Cheeky wants a full house to back Kings
EASTERN Province rugby boss Cheeky Watson has urged fans to get behind the Kings – he wants 40 000 supporters to flock to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to watch his team play Western Province in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Rugby fever is building in the Bay and Watson has made an emotional plea for supporters to descend on the stadium when the Kings return to top-flight South African rugby after a 12-year absence.
Watson also wants his team to reach the Currie Cup Premier Division final and contest it in a packed stadium in the city at the end of October.
“I would like to see no fewer than 40 000 people in the stadium on Friday. This is a historic day for rugby in the region,” he said.
“We would like them [Kings] to reach the final – that would be a fairy tale ending to the season.
“We realise the task ahead of us is tough and the obstacles we have to climb. But with a little bit of luck and providence on our side, I trust we have the ability to get there.”
Watson said nobody had expected almost 41 000 rugby fans to turn up to watch the Springboks play Scotland in Port Elizabeth earlier this season.
“The people have stood behind the team in the past and the crowd for the Scotland test exceeded expectations,” he said. “A packed stadium makes our job that much easier when it comes to fighting for more top-class rugby.
“Friday is an extremely big occasion for us because we are back in the Premier Division.
“It is vitally important for the region and our preparation for Super Rugby in 2016.
“This season, we will be able to see which of the players will be kept for our final build-up next year.
“But we are not just taking this as preparation time because we want to do really well in the Currie Cup and put our best foot forward.
“In the past, and even in Super Rugby last year, we were underestimated. This is a region where we can tie our straps and fight.
“I have no doubt we will put up a good fight but we need the crowd numbers we had in Super Rugby.
“The Kings need bums on seats and it is vitally important that the people of the metro and outlying areas come and support them.
“People must not sit at home and watch it on television.”
After Friday’s opener in Port Elizabeth, the other teams will take to the field on Saturday in what promises to be an action-packed start to the season.
Griquas face the Sharks in Kimberley, the Golden Lions are at home to the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg and in the late game, the Pumas host the Free State Cheetahs in Nelspruit.
The Kings will play 10 back-to-back matches in 10 weeks as they bid to reach the playoffs at the end of October. ý See back page