2016: What a year of sport!
Here is some of the local sporting highlights of last year.
Decembersabelom@caxton.co.za
EFC56: What a night, what a year!
Eleven phenomenal fights capped off a year of intense MMA action for the EFC organization at Carnival City on Friday, December 9, as all of Dricus du Plessis, Yannick Bahati and Igeu Kabesa successfully defended their titles.
Multiple sporting awards for Diego
He’s earned full colours for sport a staggering 30th time – that’s how much natural sporting ability multi-talented Diego Cupido, the Laerskool Elspark Deputy Headboy and East Rand United Rugby Club junior player, has.
The Grade 7 athletics, cricket and rugby star has, as a result, cleaned up most if not all of his school’s sporting awards for 2016. His accolades include being named the Sportsman of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Cricketer of the Year and Best Backline Player (rugby) of the Year. He also won those four accolades in 2015.
Worst season of my career – Harran
Local superbike racing star Brent Harran has deplored this year’s Super GP season as the worst of his career.
This is after the 23-year-old finished the Super GP Superbike racing series in sixth position overall, following the championship’s final round held at the Red Star Raceway in Delmas.
November
Carissa van Rooyen: A swimming star in the making
Boksburg elite youth swimmer Carissa van Rooyen (14) represented South Africa at the 2016 CANA African Swimming Championships, held in Bloemfontein.
Swart crowned NABBA-WFF second princess
Sports model beauty Minka Swart was crowned the second princess in her women’s junior bodybuilding class, after finishing third at the NABBA-WFF World Championships in Dublin, Ireland.
Jayden from Boksburg is SA’s new karting world champion
Twelve-year-old Jayden Els flew South Africa’s colourful flag highest in Italy recently, as he was crowned karting world champion following his victory in the Rotax Mini Max Grand Finale.
October
Local rugby academy opens to hone skills
The Shalom Rugby Academy is up and running. Based at Oosrand Secondary School, the academy which accommodates children from ages seven to 18, is facilitated by respected local rugby coach Derrick Sampson. The academy is focused on sharpening the skills of interested children and those who aspire to become rugby players.
Undefeated Boksburg u-9s win Valke Junior League
The Boksburg Rugby Club’s under-9 side have been crowned Valke Junior League champions, after winning all their games this season.
Lerena wins Super Four tournament
Local favourite Kevin Lerena beat Denmark international Micki Nielsen via a majority points decision, to win the Golden Gloves’ Super Four Cruiserweight final at Emperors Palace on Saturday, October 22.
September
Scrum-half Mitchell joins SA Bokkie team to Russia
Jason Mitchell, a student at Hoërskool Oosterlig, earned the prestigious selection following his outstanding performances at an inter-provincial tournament held in Kroonstad.
Local pupil catches deep to finish fourth in fishing competition
Hoërskool Oosterlig pupil Dylan Lange and his two teammates, Luke Coetzer and Michael Joubert, agonisingly missed out on a medal position, when they finished fourth at the annual deep-sea fishing u-19 National Junior Inter-provincial Championships.
Carrim in supreme form at Junior Dancer of the Year
Local dancer Kaamilah Carrim was named the 2016 Junior Dancer of the Year, at the Supreme Dancer of the Year competition held at Carnival City in early September.
August
Tommy grinds his way back to the top
Tommy Oosthuizen claimed the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan Africa title on August 27.
Wayde becomes fastest man in the world over 400m
South African Wayde van Niekerk broke Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old record of 43.18, after clocking 43.03 to be crowned the greatest yet over the 400m distance.
Vuka League kicks-off to promote rugby in previously disadvantaged areas
Secondary schools in the previously disadvantaged areas of Daveyton, Etwatwa, Tembisa, Tsakane, Sebokeng, Katlehong and Reiger Park, are now playing Vuka League rugby matches in their respective district clusters.
