Bodo Sieber
There are and were certain characteristics that make an Ikeys team and the players that form part of it. Flair, expressing yourself on the field, running the ball, being fearless, having fun, never giving up, believing in the impossible come back and, as former club president Dugald Macdonald called it, an ‘inalienable right to creative behaviour’ sometimes on, but mostly off, the field. It all forms part of what it means to be part of that windswept rugby football club at UCT.
Thousands of hours spent together, training, playing, in gym, on a team bus, on tour, in change-rooms, jolling, as digs mates, room mates, at varsity and as friends. It shapes a common ground and forms a common cause that is bigger than the team and the club at the time of players actively donning the jersey. It transcends generations and goes way beyond the few seasons spent on the playing field.
Rugby that can do this … Revealing rather than building character … The hooligan’s sport played by gentlemen. And the UCTRFC is very much part of that unique rugby camaraderie.
It is unique in its spirit and it is unique because of the quality of its people – on and off the field.
Allow me to acknowledge via example …
You’re travelling to the PGA Golf show in Orlando, Florida with our golf technology business in January 2015 and queuing to get exhibitor accreditation, next thing you find yourself getting tackled (literally) by Boots Crossley, who was the Ikeys Fitness Coach back in 2002 / 2004.
This happened to my business partner Craig Kleu – himself a former Ikeys flank back in 2003-2008. Turns out Boots is a VP for a golf marketing company operating out of Austin Texas and great guy that he is, delighted in being a sounding board and advisor to our plans of tackling the giant that is the US golf market.
Bodo Sieber, Boots Crossley and Craig Kleu – Orlando 2016
“Boots, what a legend, but he used to drill us hard!” remembers Craig Kleu. I remember Boot’s ‘boys club’ FcB sponsoring fleeces for our Oxford and Cambridge tour in 2003. Thanks Boots, I still have it!
The things Ikey Tigers can accomplish over a couple of cool drinks is forever fascinating and the world has been made better, changed and taken over many times by these men over the last century.
Fast forward to January 2017, we are back at the PGA show, Boots now a Senior VP (Americans!) is back to high five us and introduce us to some of his network. Our company has grown and our product is delivering results on some of the top US courses, including 2017 US open hosts, Erin Hills, PGA Championship hosts Whistling Straits, Ryder Cup hosts Valhalla and many more. The good old years of blood, sweat and roller coasting turned real opportunity ‘over night’.
These years of sweat and roller coasting included building a system, a first viable product through many hours of trial and error, midnight oil burning, set backs, small victories, followed by big leaps, breakthroughs and more set backs. Who better to have by your side than a fearless Ikeys 3rd team flank with the heart of a lion, who turned out to be our powerhouse developer and technical lead – thank you Thomas Davies. A banker in any team and another wonderful friend made at the Ikeys club.
Craig Kleu, Craig Mason and Bodo Sieber – Jupiter Island, Florida 2017
Why this story is so relevant right now and undeniably real is because of an incident that happened as part of that trip, early 2017 in South Florida.
While it is easy to stay in touch with some old team mates who are more or less in town and grab a drink at the odd Ikeys game or the annual Black Tie dinner, some of the guys have moved far away to make their mark.
One of them is former Ikeys captain Craig Mason who together with his older brother Rob were among the household names up at varsity when I arrived and first started playing seniors in 2000 / 2001. Mason left varsity in 2002 I believe and I have honestly not heard or seen him since.
Social media had told me he was in the South Florida area, so I called him up and said we’d be driving through en route as part of a trip that included client visits and strategic conversations in the region following the golf expo.
“Fantastic! Meet me at the marina at Jupiter Island”. Next thing you see a guy again after 15 years and you’re instantly on the same wavelength.
The Ikeys common ground rises before you and you spend a few hours reminiscing, talking smack and remembering the days spent up at the Green Mile.
Ikeys vs Maties Intervarsity draw 8:8 at Danie Craven Stadium 2002
Names like Animal, Gouda, Skaapie, Cobra, Plummie, Tricky Vicky, Sven the Swede, Fishie, Paki, Maurer, Tank, Paulie P, Snoopy, Rickey Factor, Dicky Neville, Dobbo, Wella, Slider, Doc Dallas, Lurker and the rest get thrown around as you trace back the years. Memories of games and guys misbehaving have you in stitches, the Green Man, Billy the Bums and the rugby pub come alive and you’re ready to put on that jersey again.
“If you hate Ryan Plum clap your hands”, poor waitress, as the three biggest guys in the restaurant test out a familiar chant of UCT rugby 17 years ago. Plum was a legend by the way, forever fighting with Adi Hewlett in Gus Enderstein’s koppestamp sessions.
The privilege that you were cruising past Tiger Wood’s house earlier, while sipping Coronas, through the Island channels in an absolutely amazing setting obviously adds to the occasion, but honestly, that was just the garnish.
What you realise too is that your fellow Ikey that you have dragged along across the ocean (Kleu), who is a few years younger and never shared a change room or team huddle with your generous host, fits right in and is cut from the same cloth. The songs, the blue and white, the stories, the scars, the memories are the same and then there are the few guys and some ladies – coaches, players, managers who transcend player generations and connect the stripes as it were – I suppose I might be one of them.
“Gus Enderstein always used to say, to pick any great team, you start with great locks” … So says Mason, anyway …
Hey, maybe it is because we’re all forwards and there is some sort of facultative symbiosis that gets formed for a lifetime, through hours of scrum and line-out maul training that melts a pack into an indomitable force? The backs likely experience similar results following hours of silky skills training and talking about their feelings, new boots and hairstyles.
“Mason, do you also compare business to rugby? Strategy, game plans, building a team, a culture, doing the hard yards, playing the windy game of two halves on the green mile, pitching for training even when you’re tired or sore, dropping the guys who don’t pull their weight, getting the guys up for the next challenge even when you’ve lost a game, believing that you can win in the 83rd minute – you know what I mean.”
Mason: “I do it all the time!”
Now, remember when I said the Ikeys need help? Let me quote John Dobson here:
“WE’VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GENERATIONS TO COME, TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THOSE WONDERFUL MEMORIES THAT WE’VE HAD.”
It is easy, help out a little, join the supporters club, come to a few events if you can. I’m doing it, Craig Kleu’s doing it, Tom Davies is doing it, Boots is doing it.
CLICK HERE to support the Ikey Tigers …
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Bodo Sieber is a former Ikeys lock and captain. He played 170 first class matches for the Ikey Tigers. He is the CEO of Golf Technology company Tagmarshal and co-founder of the South African Business Angel Network.
