Ready to tackle 2009

 

October 27, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	Ready to tackle 2009 Mike Harrison THE Empangeni Rugby Club are busy getting their structures in place for the 2009 season. 'We had an enthusiastic coaches' and managers' meeting last Wednesday night,' said Kokkie Crous, who once again heads up the team for next season. Most of last season's coaches were there plus four or five newcomers, which was encouraging. 'A total of 18 coaches and managers at our first meeting was an excellent turnout, giving us the sort of numbers we need to kick off the 2009 season.' Their motto this year will be 'Act like a champ, believe you are a champ and become a champ'. 'We have called a players' meeting for this Wednesday 29 October at 6pm.' All those keen to make an early start and get themselves geared up for the official pre-season training sessions early in January are urged to be there. Of course, all newcomers wishing to make contact with the Empangeni Club are urged to get down to Mick Kelly Park and make themselves known. Fitness JP Immelman, who takes over the coaching of the Zululand Rugby Academy from Angus Macdonald, heads up the pre-season training sessions. The first week will be used to do assessments on all players who will then be sorted into different squads according to their fitness levels. The elite squad, or more advanced group, will be known as the Chris Edwards squad while the rest will fall under the Peter Hassard squad. It was good to see Andy Kirkland, Peter Ronald and Gerrie Swiegers, ex-Northern Transvaal and junior Springbok, at the meeting. The Club will adopt the idea of bringing in specialists to take over every aspect of the game so that players will have a fair idea of what is expected of them no matter what team they play for. These three additions to the coaching committee will add considerably to this concept.