I was privileged to be at the test match on Saturday that was an amazing experience despite the result. My brother phoned me a couple of months ago before the Tri-Nations started and asked whether I’d be interested to go watch the Tri-Nations game between the Boks and the All Blacks at Ellispark. I immediately said yes since I haven’t been to a test match in about 12 years. At that time the Boks were still the favourites after the SA team’s domination of the Super 14. Then the rumours started that the game would be at Soccer City and the excitement mounted and my Brother managed to get us the tickets to the game.
Saturday 21 August 2010
05:00 My alarm goes off unnecessarily because I’ve been awake since about 04:00 thinking about the big day ahead. Wake up the wife and 3 year old daughter (damn it was nice to wake her up for a change)
06:30 Drop my daughter at the In-laws and say our goodbyes. Leave a SA flag with my daughter with instruction to wave it during the match. Stop at the 24-hour shop and buy ice for the cool box.
07:00 Start the 350km journey to Johannesburg.
10:30 Arrive at my brothers house and immediately have a beer to calm the nerves.
10:45 Have another beer just in case the first one didn’t have the desired effect.
11:00 The women send my brother and I for some last minute shopping for baby food. (can’t they plan ahead??)
12:30 Pack the car and follow the check list.
Beer – Check
Tickets – Check
SA Flags – Check
Springbok jerseys – Check
Parking ticket – Check
Tickets – Check again
Beer – Check again
12:50 Off to Soccer City via my brothers well planned alternative route which takes us through Melville and Brixton onto Nasrec drive.
13:30 The first sight of Soccer city. Bloody hell that is huge! There are cars everywhere and just about every one has a flag hanging out the window. This is going to be fantastic. The full range of Springbok gear is being sold along the road by hawkers making an absolute killing but who cares it history in the making.
13:50. Find parking under a tree nogal and pull out the camp chairs, skottelbraai and cool boxes. OK maybe not in that order, the cool boxes might have been first.
14:00 I’m actually feeling relaxed for the first time today. I can see Soccer City and I have the tickets and all that we need to do now it take an easy stroll to the stadium and find my seats.
14:30 I ate for the first time today and the boerierolls with prego sauce went down sooo well. I’m a bit careful not to drink to much beer because there aren’t any loos anywhere in sight. Some of the guys in our group have their faces painted with the SA Flag and Springboks by some industrious locals.
15:30 Cars are now really pouring into the car parks and the mood everywhere is up beat and it feels like there is no way the Boks could possible lose this game.
15:45 Grab a last beer for the road, grab the flags, make sure we have the tickets and start strolling towards the stadium. Damn that’s a big stadium. Thousands and thousands of people are moving towards the stadium and everybody has to cross this bridge from the Nasrec centre side towards the stadium. The bridge is probably 40-50 metres wide and its chock ‘n block full of people dressed in green.
16:00 I can’t believe it but 9 out of 10 people are wearing Springbok jerseys and about 7 from 10 have either a SA Flag or a Springboks flag.
16:15 Queuing outside but the lines are moving nice and fast. We’re in and now we are all frantically looking for the toilets and we can’t find any walking around the outside of the stadium. Dammit I need to pee. Finally we find the toilets which are conveniently placed behind the seats in the inside perimeter of the stadium.
16:45 Take our seats. Strange thing about Soccer City is that while it is such a huge setup it feels kind of cosy. It doesn’t feel nearly as big from the inside as it does from the outside. The seats are spacious and the rows aren’t to close together and it’s actually very comfortable. Maybe not so for my brothers best friend. He’s tall enough to look Andries Bekker straight in the eyes and he weighs about 160kg’s.
16:50 Bobby van Jaarsveld sings ‘Spieeltjie Spieeljie’ and the majority Afrikaans crowd goes nuts.
16:55 Some Zulu dancers to entertain the crowd. It’s getting very noisy and 99% of the seats are taken.
17:00 The announcer gets the crowd worked up about John Smit’s achievements.
The All Black’s run onto the field with some applause and then the big screens show John Smit coming down the tunnel and huge roars sounds. What a legend despite what anybody says. I get this emotional lump in my throat and cheer just as loudly as everybody else when he emerges from the tunnel. What an occasion? It’s the dream test at the dream venue and its John Smit’s 100th!!
