Lizo Gqoboka
The Vodacom Bulls have capitalised on the growing uncertainty surrounding the EP Kings as they signed impressive prop Lizo Gqoboka for the next few years to bolster their Super Rugby squad.
Gqoboka gave notice at the Kings after repeated non-payment of salaries at the franchise, and the Bulls swooped in to offer him a new home for the foreseeable future.
And there may well be more news in the next 48 hours as the Bulls are still after the signatures of 3 other EP Kings players – loose forwards Tim Agaba and Thembelani Bholi and winger Luther Obi. Some big decisions will be made as to their futures soon.
Gqoboka has been rated as 1 of the strongest props by the Springbok management team, who tried in vain to get him to play Super Rugby this year, after he was ignored by the franchises for the 2015 season.
But with SARU’s transformation action plan likely to be implemented much more stringently in the future, the Bulls have been pro-active in searching for good black talent to bolster their Super Rugby ranks for the coming year.
Bulls High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg confirmed Gqoboka’s signature but wouldn’t be drawn into any other negotiations that are currently taking place.
However, sources close to the Kings have confirmed the trio of players are currently in serious negotiations with the Bulls, and may well put pen to paper on Friday.
Gqoboka stands at 1.83m and 115kg and is a graduate of Ntabankulu High School. He is known for his explosive power and pace, including holding a schoolboy record of running 11.6 in the 100m. After stints at lock and No 8 he settled at prop where he has played for the past 3 years and is seen as a future Springbok by those who have worked with him before.
A regular of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Madibaz in Varsity Cup, he has also played 58 times for the Kings in recent times and trained with the Cell C Sharks during the 2014 season, but failed to make their final squad. To confirm his rating among the national selectors, Gqoboka was invited to the Springbok training camps in 2014 as well.
While his signing is a coup for the Bulls, he will have some tough competition going up against Springbok Trevor Nyakane and Dean Greyling for the loosehead prop role. If the Bulls confirm the signing of the other 3 players from the Kings, it will give coach Nollis Marais a lot more depth going into the Super Rugby season, with both Bholi and Agaba having had exceptional ABSA Currie Cup seasons.
Tim Agaba was named as part of an extended Springbok Sevens squad for the upcoming World Series and has an outside chance of making the squad to go to the Rio Olympics in 2016.
The Bulls were after Luther Obi in the past when he was still a member of the Leopards. After a move to the Kings was done without the Leopards’ knowledge or consent, and ended up in arbitration between the 2 unions, it seems it wasn’t the best move for the former SA Under 20 winger at all.
All 3 will have their work cut out with the Bulls boasting some depth in the loose forward and wing departments, but they can look forward to Super Rugby game time if they do decide to move.
The Kings have been late with player payments four times in the last month, with the SA Rugby Players Association giving an ultimatum until Monday to make the payments, or the union would be in breach of contract. It was under this breach that the Bulls were able to snap up Gqoboka and if they do sign the other three it will be under the same clause.
The EP Kings released a statement on Wednesday confirming that Gqoboka and Tim Whitehead had asked to be released but denied any other players would be leaving.
“We are aware that SARPA have advised players that EP Rugby is in breach of contract, due to the non-payment of salaries by the 10th of November, and have advised that players can therefore terminate their contracts.
“They have also advised those who do not have alternative employment offers that they are not obligated to return to training on Monday next week.
“We have noted with concern that a lot of speculation has taken place over players that are leaving, with a number of names bandied about.
“EP Rugby can confirm that Tim Whitehead and Lizo Gqoboka are the only two players, to date, that have given notice of their intent to leave the Kings.”
The Kings added that the lack of funds was due to a sponsorship agreement that hasn’t been finalised.
“These cash flow problems can be attributed to significant delays in the release of funds from a sponsorship deal that was originally announced by EP Rugby President Cheeky Watson.
“As stated previously, Mr Watson is currently in Australia to meet with sponsors to try and expedite the release of these funds.
“The executive is extremely aware of the challenges that late payment creates, as we all have bills to pay and debit orders that come off our accounts at a certain time each month.
“We are also keeping SA Rugby informed of the situation as it unfolds and are engaging with them and our other stakeholders.”
SuperSport
The news is now that Tim Agaba has also indicated to the EP Kings that he is leaving and the rumour mill suggests Agaba is in talks with the Bulls and Stormers.
By Monday there should be a few more who have walked out…
Have any or all of you ever received SPAM Mail from someone saying they are from some obscure country, attending to the will of someone with your surname and there several Million US Dollars which need to be transferred to you?
Or received a Mail indicating you have won some massive overseas Lottery, which you did not know existed, let alone played it?
