from IOL, January 24, 2003
River rafting and golf were the two major exercises on the programme for the WC squad on the final day of their three day motivational and team building camp in the Drakensberg on Thursday.
After a gentle early morning run, and a theory session with psychologist Clinton Gahwiler, the squad set off for a section of the Tugela River beyond Winterton for a three hour rafting excercise. The thorough safety brief was colourfully explained by the group leader, a feisty 21-year-old called Jackie Fourie.
With life jackets and helmets firmly in place, Makhya Ntini, Monde Zondeki, Herschelle Gibbs, Robin Peterson and Manager Goolam Rajah took the safety in numbers option and went down in the large six-man boat, while the rest of the squad paired of in two man rafts.
The Rhodes/ Boucher combination looked like Dusi veterans, both having had some experience on the water, and they cruised down the river, taking the two grade three rapids in their stride.
The biggest rapid on the course was Mambo 5, where Jackie showed up the boys and received a huge cheer as she took on the seething waters in a white water kayak. To be fair that section is not normally rafted due to a massive boulder in the middle of the river.
The bottom section of the rapid, rated Grade 4, was more manageable for the whole group, and after a stop to explain the intricacies of taking it, they ventured nervously forth.
Assistant Coach Corrie van Zyl and Charl Langeveldt came out of their raft at the very top and bumped and bashed their way all the way down to the bottom. The safety briefing before the start proved to come in handy as both went down in the "cocktai" position, sitting with their head and feet above water.
"Their were three big rocks and I just knew I'd hit all three, so I just braced myself and took them on, I might have a bruise or two on my backside" said Langeveldt.
Having seen that, Allan Donald and Nicky Boje decided that they were not going to risk it and walked around the rapid. All the rest went down though,and Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener showed great skill in negotiating the tough first rapid, only for Klusener to fall out right at the bottom !
And, despite being told by Boata Dippenaar that he would fall out, Jacques Kallis and Physiotherapist Shane Jabaar sailed through the bumpy rapid, not so Dippenaar and partner Gary Kirsten, the Freestater taking a swim at the bottom section much to the delight of Kallis.
The final section proved to be strenuous and shoulders and arms ached when the squad eventually arrived at the finish to enjoy a braai. For Andrew Hall, Mark Boucher, Jonty Rhodes and Shane Jabaar, the adrenalin rush of the rafting was clearly not enough and they stopped along the way to jump off a ten meter cliff into the river!
For most of the squad, an exhilarating experience, for others, like Herschelle Gibbs perhaps not, " That's the first and last time I am going down a river" he quipped.
The afternoon brought cloudy, cool conditions, ideal for a stroll around the golf course.
The four ball of Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall, Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje were red hot and came home the winners with a massive 100 points.
" We were on fire out there" said Boje.
Captain Shaun Pollock and his team of 3 handicapper Boeta Dippenaar, Physio Shane Jabaar and resort GM Graham MacKay were second, the captain carding and impressive 72 of his 6 handicap.
Dippenaar smashed the longest drive and Corrie van Zyl was nearest the pin a the par three 12th.
The day ended with a three course dinner at the Golf Club where the biggest cheer of the night was saved for fitness trainer Andrew Gray who told the side he had cancelled the planned biathalon for the next morning, professing himself satisfied with what the squad had achieved over the three days.
For coach Eric Simons and Psychologist Clinton Gahwiler the fruits of their efforts will only become evident in about six weeks time. One thing they could deduce from the three days in the mountains is that these fifteen players are superbly fit, resilient and motivated for the World Cup.
From Monday the squad will return to cricket bast and balls when they have a three day skills camp in Cape Town.