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The Golden Lions traded their rugby boots for a kitchen knife when they were hosted to a sushi-making master class courtesy of Absa at The Cooking School in Bryanston on Tuesday.
Lions captain Derick Minnie, Warren Whiteley and Chrysander Botha were paired with members of the media for the fun-filled afternoon. While it takes years of dedication to master the art of making sushi, the groups were given a crash course under the expert guidance of Chef Miya. The teams were tasked with making various types of sushi from maki to nigiri and California rolls. Although a seemingly tricky challenge there were some aspiring chefs showing the potential to make the permanent shift from the rugby field to the kitchen, while others would have to stick to their day jobs.
As the proud sponsor of the Currie Cup, Absa ensured that the players got their minds off this weekend’s crucial clash against GWK Griquas at Ellis Park. “It was an awesome experience. You know us rugby guys eat a lot, so we go for the all you can eat sushi so it’s great to know we can make it now,” Whiteley said about the brief distraction. “The Griquas are always a tough opponent and the bulls are just four points behind but we still have a chance to play in the semi-final we know what we have to do and we will do our best at getting that spot.”
Absa has a long and proud history supporting rugby in South Africa, but we don’t sponsor rugby, we sponsor the human spirit. The Absa Currie Cup is about leaving everything on the field to earn the right to be called a champion. That is what the human spirit is about, and when the human spirit triumphs, we prosper!
Minnie and SuperSport.com rugby pundit Brenden Nel were crowned winners for showing an impressive knack for making sushi. “Sushi has always been something that has been daunting to make, but thanks to Chef Miya it was fun and easy,” Nel said.
“There are so many small intricate details, but when they’re done correctly, it isn’t as difficult as it seems. “Of course, it was also eye-opening to see that the Lions players don’t just possess decent rugby skills.
“All in all, it was a great afternoon where we got to see the human spirit in action. Seriously a good time…”