Varsity Cup
Ikeys dine with Minister
2011-04-13 21:40
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UCT - 2011 Varsity Cup Champions (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula hosted members of UCT's Varsity Cup-winning side at his maiden budget speech lunch on Wednesday afternoon as the Men from Cape Town continued their post-final celebrations this week.
The Ikeys claimed their first-ever Varsity Cup title by beating Tuks 26-16 in the final in Pretoria on Monday evening and they attended the lunch as guests of Mr Mbalula's in a crowd of about 300 people in all.
Mr Mbalula - who had addressed the National Assembly during debate on his budget vote on Wednesday - decided to invite the Ikeys to his lunch after he had spoken with SARU CEO Jurie Roux, who, of course, is still the Chairman of the Varsity Cup.
UCT Rugby Football Club President Dugald Macdonald, Rugby Manager Gavin Sheldon, head coach Kevin Foote and team manager Lisa Brown were joined by players Nick Fenton-Wells (captain), Wes Chetty, Don Armand and Adrian Kritzinger, with Mbalula having congratulated UCT on their win during his maiden budget speech.
After the lunch, which was also attended by - amongst others - former Proteas star Makhaya Ntini and the national netball team, Mr Mbalula posed for a photo with the elated UCT contingent.
"It was a big honour and we all enjoyed the experience," said head coach Foote afterwards.
"Mr Mbalula spoke brilliantly about us, and to us, and it was a most enjoyable experience (for all of us). He congratulated us on our win and told us that he had watched the final with some interest."