July
Reiger Park gives Team SA a heroes’ farewell
A few athletes of Team SA paraded the streets of Reiger Park, with the community on Saturday, July 23 – before jetting off to Brazil for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Fullback Jason Jonker breaks ER United hearts with last gasp try
Boksburg Rugby Club fullback Jason Jonker dived over for a last-gasp try, to hand the Owls a dramatic 21-20 derby win over East Rand United at Prince George Park.
Bergonzi sisters impress at Japan Karate Tournament
Parkdene sisters Daniela and Gina Bergonzi obtained national colours, after impressing at the South African Japan Karate Association National Tournament.
June
Limpopo school crowned Danone National champs
Limpopo’s Benny’s Sports Development and Academy (SDA) from Louis Trichardt, beat BM Mokitime Primary School from North-West 3-2, in the shoot-out to win the 2016 Danone National Soccer Championship.
Team Brotherhood flexes muscle power in strongman competition
Team Brotherhood pipped Team Asylum in the Brotherhood Strongman competition, held at the K90 Centre in Boksburg.
Owls hit new low with 81-26 drubbing
It was possibly one of the lowest points in the Boksburg Rugby Club’s proud history, if not the lowest, as the Owls were hammered 81-26 by a resurgent Vereeniging side.
May
Senkie picked for Baby Boks squad
Boksburg and Free State Cheetahs wing Musolwa Mafuma was named as part of the final 28 players for the Junior Springbok squad, on Tuesday (May 10).
Machimana beats Nel for SA heavyweight title
In arguably the most embarrassing boxing bout and worst title defence in the sport’s local folklore, Osborne Machimana knocked out defending champion Anton Nel to win the SA heavyweight championship for the second time.
Tommy Gun returns to the boxing ring
Oosthuizen, then (25-0-2; 13), confirmed his return to boxing by stating: “Please bring somebody to beat me. I want to see who can beat me.”
April
Lerena scores KO win over Muller
Kevin Lerena defeated rival Johnny Muller in the 10th round of their WBA Pan African/ SA cruiserweight title fight, at Emperors Palace.
Boksburg swimmer qualifies for Rio Olympics
Boksburg swimmer Douglas Erasmus formed part of a 10-man South African swimming team headed for the Rio Olympics.
Hendre Stassen one step closer to play for the Baby Boks
Former EG Jansen and Valke Craven Week captain Hendre Stassen, was selected for the provisional Junior Springboks training squad.
March
Aces Tennis League finals Taylor-made
Defending champion Kevin Taylor reigned supreme during the Aces Tennis League finals at the Benoni Country Club, as he was crowned the Premier Division champion for the second time in as many seasons.
Budler on the ropes in major upset
Nicaragua’s Byron Rojas defeated South Africa’s highly rated Hekkie Budler via a unanimous decision in a major upset, to win the WBA and IBO minimum weight title at Emperors Palace.
Boksburg clinch bragging rights against United
The Boksburg Rugby Club secured their second win in as many games, with a 19-12 triumph over East Rand United in a tense local derby.
February
EG Jansen product Xander Crause to hone his flyhalf skills for the Golden Lions
Xander Crause has emerged as another rugby star from Boksburg to have been captured by a giant franchise, following in the footsteps of his captain in high school rugby, Handre Stassen, who was signed by the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
Butler showsclean pair of heels in strong field towin Dis-Chem Ride for Sight
Reynard Butler of Team Telkom showed the way to his competitors when he won the 28th annual Ride for Sight Cycle Race on Valentine’s Day.
Tommy Gun saga: Volbrecht speaks out
In what was threatening to be the end of one of the most lucrative partnerships in South African boxing folklore, legendary trainer Harold Volbrecht lifted the lid on the Tommy Oosthuizen saga.
January
Blue Bulls sign former EG Jansen student
Hendre Stassen (18), a former pupil of Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen, has signed to join one of the country’s rugby giants, the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
Upcoming football local star earns Spain selection
Reiger Park soccer star Shandre Campbell (10) was selected to participate in 2016’s 25th edition of the Donosti Cup, in San Sebastian, Spain. – @SabeloBoksburg
