Old Trafford club to join the Jewish Guild, a Johannesburg based club that competed in the old National Football League.

There is a lot of money pumped in the game here, only last year Supersport paid the PSL over a billion rand for the leagues TV rights and Vodacom extended their sponsorship of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to the tune of R500 million. While our clubs cannot compete with the salaries paid by the upstarts in China and Russia, they do have enough financial muscle to put together offers good enough to lure big name players.

I feel that the only thing stopping PSL clubs from making offers to Rio Ferdinand for instance who is in the last few months of his contract at Man United is ambition. I often point to the example of David Beckham, the LA Galaxy and MLS when I say that local clubs need to have greater ambition in recruiting players. It took a bold offer from the Galaxy to make Beckham, who was at Real Madrid at the time, an offer so good he couldn't resist. And other MLS clubs followed suit and raised their ambitions too, which is why you see heavyweights like Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and Robbie Keane playing in the US now. Since Beckham signed with the Galaxy, the MLS has become arguably the most polished league outside of Europe. A recent show of the ambition I am talking about is the signing of Juventus great Alessandro del Piero who said he turned down an offer from Liverpool to sign instead for Sydney FC who compete in Australia's A-League. Ordinarily,  a side like Sydney would have no hope of landing Del Piero especially going up against Liverpool but with enough currency and a heap of ambition, not only was the deal possible but they made it happen.

Can South African clubs match the ambition displayed by LA Galaxy and Sydney FC? I sure hope so. It starts with clubs signing players like McCarthy and others following suit and snapping up players like Saha and other big name players. Hopefully SA’s football clubs can step up their transfer ambitions in the coming windows and who knows, we could be talking about Mark van Bommel joining Ajax Cape Town or Nicolas Anelka or his jersey signing for Kaizer Chiefs.

12 of my favourite athletes of 2012

We’re ankle deep into 2013 but I thought before we go any further this year, I’d like to share some of my favourite athletes from 2012. Here goes:

1. Jeremy Lin

 Linsanity was a crazy fad that gripped every basketball loving fan in February and March of last year, fuelled by the individual brilliance of one Jeremy Lin who triumphed over many odds to reach the top. His is a heart warming story which the world of sport needs to keep its sentimental or human side against the threats of impersonal behaviour in the professional era. Lin bounced from team to team before getting his chance with the New York Knicks and had to sleep on a friend's couch for a while when he wasn't sure whether a franchise would sign to a long term deal or not. Injury cut short the rest of his season but Lin left a huge impression in the two months he was on his hot streak.

2. Michael Clarke

In 2012 I really bought into Michael Clarke. I had always seen him as the young and great hope of Australia not realising how many years had crept past and that he reached his thirties. He assumed the Australia captaincy in 2011 and seemed to grow as player with that added responsibility. I have really enjoyed watching him bat over the last 14 or so months since he scored that 150 against South Africa in Cape Town and his innings of 329 at SCG against India in January 2012. That was a magnificent innings, one that although he wasn't dying for it, earned him my respect and approval.

3. Hashim Amla

I've got 311 reasons why Hashim Amla is on this list. That innings at The Oval chief among them. Other than that, Hash finally earned the respect of many in the cricketing world. He has been a great performer for the longest time but I reckon since he goes about his business quietly, he doesn't often get noticed. I reckon he made the world stand up and take notice on that tour of England. Most remarkable in that innings is that Amla did not consume any liquids since the Test took place in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and he did not change his gloves. Hash punished any and all before him. SA's best cricketer last year in my book.

4. Chad Le Clos

The epic moment when Chad Le Clos snuck into first place ahead of Michael Phelps was THE great moment of the Olympics for me. I think the quiet superstar and underdog stories do it for me and Chad is a bit of both if that's possible. Listening to the commentators speaking before the race, all they spoke about was Phelps and mentioned one of the swimmers in the outside lanes in passing but there was no mention of the young South African in the lane next to Phelps. He shook the world after that race.

