Jabu's 5 Favourite Sporting Fixtures

So as a warm up to my Currie Cup Final Preview (On Friday) I thought I would pick my 5 favourite sporting fixtures in a calendar year. Of course the countdown is from 5 back to 1. Please note these are completely biased to what I like and to my country!

5. Springboks vs the All Blacks

The All Blacks are the best team in the world for four years, and the Springboks are the best in the other. This game is what rugby is all about. Its physical, fast and tactically as good as it gets. The only thing missing is for the two best rugby nations in the world to meet each other in the World Cup Final! 2011 anyone?

4. The Proteas vs. Australia

They are the team who wins when it counts. They can be out of form but they still win. They are a team that we struggled against. But they are also a team we love to beat. It might not happen often enough, but playing Australia in cricket is something that is the pinnacle of the game. To be the best, you need to beat the best! All I have to say is 438.

3. Cheetahs vs. Lions

This is a big one for me. My group of friends all support the Lions and we have slowly but surely made it a bit of a tradition of attending the Lions home game. It is of course a tradition that is hurting me as both years have seen the Lions win with remarkable comebacks. The Cheetahs and Lions for many years played under the same Super 12 union of the Golden Cats. Ever since this it has been a rivalry worth noticing. Not always for trophies (except Currie Cup 2007), but an all out marathon of rugby anyway!

2. Kaizer Chiefs vs. Orlando Pirates

It might not be etched in history like my first choice, it still has a lot of history. Kaizer Moutang left Orlando Pirates and started a new team based on the team he played for in America, the Kansas City Chiefs. Kaizer Chiefs recently celebrated 40 years and while this in itself has not

caused the ire of Pirates fans, the success of Chiefs have. In the passed 10 years Chiefs have won countless trophies, Pirates have won one. November the 13th cant come quick enough!

1. Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspurs

For any regular readers, you will know that I am a massive Gunners fan. And as all Gunners fans know, there is nothing in the world bigger than the North London Derby. For a full history of the North London Derby go here.

I have been asked before if I would want to see Tottenham relegated, but i really wouldn't! I want to play Spurs twice or three times a season and beat them just as many times. If Arsenal were to finish 10th, it would only be stomach-able if Tottenham finished lower. True story

Until Friday

Enjoy the sport

JABU

A Timely lesson in class for Adebayor!

As Sunday bears down on the impending clash between Man City and Arsenal at Eastlands, we were gifted with the perfect scene just a few days prior to this. On Tuesday night the mighty Gunners played the unstoppable Shakhtar Donetsk and in so doing would come up against the former Gunner Eduardo Da Silva.

For a brief reminder of why we love Eduardo, he was an unknown who replaced Thierry Henry, and after 6 months or so, really started replacing Henry. I remember his falling over, over the shoulder goal against Everton. True Class! This was all disrupted by a Martin "His not that kind of player" Taylor horror tackle. It broke him in half, and did pretty much the same to the Gunners season!Eduardo was out for a year pretty much and even though he scored a wonder goal against Burnley on his return, the niggling injuries as a result of the original injury always stopped his return. So much so that last season with no fit strikers he was still left out in place of Arshavin as a central striker.He understood he needed to move on to play and spoke to the boss about it.

He was subsequently transferred to Shakhtar for 6 million and has now scored six goals for them this season. Upon being sold he wrote an open letter to the fans of Arsenal that was published on Arsenal.com. And truly, he showed his class. When asked if he would celebrate if he scored, he said no. He had simply too much love and respect for the Arsenal and the Fans. And as Murphy has prescribed in his law, Eduardo knocked away the consolation goal. It was something beautiful, something truly poetic. I have never in my life seen a crowd cheer for an opposition goal like that! Even the stadium announcer got in on the action!

The reason I bring this all up is simple. On Sunday Arsenal face Man City (Mini Arsenal). On sunday they face Adebayor. Emmanuel, please look at Eduardo and see the reason he is classy and you are not. Last season, Adebayor was money hungry and fought to be released from Arsenal in order to make more money. He left Arsenal with disrespect. When Arsenal played Man City he stamped on Robin van Persie's face and was somehow not sent off. He of course later scored a goal and ran across the field to show disrespect again to the Arsenal fans. Adebayor and class only go in the same sentence if you talking about how much he lacks it.

Who said you have to leave a club in a cloud of dust. Who said that at all. In recent times Pires, Henry and Eduardo have all received welcome returns. Adebayor should best hope he is injured on Sunday, although he is also lucky Wilshere is suspended, because that my son would be a red card worth taking!

Come on the Arsenal! and for one more time

ED . . .. . . . . . UARDO!!!!