17:02 The cheers subside and everybody stands up for the national anthems (those that weren’t standing already). The New Zealand National Anthem is sung and the crowd cheer. Then the sound of Nkosi Sikele iAfrica starts and the stadium erupts in singing but I’m struggling with this damn lump in my throat. And why are my cheeks wet? Somebody must have spilt some beer on me. There must be at least 40 000 flags in the stadium. What a sight?
17:05 The All Black’s line up for the famous Haka and before they can even start the crowd starts chanting ‘ole ole ole ole’ and the noise is absolutely deafening. The crowd is showing absolutely no respect for the Haka.
Then the game kicks of and the crowd calms down and the rest as they say is history.
I won’t comment on the game because I still haven’t watched it again but the entire experience was absolutely worth it and I can understand why sports unite people because every single person in that stadium felt like my bother or sister and they were all there to experience the beautiful game that is rugby.
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Ah, Pokkel!! Great arti and so wish we made an effort to be there as well!! Thanks for sharing!!
I love the checklist!
Awesome! Wish I was there 🙂
Awesome! Amazing! I wish I was there!
Thanx for sharing the experience with us..
You should diarise the events following the game as well.. got home safe I presume?
Beautiful piece of writing Pokkel; you have a talented pen. Hope we get to see more some time.
You went to Soccer city and still haven’t seen the game ❓ Is it all that beer?
Hey…why’s you’re brothers best friend never played any professional rugby. That guy is huge. He should have tried out lock. Basic skills can be taught,…that type of built is rare ❗
I like the article…wish I could have been there.
I also got a little emotional with the anthem and I wasn’t even there. For some reason I doubt that it will be the same with Matfields 100th. John has been a loyal Sharkie for so long. Maybe he’s getting a little old and some younger players are pushing for his spot in the team, but I’ll miss him when he goes.
@Letgo (Comment 7) : haha ! It could be like the comment last night on SuperRugby about SA womans rugby team’s hooker :’he might have a pens that hang onto his knees” :lol:!! Then its not gonna help a helluva lot!
@Letgo (Comment 9) : I am SO with you on that one! I had my fair share of “beer” on my face during and especially after the game when I saw how gutted John was!
@Ice (Comment 1) : Pokkel, dude, I had the same problem with people throwing beer in my face.Was trippy.
Hey Pokkel, you forgot to mention that the FNB stadium has only got ABSA ATM`s at the premises… 😯
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : I thinks someone threw Tequila in your face, not beer! 😈
@Ice (Comment 14) : Please dont mention Tequilla…
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : my half was telling me that they were guys who started fighting in beer queque 🙄
and Pokkel : I also thought the toilets were conveniently placed and so many of them . how thoughtful
@Ice (Comment 10) : What about conditioning, get that boep right of and turn it into muscle. It’s just wrong to be that tall and that big and not use your powers for the good of rugby…and the Sharks. 😀
@VanWilder (Comment 13) : 😆 😆 😆
@Ice (Comment 11) : 🙂
@VanWilder (Comment 13) :
Got goosebumps reading the article! Nothing like a Bok v AB test to get the patriotism pumping!
Thanks for the article mate! A day you will always remember!
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 16) : I never saw any of that, its possible because of the sheer amount of people.In general it was an amazing experience as Pokkels article points out.The images of John walking through the tunnel and the way the crowd erupted as he exited was out of this world.Im getting shivers just typing this.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : Was it used to ease the pain on Sat night? 😉 😆
@Letgo (Comment 18) : ja, but that might take ages! “Bigger” people normally do not survive a diet or conditioning – the ones that do normally make it to newspapers and magazines in “I lost a whole human in 5 years” type of stories! LOL
Have a look at this – pretty cool way to immortalize a historic event!
http://www.player23.co.za/fancam.php?track=fancam
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 23) : it was awesome 😎 I truly enjoyed the whole thing.
Believe there was a bit of frustration as a beer queque was really long and the kick off time drawing near 😆 i got my new jersey properly christened – so many people bumped into me when my plastic was still full. 😆
@Mole (Comment 26) : yip.
i already found myself 😎
Yip Pokkel, it certainly was one hell of a great day! We should do it again very soon! Your decription of the day and all the emotions are spot on!
BTW Pokkel, where do u live? I thought Rustenburg??
Sounds like an awesome day but a pity about the final result.
@Shaman (Comment 29) : Oh, sheit! R u the 160kg lock-in-the-making that Pokkeltjie was speaking about???? If so, please do not read my comments!
@Ice (Comment 30) : 350Ks from Joburg
(could not help 😉 )
Brilliant article Pokkel, thank you for sharing.
