Mainstay United and Real Madrid crowned as league’s champions
SPRINGBOK Sevens captain Philip Snyman (pictured) praised the management team for laying out a “perfect gameplan” for the team after the South Africans secured the World Sevens Series title in Paris at the weekend.
The Blitzboks also clinched the tournament title in Paris, after claiming the Dubai, Wellington, Sydney and Las Vegas legs, and competed in tournament finals in Cape Town, Vancouver and Hong Kong.
And while Snyman, who along with Chris Dry made the tournament Dream Team, lauded his team’s execution, it was the Blitz- boks’ coaching staff ’s preparation that Snyman had the kindest words for.
“We executed well, but massive credit must go to our management team in this regard. They laid out the perfect game plan and we just executed it.
Worked perfectly
“The system worked perfectly, not only this weekend, but also all season and they deserve credit for that,” the skipper said.
Snyman also said that England’s 17-19 loss to Scotland in the semi-final – which they weren’t aware of – wouldn’t have changed their mindset going into their clash against New Zealand, as Neil Powell’s side was set on working hard for that Series’ title.
“We actually did not know that England lost their semi-final match against Scotland as we were warming up for our own semi against New Zealand.
“We knew that we would be Series champions if we beat New Zealand, so we went out with all guns blazing to win that one, which we did. We were champions already and did not even know,” Snyman said.
“But then, it would not have mattered as we wanted to win it anyway. We are a team that believe in hard work and don’t want anything offered to us on a plate.
“We want to earn everything that comes our way.” SAFA at the weekend crowned Upington’s Mainstay United champions of the Northern Cape’s dual stream ABC Motsepe league after they beat Magareng Young Stars in the two-legged provincial league play-offs.
Mainstay had at the first visit to Magareng a fortnight ago subdued Stars by a single goal in a match which was played at the Warrenton High school grounds. On Saturday both Mainstay and Stars scored twice. Mainstay therefore took the league honours on the strength of the one goal advantage over Stars.
Meanwhile, in the third division Frances Baard SAB League
And even though the South Africans already have already bagged the Series after a tough weekend in Paris, Snyman, who is the leading tackler in the series (143), added that the last leg of the 2016/17 World Sevens Series won’t be one the team is going to take lightly.
“We set out to win as many tournaments as we can, so nothing has changed now we have won the series. The Blitzboks will still go out there and give everything they have to win in London.
“We are not letting our standards down.”
The Blitzboks will face Kenya, Wales and USA in a tough Pool A at the London Sevens event next weekend at Twickenham. Ipopeng’s Real Madrid were crowned kings after a season of grafting which saw them lose 2-1 to Dynamos FC at the Galeshewe stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s season closing match in Galeshewe was a 90-minute action packed affair. Dynamos played for an improved status on the closing log while Madrid were keen to demonstrate their league championship winning competency.
Real trailed Dynamos by two goals for all of the first half (2-0). Dynamos only let up towards the last quarter-hour of play when their goalkeeper failed to firmly handle a high ball from a corner kick. It slipped his grip and rolled into the net for the 2-1 final score.