Lions WTF ?

I find when I start supporting a team that I do not look at the game from an objective viewpoint.

(none of this applies to the cheetahs :D)
 
I have given this a bit of thought and think this is the problem with the Lions outfit.

1. They don't have an active development team
2. If you look at the other BIG teams like the Bulls and Cheetahs they have a feeding scheme for their teams. By this I mean the following. Talent is noticed no matter where in the country they are. They are offered free schooling at Affies/Grey and so forth to advance their game skills under top notch coaches. Once they leave highschool they are put into development teams, this while they Study at TUKS or where ever (If they choose to higher their education)
3. Talent scouts, I have never seen a talent scout of the Lions at any games. Not even the AFFIES games :eek:
4. Someone that liase with the supporters, someone that gives the supporters a voice when it comes to pressing issues.

This is but a few key areas the Lions should be looking at. They need to employ someone that will focus on such key areas and make sure they are implemented and done correctly.

The other problems they have is money.

Sponsors don't want to sponsor a losing team. SAA pulled out because of the Lions weak performance. SAA iirc was the biggest rugby sponosor in SAA the time they signed with the Lions it was a massive deal.

Secondly, the stadium. The Union makes their money there. Now if you lose there is no support, if your stadium is in the most horible place in SA they won't come. Either clean up around the stadium or get a new location.

There is allot of things in GLRU that needs to change. And they need to take ownership of it. You are not going to field a world class team if you feed the pockets of the management and not the Players. The Players are the ones making sure your company has an income.

Take a construction company as an example.

To be building a world class skyscraper you need world class builders, engineers and so worth. They come at a price. If you as the developer want to get second rate workers or pay second rate salaries you will get second rate performance.

The Lions have been lucky the last few years to pick up good talent. But that is all it was, LUCK!. If you want talent you need to go look for it and pay them good enough to keep them.

I'm just very pissed off today. Seriously the GLRU is running itself into the ground. They need someone with passion for the team and the players to get them back on track.
 
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APoc84 said:
Yip. Wanna start with a small little Primary School and later move to High School. I have no immediate plans to go any higher than that.

Why? You coaching?
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//nods in agreement with PB

Nha I have been aked if I wanted to coach a high School team though, but I declined. I would rather coach a women's U/21 beach volley ball team :D
 
PB.

Where does all the quality players from Monnas, St Johns and other Jo'burg Schools go? I am sure some of these players have been scouted like Affies, Waterkloof and Grey do?
If they all leave to play for other varsity clubs, then UJ is not helping the cause either.
At least if UJ will give some players decent bursaries to come and play rugby for them, then the Lions will have more players to choose from.
 
Go look at the latest development teams they made. U21 and U19.

GLRU Amateur Under 19 Training Squad 2009:



Position Name Club
15 Julian Kotze UJ
Rusty van Rensburg UJ
14 Benny Letwetsi UJ
Ryan Heath Pirates
13 Dean Fourie UJ
Nico Bongers UJ
Nic Castenheira Wits
12 Adriaan Vermeulen UJ
Alan Zungu Wits
11 Rendi Tshivula UJ
Mahanga Simphiwe UJ
10 Donovan Blignaut UJ
Greg Blom Wits
Kofi Appiah UJ
Michael Hayward UJ
9 Ruan Lombaard UJ
Jauques vd Walt UJ
8 Justin van Zyl Roodepoort
Jaco Havenga UJ
Lungelo Nggendeshe Wits
7 Ben van Heerden UJ
Merrick Bengis UJ
6 Johan du Bruin UJ
Shanu Stoffberg Wits
5 Pieter Meyer UJ
Dieter Behr UJ
4 Dylon Peterson UJ
3 Ewald vd Westhuizen UJ
Luwando Mabenge UJ
2 Sipho Mazibuko UJ
Warren Allhworth Wits
Eben Groenewald Union
Ferdinand Kelly UJ
1 Marvin Njodi UJ
John Webb




GLRU Amateur Under 21 Training Squad 2009:



Position Name Club
15 Gerrie de Beer Alberton
Michael Zock UJ
14 Jonothan Reed Edenpark
Ivan Daters Roodepoort
13 Ricus de Villiers Alberton
Liaan Roos Union
12 Sean Tooze Wits
Zwelaki Sodladla UJ
Rudold Prinsloo UJ
11 Sandile Nqgobo Pirates
Zunaid Kock UJ
10 Shaun Manton UJ
Kyle Peyper Union
Mike Septhon- Poutney Wits
9 Stefan Estman Pirates
Janus Terreblanche UJ
Jauques Pretorius UJ
8 Devon Montgomery Wits
Pietie Lubbe UJ
Daneel Ellis UJ
7 Henrico Fourie UJ
Charles Baggot Wits
Rinus Bothma Quins
6 Paul van Staden Union
Brandon Hughes Pirates
5 Yanich Tsimanga UJ
Jauques Pearson Alberton
4 Katz Ntsie Union
3 Henna Bredenkamp UJ
Philip Nel UJ
Kyle Beryrcoti Pirates
2 Leon Venter UJ
Juan van Zyl Alberton
Tyrell Tittinger Wits
1 Lourens Grobler Union
Gareth Stein UJ
Click to expand...