5. Siya Kolisi

I remember watching Siya Kolisi playing as a school boy in 2009. He was a terror. I thought right then that he'd end up playing pro. I watched him play in the Currie Cup and was suitably impressed but his performances in Super Rugby this year were outstanding! He bossed opposition much like he did in his school days. I enjoyed seeing that. I thought he was unlucky not to earn a Springbok cap last year but you can bet on he will be a top performer again this year and he will be phenomenal in the years to come.

6. Cobus Reinach

No flash. Quietly impressive. Does the business, gets the job done. That's really all that needs to be said of the Sharks scrumhalf who had a breakthrough season in the Currie Cup last year. Reinach wrestled the Sharks no.9 jersey out of the hands of Charl McLeod, an adequate half back who earned his first call up to the national squad in 2010 and played in his Springbok debut against the All Blacks in 2011. I reckon Reinach's role in the Sharks side throughout their charge to the Currie Cup final was largely underrated maybe owing to the number of stars playing for the Durban outfit but certainly he was one of the most efficient and industrious players. Watch out for him in 2013, I think he will do big things and achieve higher honours.

7. Serena Williams

She was knocked in the 1st Round at the French Open for the 1st time in her career and they, whoever that is, said she was nearing the end. But the champion that is Serena Williams bounced back and in a matter of weeks and was at her clinical best winning at Wimbledon and winning 2 gold medals at the Olympics.

8. Anaso Jobodwana

When has South Africa ever had a sprint sensation? Well, if everything goes according to plan, we may just have one in Anaso Jobodwana. The 20 year old Eastern Cape native made it to the final of 200m event at the Olympics. Definitely keep an eye on him. He'll do well at the next Olympics.

9. Saeed Ajmal

In 2011, a brand new crop of menacing fast bowlers emerged. The Aussies unleashed Pattinson, Cummins and Starc almost simultaneously whilst de Lange and Philander burst out from South Africa. At this time, another shining light came out of Pakistan. Spinner Saeed Ajmal. Ajmal was terrific in the series against England and pretty much announced himself as the world's foremost spinner.

10. Benni McCarthy

I've never really thought much of Benni McCarthy. I've never disliked him as a player or a character but I've never liked him either. He has been a divisive personality amongst the SA sporting public but this past year changed my opinion of him. When he joined Orlando Pirates in 2011, I had my reservations, thinking he was in it for the money. But since then he has endeared himself to SA, producing quality performances, scoring scintillating goals and to date hasn't shown that bigger-than-the-game attitude he has always been painted as having. For my mind, he has been a positive force for the PSL and hopefully will do for the PSL what Beckham did for MLS.

11. James Pattinson

Who doesn't like a young, tearaway fast bowler? James Pattinson has been one athlete who I've enjoyed watching this year, especially when he is in full flight. His bowling spell against Graeme Smith in the 1st Test at Brisbane on the final day was a joy to watch. The modern day fast bowler has become a calmer, thinking man, so it is refreshing and enthralling to see one who is always fired up. Unfortunately, we didn't see as much of him as possible this summer because of injury but I look forward to him having a great 2013 and destroying the England batsmen during the Ashes.

12. Hayden Smith

So what do you do after playing in a Rugby World Cup? How about try your hand in the NFL. The 27 year old former Saracens lock has quite the fascinating back story. He was born in Penrith, Australia and stands at a mighty 2 metres tall and weighs 116 kilograms. Rugby was not his first sport. Whilst training with a professional basketball team in Australia, the Sydney Kings, he won a scholarship to play basketball and study in the USA. It was at Metro State College in Denver that Smith started playing rugby. He furthered his rugby career in England where he signed for Saracens and played in 43 Premiership and Heineken Cup matches and turned out for the USA national rugby team 18 times and started all 4 of their group games in the 2011 RWC. In 2012, Smith took the bold leap and switched to the NFL. Despite having never played American football before, he earned himself trials with a number of teams before being signed by the New York Jets as a tight end playing in their practice squad. He was later included in their active squad and played in 5 of the Jets' regular season games in the NFL. Such an unlikely but similarly fascinating story.