SPORT IN THE SA DEFENCE FORCE
The South African Defence Force sees sport and physical training playing positive roles in the physical and mental development of its members, thereby contributing to the SADF's overall efficiency and combat-readiness. There­fore sport participation is seen as an integrated part of SADF training programmes.
The aim of Defence Force Sport is not merely achieve­ments or to break records, but to improve and maintain high standards in sporting facilities and in the general organisation and administration of sport. Today there are few sports in which the SADF does not participate. In most categories a great number of players compete at provincial and international levels.
Sport is dealt with as part of the members' military training and is organised, arranged and controlled by sports councils, committees and clubs. This is done in terms of the principles and rules applicable to amateur sport.
The SADF annually produces its quota of Springboks. Several of its sportsmen and women have been selected for South African invitation teams and crowned as na­tional champions.
Sport is not practised in isolation though, close liaison takes place at club, provincial and national levels with civilian sports bodies. These compete in the relevant provinces' leagues and take part in national champion­ships.
Various members of the SADF hold positions on provincial and national sports bodies.
Members regularly participate in provincial and na­tional sport courses, and sometimes act as instructors. Others serve on the provincial and national bodies' exam­ining boards and are members of their coaches' associa­tions.
SPORT IN DIE SA WEERMAG
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag (SAW) beskou sport en liggaamlike opleiding as aktiwiteite wat 'n positiewe rol in die fisiese en geestelike ontwikkeling van sy lede speel. Sodoende word tot die algehele doeltreffendheid en gevegs-gereedheid van die SAW bygedra. Deelname aan sport word derhalwe as 'n integrerende deel van die SAW se opleidingsprogramme beskou.
Die doel van Weermagsport is nie bloot om rekords te slaan en prestasies te behaal nie, maar om sportfasiliteite te verbeter en 'n hoe peil te handhaaf tot sportfasiliteite en die algemene organisasie en administrasie van sport. Vandag is daar min sportsoorte waarin die SAW geen deel-name het nie. In die meeste sportsoorte ding 'n groot aantal sportmanne en vroue op provinsiale en internasionale vlak mee.
Sport word aangewend as deel van Weermaglede se militere opleiding en word georganiseer, aangebied en beheer deur die sportrade, komitees en klubs. Dit word gedoen ooreenkomstig die beginsels en reels wat op amateursport van toepassing is.
Die SAW lewer elke jaar sy kwota Springbokke. Verskeie Weermagsportmanne en vroue is al vir Suid-Afrikaanse uitnodigingspanne gekies en as nasionale kampioene gekroon.
Sport word egter nie in isolasie beoefen nie. Noue skakeling vind plaas op klub, provinsiale en nasionale vlak met siviele sportliggame. Die SAW se sportliggame ding mee in die provinsiale ligas en nasionale kampioen-skappe.Verskeie lede van die SAW dien in provinsiale en nasionale sportliggame.
Weermagslede woon op 'n gereelde grondslag provin­siale en nasionale sportkursusse by en tree soms as instrukteurs op. Ander dien op die provinsiale en nasio­nale sportliggame se eksamineringsrade en is lede van die liggame se afrigtersverenigings.
Potted Sports In 1939, officers of Voortrekkerhoogte were instructed to create physical recreation facilities for hundreds of sol­diers not engaged in specific sporting events. In 1981, General Jannie Geldenhuys, then Chief of the Army, reintroduced potted sports or "bondelsport" as an active sport. Many people can participate at minimum cost and with little administration. Unlimited numbers take part at different physical levels and in various events.
SADF cycling had a world champion in Wimpie van der Merwe. In the 1986 World Amateur Road Cycling Tour, he took second place, two points behind Belgium's Pierro Cuypers, and in 1987 won the event. Not only did the SADF have its own team in the event, it also had members in other competing teams.
The World famous Comrades Marathon held annually in South Africa, is one of the toughest marathons in the world. In the early years of the race, the SADF had a small entry, but as the race members increased annually more Defence runners took part. As a result their achieve­ments have improved greatly.
