Central Gauteng ready for Limpopo onslaught at SA IPT
Defending champions Central Gauteng are expecting to come under attack from Limpopo in Monday’s first round of the South African Inter Provincial, sponsored by Tempest Car Hire, at Port Elizabeth Golf Club.
“We know Limpopo want to beat us on Monday and we expect them to come out guns blazing,” said team manager, Jock Wellington.
“The guys earned a hard-fought promotion last year. They will want to prove they belong in the A-Section. Beating us in their first match will do that, and it will sound a warning to the other teams.”
But Wellington has faith that his young charges, including four new caps, are up for the task.
“Last year we surprised a lot of people who through the team was just too young to fear. Just because the tournament is being played at the coast, they could be underestimating us again.
“We are as ready as can be expected. Our boys have had three good practice sessions and playing well as a unit. We stand a strong chance of retaining the title. We just need to have a solid start from the start, to get the momentum going.”
In the other A-Section matches, neighbours Western Province and Boland – respective winners in 2008 and 2010 – will go head-to-head in the first round of morning foursomes and afternoon singles, while 2009 winners KwaZulu-Natal will do battle with last year’s runners-up, Gauteng North.
Another great battle is expected between Eastern Province, Free State & Northern Cape and the relegated Southern Cape side in the B-Section.
Although Eastern Province captain Naldo Claassen thinks the seven B-Section teams are evenly matched, he considers Southern Cape a threat.
“We won’t discount any of the teams, but we do believe Southern Cape has more of an agenda to win because they had a taste of the A-Division for the last two years,” he said.
“We believe they need to be taken seriously this week, but we are ready to face the firing line.”
EP veteran Mzuyanda Zingela believes this side can emulate the 2003 team that won promotion in 2003.
“The team has prepared very well for this week,” said Zingela on the eve of his 21st IPT.
“We have a nice mix between experience and youth, we know the course and we can handle the wind. In fact, the forecast is calling for wind to pump on Monday and if it does, we will strike hard and get our momentum going.
“Our end goal this week is to gain promotion, but to get there, we’ll take it match by match, day by day. ”
Border will have a first round bye and North West will do battle with Ekurhuleni and Mpumalanga in the B-Section.
Click on the relevant section to get draws/results and log:
A Section B Section