The winners and brand-new carnival kings of Section One of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association’s minstrel competition are the West London All Stars.
The team, with the slogan “Ons kom deur soes donnerweer”, walked away with a total of 10 first prize trophies, much to the delight of their supporters who erupted with joy when the MC announced that the highest points trophy went to West London All Stars.
The atmosphere was amazing and the members of West London then filled the stage with their trophies, chanting “ons soek ’n klops soes Waleed se klops”.
Mr. Waleed Hendricks, the owner of West London who has now become known to most klops supporters as “DA BOSS”, was close to tears but is such a klopse lover that the very next day he posted on Facebook that he will work harder next year to do even better.
And he is already starting to prepare for the new season amid the hype of just having won the carnival.
KEEPS IT AUTHENTIC: Anwar Gambeno. Photo: SUPPLIED.
Mr. Hendricks says: “Ek voel baie proud op die team want vir ’n team wat drie jaar oud is het ons al twee carnivals gewen en daai wil gedoen wies.
“Ek dink dat die jaar het ons behoorlik gemors op hulle bors.”
Mr. Hendricks says they had very good competitors and the competition was tough, so it wasn’t easy to achieve the win and he appreciates the high standard of competition.
On the day, however, it wasn’t only All Stars who did well. There were amazing performances, especially in the Group Song category.
The team that is always “binne in jou oeg” Baruch Entertainers, who ended up second in the carnival, gave a spectacular performance in the Group Song item.
The arrangement was different and what had many supporters in awe was their rendition of Elton John’s classic Circle of Life.
But in the end, the Group Song title went to Lavender Bright Stars who gave a clean, solid performance.
Klops is a very tough sport, with every spectator firmly believing their team should win, but what we must accept is the judges’ decision as final.
I do believe we are moving in the right direction under the banner of the KKKA.
MAINTAINED THEIR TITLE: Baruch Entertainers. Photo: SUPPLIED
We have a bigger and better stage with lights and good sound.
The troupes have all upped their game and are improving every year, and the fact that all the teams are in one section – and there’s no bottom section – is one of the best moves the board has made.
It gives the smaller teams a chance to compete against the big names and work harder as well.
This is also interesting because the small teams did not do too badly if one takes into consideration Mitchells Plain All Stars walking away with a third place in Group Song and a first prize Afrikaans Moppie.
I was not surprised that much by the first prize moppie because the bigger teams tend to deviate from authentic moppie somewhat, trying to push moppie into the 21st century.
Mr, Anwar Gambeno is, however, one who still plays this and any other item on its authentic merit; this worked in his favour, so congratulations to them.
All Stars on the day won English Moppie, an item that their coach Tariq Blignaut has won for the past three years in a row, proving once again why he is known as “Tolla da beh”.
Baruch maintained their title of combine kings, winning both combines quite convincingly.
For me, they are just in a class of their on this item.
A big slamat to our winners, West London All Stars, and to all the other teams who participated. To me, you are all winners.
I can’t wait to see what the teams of Section Two have in store for us this coming Saturday.