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The All Blacks Supporters Club, Cape Town, South Africa |
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Table Mountain: Photograph by Walter Bibikow/Taxi/Getty ImagesThe founding of our club in Cape Town;
We started off as a 'discussion forum'. In 2005 we had a group of approximately 80 supporters. I was in that year selected chairperson of this group and in 2007, re-elected as chairperson. We have a treasurer, spokesperson and secretary.
A big concern we have is the lack of funds. Here for example, some members could not reach agreement of the total amount that should be paid by each registered member. The current state of this country's economy and historical socio economic difficulties makes 'sacrifices' seem like huge mountains to climb.
We need funding, even if we must be 'self-sufficient'. Our main aim is to be acknowledged by the NZRU, if that's at all possible and also, to be able to arrange that our own Super 14 and test players conduct a session or clinic for the less privileged majority, mainly school children here in South Africa when they travel here.
Having said all this, we are eager to make this work; we just need the expertise, resources, and guidance from established groups like your group in Sydney to assist and also to lead where possible.
We have a website, but again, a lack of funding makes it very difficult to maintain.
Our membership is almost all based here in Cape Town.
Again, on this side of the world we make huge sacrifices to see our beloved Players. This is a sacrifice we want to make and enjoy making.
Travelling to Pretoria by car will cost approximately R 20000.00 rand for travelling only, excluding costs for tickets, accommodation and a light meal but we do this, because this is our passion.
Supporting the All Blacks is what we want to do, some of us support them for various reasons but that matters not.
Mr Henry asked me in Pretoria in 2006 if politics had a role to play for us supporting the All Blacks, I could categorically state "NO" definitely not. Politics must've, at some stage, influenced some of us yes, but that is how things are in South Africa. We are all politically aware!
Also, I can also add that we do have 'WHITE' people supporting the All Blacks too. It's not necessarily a 'colour' thing.
Arohanui
Nigel
Chairman
I've been an AB Supporter since the days of Andy Leslie, Syd Going, and company.
In the seventies I met Billy Bush, from Wairarapa. He, together with Syd Going and Brian Williams, STAYED AT MY GRANDPARENTS’ HOME, BECAUSE THE WHITE HOTELS DID NOT ALLOW MAORI’S IN THEIR HOTELS>..So coloureds accommodated many of the players. In those times I was NOT politically aware. It was simply ‘something I liked’ but over the years, over time, I became to LOVE THEM. Their legacy of over 100 years of rugby tradition is something I will promote till the day I die!
KIA KAHA HAPU
Nigel
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