Now look at where the majority of these players come from. It's as if they take the best from one section of the whole of Jo'Burg. WTF is with all the UJ players ? Go and scout for talent. It's like me having to choose a squad and I select the best players from Garanqua Highschool.

Sure they might be pretty good and one or two of them brilliant. But does that mean they are the Best in Pretoria ?

Get what I'm saying ;)
 
Morgoth said:
sport bursaries. it is kinda obvious.
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I get that part. My point is, look at the number of players. Lets assume they are all on sports bursaries right. How many of those do you think will end up playing for the Lions squad at provincial level ?

I have seen kids from Affies being signed to the bulls and retire at the Bulls.
Do you see where I'm going with this ?
 
The Cheetahs did well to sign the Ebersohn brothers even before they finished school. Also Coenie "Shrek" Oosthuizen, Wilton Pietersen and Lionel Mapoe.
Sharks academy did the same with Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and a few others.
Never see this type of commitment from the Lions.
 
APoc84 said:
The Cheetahs did well to sign the Ebersohn brothers even before they finished school. Also Coenie "Shrek" Oosthuizen, Wilton Pietersen and Lionel Mapoe.
Sharks academy did the same with Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and a few others.
Never see this type of commitment from the Lions.
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I agree.

They should be playing under a Lions banner already. They should have been picked up from High school already ;) But for some wierd reason this is not happening in Jo'Burg :confused: There is I'm only guessing but prob over 500 schools just in Jo'Burg alone. There is massive amounts of talent there, it just needs to be harvested and bound to GLRU before anyone else spots them. That is the key.
 
Pitbull said:
I get that part. My point is, look at the number of players. Lets assume they are all on sports bursaries right. How many of those do you think will end up playing for the Lions squad at provincial level ?

I have seen kids from Affies being signed to the bulls and retire at the Bulls.
Do you see where I'm going with this ?
Click to expand...

It comes down to the management though, Gauteng has a lot of talent for some reason the bulls are just good at managing their franchise, look at NZL it is the exact same case with the crusaders, the lions have the potential to be one of the top teams but they mismanaged a lot of resources, lets not full ourselves with the "pride" stories, it is a professional game most of the players are in it for the money.
 
Pitbull said:
I agree.

They should be playing under a Lions banner already. They should have been picked up from High school already ;) But for some wierd reason this is not happening in Jo'Burg :confused: There is I'm only guessing but prob over 500 schools just in Jo'Burg alone. There is massive amounts of talent there, it just needs to be harvested and bound to GLRU before anyone else spots them. That is the key.
Click to expand...

I do know of a few guys who got sport bursaries in Pretoria for Rugby one of the conditions being that they should be in a PTA school, maybe the lions are targeting the wrong age group?
 
Morgoth said:
It comes down to the management though, Gauteng has a lot of talent for some reason the bulls are just good at managing their franchise, look at NZL it is the exact same case with the crusaders, the lions have the potential to be one of the top teams but they mismanaged a lot of resources, lets not full ourselves with the "pride" stories, it is a professional game most of the players are in it for the money.
Click to expand...

Very true.

But if you where picked up from a High school out in the bundu's and given a chance of a life time, a decent salary will do. But winning is a big key. I won't want to play for a team that loses every weekend. And with winning comes money.

It's a catch 22.
 
Pitbull said:
Very true.

But if you where picked up from a High school out in the bundu's and given a chance of a life time, a decent salary will do. But winning is a big key. I won't want to play for a team that loses every weekend. And with winning comes money.

It's a catch 22.
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Agree
winning attracts more sponsors more fans etc, why is it that the bulls and sharks have the most fans? because they have been the most successful teams for the past few years, and thus they are quite richer then the rest,

no one wants to play or sponsor losing teams.
 
Morgoth said:
Agree
winning attracts more sponsors more fans etc, why is it that the bulls and sharks have the most fans? because they have been the most successful teams for the past few years, and thus they are quite richer then the rest,

no one wants to play or sponsor losing teams.
Click to expand...

The Bulls had a very dry stretch back in the 90's. But Loftus was packet every game at Loftus ;) Being a Bulls fan is not about winning or losing. It's like a religion....
 
Seems like some good news is on the cards :)

I had a chat with someone within GLRU, and it seems that I have been looking at this the wrong way round. Loffie as much as I love the guy seems to have had a class with a few of the players also. Some of the Lions players actually would have left if he stayed on.

There is allot of problems in the Lions camp.

The story I heard was confirmed this morning with the news that the players who wanted to strike now have committed to the Lions and will not go through with it. There seems to also be allot of politics in the Union and a big stir-up is about to happen.

All we can do is hope for the best I guess :)
 
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