In the Sunday
Argus 11 February 2012, the following SMS was published:
At a recent
interschools gala at Newlands, Wynberg Boys’ High School were picked on by
another school. When they were asked by a few parents whether they would
be answering back, their answer was: ‘No Ma’am, we are Wynberg Men.’ What a
good answer…. Well done to them.
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| Paarl Athletics - courtesy of Anthony Rowe |
This response from
the Wynberg boys stems back to 1999 when the school attended an interschools
sports day at Paarl. Not only on the track was School Pride at stake, but
also in the stands as schools wound up opposition male
testosterone with inflammatory chants such as ‘We’ve got spirit, yes we
do. We’ve got spirit how about you?’
A provocative chant
like this, soon leads to surging of schools in the stands towards one another
as they taunt and sling challenging jibes at one another. Sometimes this
is accompanied by a rain of missiles ranging from colddrink cans (empty,
hopefully, as fortunately no schoolboy would waste a full can…), fruit or
anything else to hand. Someone on that occasion hurled a half-eaten peach
at the Wynberg stand and the inevitable happened – the pip of the peach hit a
boy in the eye with a resultant 30% loss of vision in that eye.
That was the last
time that this chant was allowed and from that date onwards, Wynberg boys have
been exhorted to enjoy the sport on the field, revel in supporting their team
and to appreciate good play on either side. Above all, it is now an
acknowledged way of Wynberg life never to react to jeering or ridiculing from
other supporters.
This is not to say
that there have not been amusing incidents over the years.. I remember
well an evening waterpolo game against Westerford some years ago. Wynberg
supporters were on the far side of the pool under the tree while the Westerford
supporters (mainly girls) were on the tuckshop side. Westerford were
beseeching their Wynberg opponents to respond and were using all the feminine
wiles to ensure a reaction…… We’ve got spirit, yes we do!We’ve got spirit,
how about you??? This was far too tantalizing
for our boys and it was obvious that a war conference was happening with many
glances in my direction. I responded with my best baleful and threatening
stare which I flatter myself is usually enough to defuse a situation.
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| We've got Spirit - Yes we do! |
Suddenly two boys
were dispatched to the Pump House and they returned with two Waterpolo
balls. One boy then posed with the ball in one hand above his shoulder
like a butler with a silver dish. The other adopted a similar pose on the
other side of the Wynberg crowd. Then came the chant: We got balls yes we do.
We’ve got balls, how about you…?
The crowd, including
me, collapsed with laughter. Don’t ask me how the game went after that!
One of the best
put-downs I have heard from a schoolboy crowd came during a Paul Roos / Grey High School
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| 'Joined by pride ...' |
Fortunately in sport,
there are the gods who are quick to bring down the overconfident down to size.
As if in answer to this chant, Grey gave the perfect response and ran in three
converted tries in the first ten minutes. On cue after the third try, came
another loud whistle – this time from the Grey section of the stand. We
all waited with bated breath - and then came the roar: Paul Roos! Send on your
first team!
They couldn’t -
and lost by over 40 points no doubt learning the lesson never to test the gods
of sport!
Something similar
happened during the Wynberg / SACS rugby game at SACS two years ago.
Played in a howling North Wester, Wynberg, captained by Dylan Frylinck, found
themselves 3 -23 down before half-time. You
are not singing anymore…..challenged the SACS crowd. That then
roused the Wynberg cheerleaders who proceeded to exhort their charges to
life. Supera
Moras. Supera Moras they chanted non-stop for the next forty
minutes as Wynberg clawed their way slowly back into the game eventually coming
out 25 -23 winners. The gods of sport hear everything!
In 2002, Wonga
Matshabane was entrusted with the final kick of the game against SACS.
Hooker, Billy Onozawa had scored for Wynberg in injury time in the corner and
replacement flyhalf, Wonga, was handed the responsibility to take the
difficult kick from the touchline to ensure the draw. He coped admirably
with the pressure and sent the ball soaring through the posts. 27 all. As
it was the last game of the season, both sets of supporters poured onto the
field cheering lustily and proceeded to give renditions of their respective
school songs. On my way to the SACS pavilion, I passed a Wynberg boy arms
in the air, dancing on the edge of the Wynberg circle in the middle of the
field. ‘Did we win,
Sir? Did we win?’
Perhaps that is what
supporting your team is all about. Enjoy the game. Shout lustily for your
men. And dance on the field afterwards.
KCR
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