I would like to start off this column with an apology for a mistake I made in last week’s Moppie King.
I had written that the Young Men singkoor had tied with Shoprite Jonge Studente and that they automatically qualified for the Top 8 competition of the Cape Malay Choir board.
This is not the case as it was in fact T.he Rangers singkoor that tied with Shoprite Jonge Studente, with 28 points each, and because Rangers won the combine in that section, they automatically were the winners of the section.
So mense, ek vra groot maaf vir my mistake.
I fully understand the anger because you probably felt that all your hard work was not being acknowledged.
It was an honest mistake, my intention was never malicious, and I certainly did not mean to offend or kill the spirit of any team.
The aim of this column is always to uplift the klops culture.
With that being said, this past weekend was the last two sections and the Parkdales made a clean sweep, winning no fewer than three first prizes.
They were closely followed by Primroses who walked away with a first prize combine.
In Section 3, the Young Zinnias came out tops with a first prize in both Nederlands and Moppie.
Boarding Boys followed closely and also walked away as combine kings on the night.
The sections are now done and dusted, so now it’s time for the big one.
But before we get to the Top 8, we have to get through the President’s Cup taking place this coming Saturday at the Bellville Velodrome.
The teams that will be in competition this week are Legends, Young Men, Hamedias, Caballeros, Marines, Modern Boys, Angeliere and Jonge Manhattans.
FIRST PRIZE: Young Zinnias won two categories. Picture: Supplied.
In my experience, the President’s Cup has always been badly attended.
I think this is something that needs to change because our teams practise the entire year to perform only two songs, or sometimes just one.
They look forward to giving a great performance to their supporters each time.
But it is difficult for any performer to give their best to an empty room.
So let us strive to show our support to the teams of this prestigious competition as well.
Our support will only add value to this culture.
I remember one year losing to Boeta Amat Ishmail in a section and he taunted me for the next week, but all in good spirits.
Neither of our teams made it to the Top 8, so the friendly battle continued at the President’s Cup.
I saw it as an opportunity to redeem myself and worked extra hard with Violets that week.
Come the President’s Cup, Boeta Amat pulls up next to our team in the basement, calls me, en sak af: “Is jy reg om weer te verloor?”
Luckily for me, I did my homework, and treated the President’s Cup with the same respect I would the Top 8, and for the first time, I came out on tops.
It was very special and I’ll always remember Boeta Amat shaking my hand afterwards, as if he knew how hard I worked for that win.
There were not many people in the hall that night though.
I think this year the President’s Cup will be just as good to see as the Top 8.
So please, stiek uit and support the laaities who are still giving it their all and who dream of becoming ambassadors of this culture.