In a rugby calendar that goes all year and is littered with meaningless encounters….. this match stood head and shoulders above the dross.
You were very fortunate to experience a wonderful occasion as well as a historic match !
…and Soccer City, wow ….on my hit list of venues now ! 😎
See you there before the next 12 years pass !
PS My daughter was waving a NZ Flag, she is 3 as well ! 😎
one thing i will never forget is in front of me sat one grumpy old man, moaning about the view and his seat and everything, but when we sung the national anthem he cried like a girl at the end of the movie – sweet november. o ja, and i didnt cry at all… 😐
@VanWilder (Comment 35) : cute 😛
@VanWilder (Comment 35) : 🙂
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 37) : did you go with a few of your friends? i had a chat before the game with a BIG province supporter with a huge SA hat on his head, it was not you by any chance?? 😯
@ Ice. No, I am the brother. My buddy is the big guy. We used to play rugby together in high school and yes, he played lock of course. He didn’t even have to jump to get the ball. It seemed almost unfair!
haha, ok, so I’m the brothers friend. Did play on varsity level, but had a foot op years ago to make me feet smaller (long story)
good story Pokkel! We all enjoyed that day, and what spirit inside! wow! LOUD, like you would not believe.
@VanWilder (Comment 38) : Howsit Van, nah it wasnt me, I had a springbok T shirt on, I did make the unfortunate mistake of taking a plain black jacket with 😳
I must say, singing the anthem, was very special, something I’m not forgetting ever.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 41) : lol, i also take a jacket with me to loftus when the sharks play there… i`m scared of the bulls supporters there… 😕
@VanWilder (Comment 43) : 😆 😆 It wasn’t even like that, its my trusty k way and generally goess everywhere, that was a day when I should have taken a second to think about what the hell I was wearing.
@corrie206 (Comment 42) : The anthem was special dude, no doubt about it.
@VanWilder (Comment 43) : 😕
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 45) : the east stand at loftus is inforgiving… those people even speeks afrikaans with a heavy accent… 😈 you need a passport to sit there. (and good a medical aid) 😆
@VanWilder (Comment 46) : I made the mistake of forgetting to take a jacket to loftus and after the game (Sharks won) I got so much flak from some really drunk bulls fans.
@VanWilder (Comment 46) : but you do not cry 😆
@lostfish (Comment 47) : jip!! in the stands its fine to take off your jacket and show off the jersey, but after the game or in the toilet… not so fine! 👿
@lostfish (Comment 47) : @VanWilder (Comment 49) :
where are you guys wandering 🙄 i only meet nice supporters. serias
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 48) : not for national anthems i dont… 😕 i had sprinkles on my face of the beer but thats ALL!! kabish? 👿
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 50) : not all of us sits in luxery president suites… 😉
@VanWilder (Comment 51) : naaah – i also don’t cry for anthems. though it can be quite moving.
@VanWilder (Comment 52) : At Loftus I sat on the eastern stands – heehehe(in the rain in something that looked like big rubbish bag
)
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 50) : I was about 12 years old at the stadium with my dad and when we were leaving I was getting yelled at in Afrikaans (I didn’t understand but they weren’t happy).
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 53) : aha… thats why everyones so nice to you, you covered your sharks jersey with a rubbish bag… 😉 case solved 😆
@corrie206 (Comment 40) : Well it’s good to know there’s a reason that you don’t play rugby.
@Ice (Comment 25) : 😆 😆
@VanWilder (Comment 55) : it had sharks logo on the back and was completely black otherwise 😈 😆
@lostfish (Comment 54) : with one of our games at Kings Park in Durbs, we got to meet a lady who`s father was on the Natal Rugby Board. one night, after a game at loftus between natal (then) and Ntvl, he walked to his car and a few Bulls supporters hit him, because he had his natal blazer on… 🙄 sharp contrats to the after parties on Kings Park`s outerfields after a sharks game (where everyones welcome…)
@VanWilder (Comment 59) : that’s not nice 😕
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 58) : okey, case opened again… 😆
At last I’m online…today of all days my router packs up.
Thanks for the compliments. It’s was a fantastic day at Soccer City (FNB stadium just doesn’t have the same ring to it.)