And now for the Bonus Blog


Due to last weeks inability to post a blog, i have decided to treat you with a double bonus blog this week. The Currie Cup is down to its final. The best two teams (As much as it pains me to say this!) are in the final and a deserving winner will be chosen from this battle! Another thing that will happen after the final next week is the bok touring team will be announced. Below are the Jabu picks for the best player from each team in the season and the player I feel should be included in the Bok Squad. Please note I have only included the 6 teams that vie for the semi-finals and not the Puma's and Leopards


Sharks: Pat Lambie - The dynamic young utility forward has the ability to play at fullback, centre or flyhalf and would seem an obvious inclusion based on that versatility. Mvovo may get most of the Sharks credits this year, but Lambie wins the All things Jabu sharks player of the year award!


Bulls: I don't watch the bulls play, except when they play the Cheetahs or in Semi Finals. They lost all three of these games this year and no one player stood out for me. So I will go with Guthro Steenkamp just because I think he had a great tri nations when really the Springboks didn't.


Cheetahs: Coenie Oosthuizen - The try scoring prop, mentored by Os du Randt and plays a similar style of rugby. He is strong, direct and a great carrier of the ball. He always plays with a smile on his face and is pretty good in the scrums. In South Africa we keep producing great forwards and I think Coenie has every chance to be included in that category!


Western Province: Willem de Waal - A points machine, second only to Naas Botha in Currie Cup points history, a recent question was asked by commentators that if you could choose one player to take you a touchline kick to win a championship who would it be? Willem de Waal. As a Cheetahs fan I will never forget how he dictated play at Loftus one year. He is passed his prime in terms of age and will probably never feature for the Springboks, but he has done everything right to be considered and for that he can be proud!


Lions: Elton Jantjies - As previously discussed, I rank this kid very very highly and believe that he is going to have a promising career. It is a big win for the Lions that big money has arrived as no body will be able to steal this shining star for them. This man will win trophies wherever he plays. That i would bet about 20 cents on (I'm not much of a gambler, if you do want a bet, see here!)


Griquas: Bjorn Basson - 22 tries, he smashed the previous records and is a big loss to the Super 15 hopes of the Cheetahs franchise as he has decided to try (good pun i know) his luck at the Blue Bulls next year. Good Luck Bjorn!


Overall: I'm going to betray my heart here and move away from the Cheetahs, I will say that the best player of the season of the lot will go to Elton Jantjies. Not only for his own performances, but for what he did to reinvigorate the Lions. Well done young chap!


Until next time. Enjoy the Sport


JABU

Commonwealth Games - SA's got talent

As the commonwealth games held in Delhi got underway, I spent a moment reflecting on who I think would bring back medals for the South African team. So here they are my pick of medal winners, disappointingly my first three on the list would have been the Mulaudzi, Mokoena and Semenya but their injuries have meant we will have to look elsewhere!

7's rugby

I think this is a great place for us to target a team gold. Its been a tough year for the Sevens boks but I believe they are good enough to do us proud.

Hockey

Our women are looking mighty impressive, are in to the top 10 in the world and could easily sneak a 3rd place in the games. Our men will need to perform above themselves, but a good run of form could see them sneak a medal for our proud nation.

Netball.

I'm sorry, but we don't have a chance. We needed to beat England today, we got thumped. A looming match against the world champions New Zealand awaits. Unfortunately I cant see us getting through this one.

Athletics

My pick would be Commonwealth champion LJ van Zyl (Hurdles), Sunette Viljoen (Javelin) and Elizna Naude (Discuss) as our realistic medal hopes. But Athletics SA will be hurt by the withdrawal of the Big 3.

Lawn Bowls

We are quite good at this and if we can get a good start there is no reason why we cant win any medals. We have men and women in singles, pairs and triples. I would back South Africa to win 3 medals in these 6 events through the likes of Gideon Vermuelen and Gerald Baker

Swimming

Once again this will be our flagship sport with medals going for Le Clos and Du Toit as well as the 4x100 relay already. We can expect more medals from Flag carrier Cameron van der Bergh, Jean Basson, Darian Townsend, Roland Schoeman as well as more for Chad Le Clos and Natalie du Toit.

Archery and Boxing

We have four athletes taking part in each of these disciplines, but I unfortunately know nothing of this sport! Lets hope for a few medals here!

Cycling Track

Well we have a decent sized team here it will be very difficult for our team against the Australians, New Zealanders and the English! Maybe we can sneak a medal in?

Shooting

We have won shooting medals in the past and I would like to see two medals between the four competitors.

