Kaizer Chiefs have selected a credible team to play in the 2013 George 7’s tournament.
The George 7’s tournament will take place this weekend December 13 and 14 at Outeniqua Park in George where some of the best franchises will be in action.
“We have selected some of the best available players for this year’s 7’s tournament,” said Kaizer Chiefs 7’s Coach, Gcobani Bobo. “We will be looking at a squad who can qualify for the play-offs and then to take it step by step. The squad consists of no less than four former Springbok 7’s Internationals, and some of the leading players in this code in South Africa.”
After they dazzled all with their flair and distinctive kit in their inaugural appearance at the George 7’s PL last year, the trendsetting Kaizer Chiefs are buffed up for this year’s 7’s. They are returning with a vengeance and are hoping to reach the next rounds.
Fabian Juries, who is the Springbok Sevens all time try-scoring record holder, will captain the side. “We have a young side and they are all excited to play in the George 7’s tournament. Some of the best up-and-coming players have been included.”
Some leading Varsity Cup players, as well as the Southern Kings try-scoring sensation, Sergeal Peterse, will make their appearance for Kaizer Chiefs. Former Blitzbokke Danwel Demas and Norman Nelson will also play in Amakhosi who is based in the South.
Former SA Schools fullback Leroy Bitterhout will bring even more side-stepping prowess to the team that also include regular 7’s exponents Reg Muller and Jason Kriel, who donned the Vodacom Blue Bulls colours in last year’s tournament.
Bobo also roped in hard-working flanker and University of Johannesburg Varsity Cup captain, Justin Wheeler, as well as fellow loose forward Daneel Ellis, and SA Students Sevens ace, Vuyo Ganto from the University of Fort Hare. Former Steval Pumas and current Boland Kavaliers flanker, Junior Bester, is the sole survivor of the Chiefs squad from last year.
Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung, said the decision to return to the tournament was an easy one.
“We have seen tremendous goodwill towards Kaizer Chiefs in last year’s inaugural tournament and we proved to be one of the most popular teams at the event. We would like to reward our new fan base with another go at the title and I am very excited about the quality of our squad that Gcobani and his Technical Team have put together. We created sporting history last year and our brand benefitted immensely, so we would like to give some of our gratitude back to our fan base in the Southern Cape. We hope to expand our brand even more in this non-traditional market that embraced us with so much passion last year.”
Tournament promoter Willem Strauss predicted Petersen to be one of the stars of the tournament, to be held on 13 and 14 December.
“We really are blessed this year with the abundance of talent that will be on display at Outeniqua Park this year, but I think Sergeal can easily turn out to be the real star. In my many years of involvement with the schools rugby sevens series, Sergeal stood out as one of the real prospects and I have no doubt that he will again be a star attraction. His performances in Super Rugby this year proved his class,” Strauss said.
“It is clear that winning the title is high on the agenda of Kaizer Chiefs Sevens. Their performances last year won them many fans, this time it could just win them a title as well,” Strauss said.
The Kaizer Chiefs Sevens team is: Danwel Demas, Fabian Juries, Junior Bester, Norman Nelson, Sinovuyo Ganto, Sergeal Petersen, Leroy Bitterhout, Reg Muller, Daneel Ellis, Justin Wheeler and Jason Kriel.
Tickets for this 7’s extravaganza are available at Computicket.
