Stick to the processes. Believe in the system.
This is the answer you get from every member of the South African Sevens Rugby squad when you ask them about their recipe for success.
Their standard reply is not just something they rely on to help them get through a boring news conference, no, they actually do stick to the processes and do believe in the system.
Those seemingly boring phrases are what the national sevens side, the Blitzboks, are all about.
They gave the critical South African sports fans lots to cheer about recently by winning tournament after tournament.
Last week’s tournament in Dubai was full of on and off field challenges for the Blitzboks.
They overcame all of those challenges to come out on top once again by showing that famous South Africa fighting spirit and a tremendous work ethic.
Oh, and if I am allowed to add, they stick to their processes and believe in the system.
The Blitzboks squad is an example for any sporting team that is looking for a formula to get them on the winning track – and we know a few of those teams in Nelson Mandela Bay that are looking for such a formula don’t we?
South African Rugby can be really proud of the achievement to end the year as number one in the world in Sevens and the 15-man code.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, we are not too reluctant to put the rugby ball away for a while to concentrate on cricket.
There have been a number of Bay cricketers who caught the eye with some brilliant performances recently.
Anrich Nortje and Marizanne Kapp have turned into real superstars, especially in the T20 version of the sport.
Just how highly rated Nortje has become in world cricket was clear for all to see when his services for the next Indian Premier League season were retained by the Delhi Capitals.
Further good news is that India’s tour of South Africa will go ahead. We can’t wait to see how the visiting batsmen will cope with Nortje’s fast bowling.
Kapp has been one of the best all-rounders in the women’s game for some time now and will be part of the national camp in the Bay this week.
It would have been wonderful to see the national women’s team in action in a match at St George’s Park, but the Bay is just as proud to host them for a training camp.
According to Cricket South Africa, the ladies are not here for the Christmas specials.
It is described as an “intensive” camp to prepare the squad for bigger things in the near future.
Two other Bay cricketers that have been performing really well for South Africa A in the series against their Indian counterpart, are Glenton Stuurman and Marco Jansen.
So it looks as though we can confidently kick the rugby ball into touch here in the Bay and enjoy the bat and ball action.
We still have to stick to our processes and believe in the system though.
