May is just that month that’s the ultimate crescendo for sports fans as things have percolated over the last few months brewing what is ultimately the final weeks of a soccer season, this usually gives birth to the acme of a sporting fanatics’ glee as the tussles and tug of wars give rewards to the respective champions. Even if some of the leagues were already decided the month still wouldn’t fail cause the finals the UEFA usually take place during this time. This past one though was a humdinger packed with juicy sporting to beguile even the most staunch sporting apathetic.
As we get passed the 100 days till the IRB Rugby World Cup mark the pre-tournament gambit adverts are airing and we are reminded of how the gargantuan sporting monster will soon usurp other activities. Coinciding with this waiting period is the 200+ days till the new 3-series (F30) is revealed. A grandiose sporting event plus its sporting figures plus a grandiose car company came together to bring a grandiose advert showcasing all of these. The advert gives one almost as much anticipation as the “Planet of the Apes” advert that was prominent during the last World Cup campaign.
Till then though we are still enchanted by Super Rugby which is proving to be one of the most impressive campaigns South African teams have put up collectively. The tournament has had some enthralling photo finishes leaving us only helpless to want more and the freshness some of the stochastic results have brought makes one want to invest more and more emotions into the gamble. All this is great unless you are a Blue Bulls fan, The euphoria of yesteryears has taken a back seat as other South African contingents seem to have pulled up their socks and are showing a little more muscle than they have shown in previous installments. South Africans fans have been delighted to see the Lions and Cheetahs registering some upsets while the Stormers are leading the SA pack. A pugnacious win over the Blues restored some confidence when all was starting to look a bit pear shaped following losses to the Crusaders and Chiefs. A converted penalty kick from Quaid Cooper determined the result between the Reds and Crusaders at the Suncorp as 450000+ fans watched on. It was one of the games that could have gone either way but it was always inevitable that the deficit between the two teams wouldn’t surmount 4 but Reds had more on a day when an intercepted Dan Carter drop kick could have so easily decided the score line. He did get a penalty that he easily converted to give his side a momentary lead in the dying minutes of the game but it wasn’t enough. The playoffs will soon be underway and it would be quite sad if the Blue Bulls didn’t make it but permutations will their fate as they could still make it.
Pirates have been running rampant and not only Jack Sparrow’s men in pursuit of the fountain of youth but the PSL also seems to be on stranger tides as it is not in Pretoria. Pirates after a 7 year drought of the League have managed to step up to the plate or can one say 3 plates as they completed a treble. Pirates are once again Happy People but one has to commend how the PSL has had photo finishes in the last 4 years. Seems the league the PSL title is following Dane Klate as he has won it 4 years in a row.
Even more prolific is Gerard Pique who has won back to back champions leagues and league titles with Man Utd and Barcelona in 2008 and 2009. He met his old teammates for the second time in 3 years in the finals of the Champions League as they tore Man Utd’s pride to smithereens with a 3-1 victory as they once again showed how peerless they are in European club football. If you are going to be playing one of the best teams in Europe and have 70% possession of the ball then you really mean busniess especially when you scoring the calibre of goals that the Catalans showcased on the day but it could have been bigger score line on a day when Man Utd were ordinary.
The Chennai Super Kings have managed to repeat last years’ fate and win the IPL against one-man side Royal Challengers Bangalore. After Chris Gayle was caught for a duck it was likely that it would all go downhill for Bangalore. Unlike the likes of Lonwabo Tsotsobe on twitter Gayle has been doing his talking on the field and has scored 600+ runs in 12 matches. Chennai had a 150 run opening stand which bolstered their attempts of retaining the IPL title and they didn’t look back.
