BJ Botha

LAUREUS SPORTS AWARDS

In my last blog I mentioned in passing that I’d be attending the Laureus Sports Awards (held in the UAE) as one of the representatives of the Springboks, who were nominated in the Team of the Year category. I was joined by my teammates Butch James, Jean De Villiers and Bakkies Botha. Our coach Pieter De Villiers was also in attendance (to keep an eye on us). It was an extremely tough category with star-studded international powerhouses such as the LA Lakers, New York Yankees, FC Barcelona and Brawn F1 GP. Brawn took it in the end, which left us a little disappointed but at the same time, humbled by the fact that we could be nominated alongside giants of the sporting world.

There were in fact two evenings planned; one being a cocktail evening where actors, Laureus ambassadors and nominees mingled. It was quite surreal seeing actors such as Clive Owen, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hugh Grant. Kevin Spacey was the MC of the Awards ceremony itself and he really put on a great show. To cap it off, fellow South Africans Oscar Pistorius and Natalie Du Toit were also nominated, with Natalie walking away with the award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

The ceremony also proved to be quite reflective. Yes, it was about recognizing the best of the best in the field of sport; but Laureus also plays a huge role in improving the lives of people around the world (particularly children). Sometimes we take it for granted that people have running water, medical care and even a roof over their heads. It was certainly an eye-opener.

THE UAE

Apart from the awards ceremony itself, the trip was a memorable one for my family and I. From the time we boarded our Etihad flight until the time we got back, the UAE proved to be a rollercoaster ride that we just didn’t want to get off! Abu Dhabi is one place that really knows how to show its riches!

I also had the chance to fit in a round of golf at the Championship course where I shot an 87. Needless to say, Jean De Villiers and I saw off our opponents comfortably!

ULSTER

It’s proving to be a strange time of the season at Ulster, as we’ve only played one game since my last blog due to the international break (Six Nations). Though it may seem good to have a break now and then, it’s very ‘stop start’ and difficult to take advantage of any sort of momentum that the squad has built up through the season.

Our last couple of games have proved disappointing and we now find ourselves in a situation where we have to win a few (if not all) of our games to give ourselves a realistic shot at the Magners League playoffs. We’ve got the prospect of back to back fixtures against the Cardiff Blues, which is always tough, but we’ll be working hard for some good results.

Having mentioned the negative side of the break, I must admit that the time off does give you a chance to work on those aspects of your game that would take a back seat in a ‘game week’. Your body can recover from a few knocks, you can push yourself harder in the gym and even a round of golf now and then (weather permitting, of course).

SOUTH AFRICAN SUPER 14 PROGRESS

It’s great to see South African teams (Bulls and Stormers) right at the top of the Super 14 table as we near the halfway stage! It really bodes well for the future of the Springboks and South African rugby in general. More good news is the Sharks’ win over the Highlanders in the ‘House of Pain’. Dunedin has always been a happy hunting ground for the Sharks (I’ve never lost there in a Sharks jersey) and let’s hope that the result is just the start of things to come!