It’s said money makes the world go round. And, it’s money that the Border Bulldogs need if they are to at least hold their own on the rugby field.

From the Border Bulldogs official site:

That’s Bulldogs’ coach, David Maidza’s message as he reflects on the season past.

It wouldn’t matter to him whether this cash injection came from a single sponsor or local business.

The bottom line is that without financial benefactors, professional rugby on the Border will go nowhere.

Yes, it takes far more than just money to build a winning side, but boy, having enough money makes things so much easier. For example, in 2005 under coach Kobus van der Merwe, the Bulldogs operated on a monthly budget of R420000.

This past year, the Bulldogs had to settle for a mere R200000 that meant there were severe restraints on the team, which included not being able to hold onto key players or purchase much-needed talent to boost resources.

Maidza makes the point: “The rand signs need to go up quickly.”

“The Eastern Province Mighty Elephants and the South Western Districts Eagles both received additional financial injections which changed the course of their Currie Cup season.”

“The Elephants were able to secure the services of ex-Springbok centre De Wet Barry, while the Eagles went out and bought former Springbok flyhalf Gaffie du Toit and utility back Bevin Fortuin.”

The Eagles made the final of the Currie Cup First Division while the Elephants reached the semi-final.

Added Maidza: “As things stand now I have already targeted certain players for next season but where’s the money coming from?”

Money aside, it was a season in which the Bulldogs won just two of their 10 Currie Cup matches and two of their six Vodacom Cup games. Maidza took over as head coach at the start of the season from Humphrey Nojoko, and, while believing his players were unlucky not to have won more games, admitted to having made mistakes. “I believed that winning would bring back the fans and did not pay enough attention to the important things such as analysing various player combinations and positions and ensuring the correct support structures were in place.

“Of equal importance were improved player salaries, incentives and fringe benefits but these matters were out of my hands. The professional side of the game needs to be strong for amateur rugby to be strong.”

But Maidza should not crucify himself too much in that seldom do coaches make an impact immediately they are appointed to the coaching helm. A glance at the track record of former Bulldogs coaches such as Ian Snook, Gert Smal, Rudolf Straeuli, Van der Merwe, Dumisani Mhani and Nojoko is proof enough.

On the Currie Cup season, Maidza believes while some players had the ability to compete well, there was a lack of maturity and depth in certain positions.

On the other hand, many of the games they lost were given away to the opposition. Maidza uses the away match against the Griffons as an example. “After 30 minutes we were 40 points adrift but ended the game on the front foot and just 10 points shy. Why?

“That’s where mental toughness, maturity and self-belief was lacking. It also comes down to a lack of a winning culture and that’s why I wanted to cry each time … (we) lost games we could have won.”

The lack of depth was compounded through injury to his players. The injuries to utility back Royden Kennedy and scrumhalf Josh Fowles who were sidelined for the entire Currie Cup campaign made matters worse. Tighthead prop Marius Visser also missed the last few Currie Cup matches while lock Nomani Tonga, hooker Greg van Jaarsveld, flank Sebastien Hilpert and lock Andries Kruger – all senior players – were out
for lengthy periods.

Conditioning does and always will play a key role and the fact no replacement was found for last season’s fitness guru, Denzil van Heerden, could have influenced the injury problems Border experienced.

In addition, assistant coach Andre Human left to take up a coaching post in Ireland at the end of the Vodacom Cup which left the team without a forward specialist. Bulldogs players who had an outstanding season, were lock Samora Fihlani and flanks Bernard le Roux and Dumisani Meslane, with prop Patrick Mulamba and centre Chumani Booi close on their heels.

Fihlani was rewarded by representing the SA Emerging Sevens while Le Roux joined Paul Treu’s SA Sevens training camp.