Stormers will not give up
2005-04-18 21:56
Herbert Pretorius
Cape Town - The disappointment is still palpable, but the Stormers will not give up, even after their humiliating Super 12 defeat at the hands of the Crusaders.
Coach of the beleaguered rugby team, Gert Smal, said on Monday that the Stormers had taken a quality decision not to walk around with their tails between their legs.
"You can choose to be depressed or you can choose to remain positive. When you are positive, you get positive energy. If you allow the disappointment to leave you miserable, professional rugby is not the sport for you," Smal said.
"I accept responsibility for our performances, but I will not leave the kitchen just because the heat is on.
"I know what I am capable of as a coach," a defiant Smal said in reaction to loads of criticism after his team was beaten 51-23 on Saturday.
Apart from the blows to their confidence and a lack of Super 12 points, the Stormers experienced another setback with the news that Schalk Burger (live-wire Bok flanker) might not recover in time from a calf muscle injury by the weekend.
"Chances are slim that he will be able to play against the Blues on Saturday, but we will take a final decision in this regard on Wednesday," Smal said.
Amid harsh criticism and talk that his days with the Stormers are numbered, Smal said on Monday that he still wants to coach the team in next year's Super14 series.
"I have a lot of faith in my own ability. I know what I am capable of. I have won Currie Cups (in 2000 and 2001). Last year, we reached the semi-finals of the Super 12 series and nearly won that battle (against the Crusaders)," Smal said in reaction to reports that he will not coach the Stormers next season.
Smal has his back to the wall after the Stormers lost four of their seven games in this year's Super12 series. The 51-23 defeat against the Crusaders added insult to injury.
However, the besieged coach claims he is at the prime of his coaching career and believes he can still be successful at this level.
"I have invested a lot of time in this team and now have more experience and better management skills than ever before. Unfortunately, things did not want to fall into place on the field this year.
"However, I do not have to make a lot of excuses, because I give my all to the Stormers. I know the team dynamics well and take decisions for the right reasons.
"I am sincere in what I do and believe it is in the Stormers' best interest. Every Tom, Dick and Harry has his own ideas about coaching, but I believe that I have made the correct decisions. This competition is not over in any case.
"There are still 20 league points that can be amassed and I will not give up until the final whistle of the final game blows."
- Die Burger