Table Tennis

I cant believe we have a team. They are unknown from my side, but lets hope they can beat the Asian contingent!

Weightlifting and Wrestling

I'm again not well informed on these sports but with the sizable contingent that we have lets hope for 5 medals from this lot

GENERAL

In 2006 in Melbourne we won 12 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze. Our goal has to be an improvement on this. We finished 5th overall behind England, Canada, India and Australia. Our best hope is to move into the top 4 this time round.

I believe we have a strong side with a great balance and we can achieve a lot. To follow the happenings go here.

Until next time. Enjoy the Sport

JABU

Why I wish I was European

Okay okay, dont get me wrong, Im so proudly South African it hurts at times. But there is one major reason i wish I was European. Okay the lack of a need for a VISA would be nice, but the actual reason is a simple three words:

THE RYDER CUP

The Ryder Cup is one of my all time favourite sporting events. Its one of the few times Golfers put aside their need for individual glory and play as a team. The pride of winning for ones nation far eclipses the pride of winning for ones self. As a massive fan of team sport, this is my favourite golf tournament. A lot may say that as a South African I should be a bigger fan of the Presidents Cup (which consistently features 3 or 4 South Africans), however the Presidents Cup is not quite as special as the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is etched in history and is truly an amazing tournament. The likes of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Bernard Langher and the list goes on and on. It was started in 1927 and USA have one 25 and lost 10 in the history.

Watching the Opening Ceremony yesterday, it was apparent to me how much this means to the players. There were serious focused looks on there faces and a steely determination to win. The American team looked closer and have a better relationship with their captain (except Stewart Cink who got left out of the announcement!) but this is understandable from a team desperate to break a 17 year away losing streak.

Europe of course will be looking to bounce back themselves from the defeat two years ago in America.

The European Team consists of 6 rookies but they look good:

Name (World Ranking) - Comment

Lee Westwood (3) - 7th Ryder, Mister Consistency over the last 18 months. I really hope he gets to take on big Phil in the singles in what will be a classic clash!

Rory McIllroy (9) - Rookie, All the talk is of a grudge match with Tiger Woods! Good times

Martin Kaymer (6) - Rookie, The PGA Champ is on form

Graeme McDowell (13) - 2nd Appearance. Will make a potent team with his countrymen Rory McIllroy

Ian Poulter (16) - 3rd Appearance. The Arsenal Fan will be the most likely to chirp Tiger of all the golfers. and they playing together in the opening game! LOVE IT

Ross Fisher (27) - Rookie. He has choked before, I wouldnt bet my house on him. But he is there on form not captains choice

Francesco Molinari (32) - Rookie. The italian is untested (I dont know much about him!)

Miguel Jimenez (42) - 4th Appearance. His experience could be telling and is a huge fan favourite

Peter Hanson (42) - Rookie. The Swede is a no frills no spills golfer. I like it!

Captains Picks

Edoardo Molinari (15) - Rookie. Francesco's brother. I dont know much about him except he won the Barclays and Johnny Walker this year. Nuff said

Luke Donald (8) - 3rd Appearance. The fourth and final Englishman (I hope thats not a sign of things to come!)

Padraig Harrington (22) - 4th Appearance. The Irishman is a nice guy all round and would be my first pick everyday!

The American Team will feature Tiger Woods:

Phil Mickelson (2) - 8th Appearance. Big Phil is good. I really want a Mickelson Westwood round. Please Mr Pavin and Montgomerie are you listening???

Hunter Mahan (14) - 2nd Appearance. Winner of the Bridgestone Invitational this year

Bubba Watson (24) - Rookie. The owner of the coolest name in golf

Jim Furyk (5) - 7th Appearance. The winner of the Fed Ex Cup. The nicest guy in golf

Steve Stricker (4) - 2nd Appearnace. Undefeated as Tiger Woods partner. Surprised Woods doesnt stray!

Dustin Johnson (12) - Rookie. Disappointed in the final major of the year.

Jeff Overton (48) - Rookie. I know very little about Mr Overton to be honest.

Matt Kuchar (11) - Rookie. Picked up two wins on the tour this year!

Captains Pick

Zach Johnson (19) - 2nd Appearance. Solid Masters winner. Always a good pick

Tiger Woods (1) - 6th Appearance. Enough Said

Stewart Cink (35) - 5th Appearance. The owner of the title of "Ruining the biggest golf fairytale in history by beating Tom Watson on the last day, you idiot!"

Rickie Fowler (33) - Rookie. Who??? he looks 13!

I think it is poised to be a great weekends action. I think that the European team will shade the cup this year!

Follow all the action on the official website here.

Until next time, enjoy the golf!

JABU