BLUE BULL BALL LINE UP....??
author: Leon Botha
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The Blue Bull Ball carrier....
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Driving to the Rallystar track this morning, contemplating what the new day will bring as far as rallies in South Africa go, I noted a line-up of Hilux bakkies at one of the local Isuzu Dealers.
“This is strange?” I thought – driving past the circle of khaki clad farmers standing around a small fire and a coffee pot!
The strangest of all was that every single one of them had a set of Blue Bull testicles – the rubber ones they traditionally hang from the tow-bars of their vehicles – hooked to their belts?
I made an illegal U-turn where it was relatively safe to do so – although it is mostly not even safe to drive in a straight line on the roads where “they” did not spend the money allocated to the Pothole Budget.
“Good morning”, I said in Afrikaans, and then required about their well-being like any good Spar Cashier would.
“Nee nie so goed nie, dankie buurman” they all replied in English. “We were left ‘balls in the hand’, ” they continued while they lifted the Bulls mascots hanging from their belts in unison.
“How do you mean?” I wanted to know.
“Did you not read the latest from Toyota and rugby?”
“Oh dear Lord,” I thought, “Toyota privatised rugby and sold the Blue Bulls team to the well known article 21 company “Two Richards” for R1?”
Rather than showing off my low sugar levels by saying anything, I shook my head slowly while holding on to the back of one of the queued Hilux bakkies.
“Nee man, you see, Toyota are now sponsoring the Cheetahs and we will not drive anything that will hand money to the enemy!” the spokesman said while wiping an imaginary tear from his realistic beard stricken cheek!
“Thank goodness”, I thought while not revealing that after the Sharks – the Cheetah team was my second choice step-team. As long as Toyota did not hand over birthright to that team playing in the shadow of the best known mountain in the world.
With a shaky hand one of them handed me a printed letter from my friend Leo Kok. The paper was tear streaked and I did not enquire about the drop of blood smeared on the side, but got an answer to that mystery automatically.
“Sien jy daar neef” one of the farmers pointed a finger thicker than my forearm shakily in the direction of the blood smear, “daarie is myne – my eige bloed” he said in English.
“That happened when Neef Sarel (not van der Merwe – he belongs to the Amakroktrok brigade – and they chase crows through Kalahari Guest farm yards where beautiful women are swimming in dams instead of playing rugby?) grabbed the paper from me when I tried to read the news to him!” he said showing me the “paper-cut” on his show finger (wysvinger – in English)!
I read the release and walked back to my car, opened the door and shouted – “put the balls back on the Hiluxes man – Toyota is helping the sport by supporting a major team! What would you say if you couldn’t play the Cheetahs because they did not have bus fare to get to Loftus?” I wanted to know while trying to start the Quattro without engaging the clutch and without them seeing that I am planning an emergency escape if anyone lets fly with a set of blue rubber testicles!
They looked at each other – looked back at me and said “kan jy glo – amper maak ons onnodig k%k droog?”
They each took a sip of coffee, shouted “Nou Blou Bulle Nou!” - took their testicles and hung them from the brand new looking tow-bars at the back of the shiny Hiluxes that hardly ever saw the business side of a gravel road.
I waved – considering to shout “Sharks forever!” thought better of it as I know these diesel bakkies are as deceptive as rhinos in breeding season, and drove off to another day's work at Rallystar.
Oh, hell – I forgot to hand the letter back to the farmer – I do know that many of them read Rallystar – so lets publish it on your favourite website Rallystar.co.za and all:
TOYOTA NOW THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE CHEETAHS RUGBY TEAM
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has become the driving force behind Cheetahs rugby following the announcement of a major sponsorship agreement with the Free State Rugby Union.
In terms of the agreement announced today Toyota will have the naming rights of the Cheetahs rugby team in the Super Rugby and Currie Cup series for the next three years.
“We at Toyota are delighted to expand our involvement in the great game of rugby and proud to be associated with one of the premier regional and provincial teams in the country,” says Dr. Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors.
Dr. Van Zyl’s comments are echoed by Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Cheetahs Company: “We are very excited about our new partnership with Toyota and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the company.”
“Rugby is all about teamwork, endurance and toughness; qualities that are inherent to the Toyota brand,” says Dr. Van Zyl. “These characteristics resonate well with the core values of our company, as well as models such as Hilux, renowned for its legendary toughness.”
Another important aspect of the expansion of Toyota’s commitment to rugby is the sport’s huge following countrywide – in all spheres of the population – and its expanding popularity. Last year rugby’s fan base grew by 4 percent.
“Toyota believes in adding value for our customers and in the development of young talent to unlock the full potential of our people. Our association with the Cheetahs mirrors this as the team has always been the breeding ground for exciting young players, with some of them now playing at international level,” says Dr. Van Zyl.
Toyota South Africa has also been the driving force behind the development of young players in the Western Province through the Toyota Rugby School of Excellence – an association that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.
“We are very excited with our broadened involvement in South African rugby and look forward to a long and fruitful association with the Cheetahs. We wish them well in their endeavours in the upcoming Super Rugby tournament and hope they will lead the way towards Currie Cup glory,” says Dr. Van Zyl.
“Amen” I says as I drive past a Hilux with blue testicles!
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