@war1 (Comment 6) : Didn’t actually drink that much but my father in law was suppose to ‘PVR’ the game for me and he forgot…..it’s high time I get my own PVR so I don’t have to depend on someone else.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 34) : 3 years old and your already teaching her bad habits?? tisk tiskc 🙂 😉
@Shaman (Comment 29) : Ons sal weer so maak Boet…miskien die keer by Moses Madiba in Durban. Thanks vir n lekker naweek.
anyone know if child entry is free at a test or any stadium?? or till what age?
@Pokkel (Comment 65) : as jul moses toe gaan vat my saam… 😀
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 53) : that was not perhaps this years S14 game?? I’ll sent you a pic of me looking like a drowned Chicken in my Sharks jersey and my (huge) husbands black drimac.. 😆
@VanWilder (Comment 59) : I miss the Kings Park before and after parties.
@Mole (Comment 64) :
😉
@VanWilder (Comment 67) : Reg so…
@Ice (Comment 30) : Newcastle
@Pokkel (Comment 72) : since when??
@Ice (Comment 73) : For the last 22 years 😯
@Ice (Comment 68) : it was 😀 . I had my jersey, my sharks hoodie, my black anorak, my sharks cap and my BRANDED rubbish bag on
and please do send 😆
@Ice (Comment 73) : isn’t Chaz from Rustenberg part of the woods ❓
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 75) : no Sharks undies? 🙂
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) : I’ll try do ‘The Soccer City Experience part 2’ if I have the time but it’s not nearly as exciting
@robdylan (Comment 77) : i thought it was family site so I should refrain from sharing this type of information 😆
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 79) : fair enough… I should know better 🙂
any liverpool fans on the site? 😯
@Pokkel (Comment 74) : I obviously had my wires crossed! LOL
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 75) : did you get it?
@VanWilder (Comment 81) : Who’s Liverpool?? 😈
@Ice (Comment 82) : yip 😎
@VanWilder (Comment 81) : i’m afraid even if there are they may be crying too much to type right now 😯
@VanWilder (Comment 81) : And I was feeling so positive yesterday afternoon… I dont want to talk about it…
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 85) : i would be suprise to hear that there are any left… 😈
@Mole (Comment 86) : shame, i`m a Man Utd supporter, and i found myself not worrying who should win, buy city`s slowly starting to p%*$ me off… buying their fame, the same fame United and Liverpool have worked for over the years. 2-3years ago city could not get 20000 people in their stadium now everyone is a city fan… 👿
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 84) : I think we should a “guess who’s the supporter” weekly column…what do you think? I could have had wine with u at Loftus and not even know who you were! Great to put a face to a name now!
Damn. Just saw we lost Kankow for the Kwasse match. Not good news. . .
Guess it`s Daniel, Alberts and Botes again this weekend?
@Original Log Leader (Comment 90) : where u see that?
@Ice (Comment 89) : 😎
@VanWilder (Comment 13) : @Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : @rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 16) : Weren’t you guys also worried that somebody is going to kick into the Spidercam at some point?? Who ever was driving that thing really knew their stuff.
@Pokkel (Comment 93) : jip 😀 especially at scrum time… that thing got really close to the ground during the game.
@Pokkel (Comment 93) : just a pityu they did not use it with tha Haka, or if they did, it had no effect!
@VanWilder (Comment 81) :
I dont think there are any Liverpool fans left in the World?!
@Ice (Comment 95) : There was such a noice in the stadium during the Haka I don’t even think the AB’s could hear Piri Weepu screaming at the top of his voice. 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 97) : on tv it looked a lot more woes! If I was a Bokkie, I would have needed a underpants change after that! That Weepu’s eye sommer dopped om agteroor!! **gril**
@Ice (Comment 98) : Well I’m not surprised….he had to communicate by other means cause voice wasn’t an option… 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 96) : i agree… you a football fan?
@VanWilder (Comment 100) :
Oh hell yes.. A big Man Utd supporter actually..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 101) : GREAT!!! Scholesy`s pure class hey?? pity Nani flopped the penalty at the weekend!!
@Pokkel (Comment 99) : 😆 😆
@VanWilder (Comment 88) : Agreed… It seems its starting to become a Bilionaires real-life FIFA, where they can build their personal dream teams – the same thing happened at Chelsea – 6 years ago they where no where, you hardly saw a supporter – now there are thousands of them all trying to convince themselves that they have supported the team for decades… Its a shame really…
That being said, I really hope that The Yanks are bought out and some Billionaire comes in with an unlimited bank account… 😆
@Mole (Comment 104) : 😆 yeah, but the yanks dont seem interested to sell… and the red knights seems to have given up… 😐