Or an SMS message purportedly by OMO or Microsoft to say you have won something?
I mean really, how fucking stupid must you be to fall for shit like that?
… and it must somehow be working for these scam artists, because they keep doing it…
The Kings confirmed that Tim Agaba has informed them that he is leaving. Tim is also connected to a move to WP.
3 @ grootblousmile:
Don’t be so negative man; I’ve just received one saying I’ve won a double season ticket to Loftus & now you go spoiling things for me…
5 @ BrumbiesBoy:
Hehehehe
You wish!
On the serious side, the world is full of sickos trying to scam people… absolutely no shame they have!
@ grootblousmile:
The worst I’ve had was one offering a loan up to (I think) R2.5m “with no credit checks,…” etc
Yeah, right, you bunch of scumbags
@ BrumbiesBoy:
of up to
7 @ BrumbiesBoy:
Yeah, and all they probably want is your Full Names, Address, ID Number, Bank Particulars and Bank Login particulars… and the birthright to all your children… hehehe
Received a strange one the other day, telling me I need to appear in Court in the States and bring all my supporting documentation OR pay an admission of guilt fine… hehehe
@ grootblousmile:
So you “paid the fine” I presume?
Net gister weer 200 000£ gewen
@ smallies:
meneer, baie mooi!
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Saam met laas week se 950 000 is ek op n roll die maand
Is it too early to speculate on how this may affect next years ‘Super’ Rugby competition? Just less than 3 and a half months away from it starting.
@ smallies:
Hehehe, en GBS het niks gekry!
15 @ BrumbiesBoy:
Ek werk maar vir my geldjies, jong!
14 @ Bullscot:
It is certainly worrysome… Tim Whitehead, Lizo Gqoboka and Tim Agaba is of their BEST players!
I am busy with a Pink Floyd siesta here in my office, whilst busy working on a Notebook in the Cape!
This is what I am listening to at present…
@ grootblousmile:
Ek is nou al seker n jaar lank in n eddie vedder groove,shit die ou is geniaal veral sy into the wild sound track…. Ek luister dit gemiddeld twee keer n week
19 @ smallies:
Gladnie sleg nie…
Verbasend om te sien dat die bulls se “director of rugby” ou zander die man kon opraap. Lizo
Gqoboka stands at 1.83m and 115kgs and is a graduate of Ntabankulu High School. He is known for his explosive power and pace, including holding a schoolboy record of running 11.6 in the 100m.
Blixem
grootblousmile wrote:
It’s the Nigerian 419 scam
There are a few websites dedicated to scam bait the scammers
Like 419 eater
http://www.419eater.com/
They pretend to be interested and scam the Nigerian to first deposit money
Or let him pose with a stupid sign
http://www.419eater.com/html/trophy_room.htm
Or even pretend to be a rich woman looking for a man, and then send them photos of a porn star to get the scammer to send his own and then post it online
BrumbiesBoy wrote:
Don’t complain, it could have been a free “losie” for two seasons at Nelson Mandela Stadium to watch the Kings
I wonder what Keo is saying about the Kings now?
He loves Comrade Cheeky and Puke
23 @ Victoriabok:
Ek dink ek moet fake E-Pos adres(se) skep as volg, en die ouens begin bait:
my-bal-jeuk@kort-n-krappie.co.za
dommer-as@potplant.co.za
Maar waar de flok gaan ek nog tyd kry vir die tipe kak en hare ook?
Of ek moet ‘n simpel klein self-extrating zip filetjie skep waarin ek ‘n Batch filetjie sit wat so bietjie kak en marakkas maak.
Dan mail ek dit vir die ouens en sê hulle moet dit oopmaak om my persoonlike details te kry.
Ek het juis so klein cartoon pielletjie in ‘n file – wat as jy daarop click dan jaag die outjie jou muis se curser en agtervolg hom en wanneer hy hom vang, dan BANG hy die arme cursertjie moertoe!
Ek laat eenvoudig die filetjie hom telkemale, onder ‘n ander naam in die PC se Startup inskrywe, deur bietjie met die ou se PC se Registry te voeter!
grootblousmile wrote:
Stuur hom ‘n Word file met jou fake inligting met imbedded virusse
Meer as een sodat jy hom hard moer
@ grootblousmile:
Om hulle te reverse spam week ook lekker
28 @ Victoriabok:
Antivirus Sagteware sal daai tipe ding vang, maar nie ‘n onskuldige ou DOT Reg filetjie met ‘n gemodifyde cursertjie in nie.
Glo my, die ou sal sy PC graag wil oorlaai!
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