I helped them with an abridged version of Sailor Malan’s Rules of Air Combat and applied them to rugby - keeping a ‘finger out’ staying alert, getting close and personal ‘whites of the enemy’s eyes’ bringing the fight to them and digging deep. A rule like ‘get in, hit hard, get out’ resonated very well with the players. I also spoke of fear and Sailor Malan’s squadron motto ‘I fear no man’ in any of life’s contexts. To wrap up I explained the V for Victory symbol and how Sailor used it to focus his men on the prize and keep discipline. All done, but Karen and I were in for a surprise - instead of me applauding them, they all stood up and gave me a standing ovation .. the Mayor of Cape Town who spoke to them before me didn’t even get that. I was gobsmacked, honoured and truly taken aback .. what a great bunch of guys and they earned every V in that Victory last night. We stayed for the Captain’s wrap-up on Friday - Steven Kitshoff, very impressed with him, that man knows his stuff, is likeable and easy-going. Karen and Steven went off afterwards to stuff the Stormers change room fridge with Old Tin Hat beer, so they were cold and ready for the inevitable celebration last night. We explained to them that the Lager was a reminder of their chosen mentor and a simple thank you for the well-earned thirst to be had after the final. They used to train in Hermanus and I'm happy to fly the Hermanus flag as our hometown. John wants me to come back at the beginning of next season for a full breakdown on Sailor and his rules .. and hopefully, our team will get to savour some Old Tin Hat beer directly with them. During the game last night, just near the end we were heartened to see an Old Tin Hat brochure in Dobbos management briefing notes. Our sincerest congratulations to John Dobson and the Stormers for such an epic final and equally epic win. Sailor Malan, as a Western Cape boy from Wellington, would have been suitably impressed by the sheer mental fortitude shown by the players from his home turf .. now boys, that V means more than Victory, its a mindset and a winning one at that. Karen as always did a great job and got everyone smiling - super chuffed. She also got to meet Deon Fourie - playing 100 games for Stormers and stalwart player for the French side Lyon .. she got to natter with him in French - so right up her street
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We truly look forward to the team meeting next season. As Sailor would say "Tally Ho!" and "let's cut some cake" ... and a BIG Congratulations from us, the best team, with the best coach and the certainly the best mentor in the form of Sailor Malan .. won! NEW MEMORIAL CAPE TOWN Recently the Commonwealth War Graves Commission launched the architectural design competition for a memorial that will honour more than 1 600 South Africans who served in the military labour units and for far too long have been overlooked. The competition registration officially opens today, 05 May and closes on 09 June 2022 and is open to all Professional Architects and Professional Architectural Technologists registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). The new memorial will be homed in the Cape Town Company’s Gardens where current and future
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