The South African climate is particularly suited to water-sport and here the SADF fares well, as many units are stationed at the coast. Surfing, sailing, barefoot water-skiing and lifesavmg are some of the sports where the SADF has produced world champions including Quentin Posthumus and Garry Neimann who won world titles in the ramp and slalom events.
One of the best known SADF competitors in world sport is yachtsman, John Martin, who won two legs of the 1987 BOG Around the World Yacht Race and finished fifth place overall. Martin has been a Springbok for a number of years. He follows in the footsteps of Bertie Reed, one of South Africa's leading seamen.
Bondelsport In 1939 het offisiere by Voortrekkerhoogte opdrag ontvang om fisiese ontspanningsgeriewe te skep vir honderde soldate wat nie aan spesifieke sportsoorte deelneem nie. In 1981 het Lt Genl Jannie Geldenhuys, toe Hoof van die Leer, bondelsport as 'n aktiewe sport ingestel. Baie mense kan teen minimale koste en met min administrasie deel­neem. Onbeperkte getalle neem op verskillende vlakke en in verskillende nommers deel.
SAW fietsry het 'n wereldkampioen in die persoon van Wimpie van der Merwe opgelewer. In die wereldkampioenskapfietstoer vir amateurs van 1986 het hy tweede plek behaal, slegs twee punte na Pierro Cuypers van Belgie. In 1987 het hy die kampioenskaptitel verower. Die SAW het nie alleen sy eie span in die veld gestoot nie, maar selfs lede in ander spanne gehad.
Die al onbekende Comrades-marathon wat jaarliks in Suid-Afrika plaasvind, is een van die taaiste marathons ter wereld. In die eerste jare het min Weermagslede aan die wedloop deelgeneem, maar soos die gewildheid daarvan gegroei het, het die aantal Weermagsinskrywings ook toegeneem. Gevolglik het hul prestasies ook aansienlik verbeter.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse klimaat leen horn tot die beoefening van watersport en in hierdie verband vaar die SAW besonder goed aangesien baie eenhede langs die kus gestasioneer is.
Branderplankry, seiivaart, kaalvoet waterski en lewens-redding is van die sportsoorte waarin die SAW al wereld-kampioene opgelewer het insluitende Quentin Posthumus en Garry Neimann wat wereldtitels in die spring en slalomnommers verower het.
Een van die bekendste Weermagslede in wereldsport is die seiljagvaarder John Martin wat twee dele van die 1987 BOC Around the World Yacht Race gewen en algeheel vyfde geeindig het. Hy is reeds etlike jare lank 'n Spring­bok en volg in die voetspore van Bertie Reed, een van Suid-Afrika se voorste seiljagvaarders.
On the local rugby scene one of the outstanding perfor­mances was given by Pretoria and Cape Town Defence Rugby Clubs in 1987. Eight of the most powerful clubs were invited to take part in the annual SA Club Champi­onships in Durban. The championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the South African Rugby calendar. Cape Town Defence won the trophy, with Pretoria Defence taking fourth place.
In 1987, Cape Town Defence Rugby Club won both major leagues in the Western Province, beating the pow­erful Stellenbosch University (Maties) team, while Preto­ria Defence won another major event, the Carlton Cup.
On the soccer field, the SADF twice won the coveted Soccer Currie Cup Trophy. All provincial teams compete in the Currie Cup Tournament.
Amateur wrestling is one of the strongest sports and the SADF plays a prominent role in National Amateur Wrestling. For years the SADF has produced many Springboks and national champions and won the SA Senior Championships for ten consecutive years. The SADF also has a proud record against overseas teams, here and abroad.
The SADF Men's Hockey Teams have won many minor and major titles in South African Hockey and Pretoria Defence's first team was the 1987 Champion of Champi­ons.
As in rugby, two teams were invited to the national club tournament - Pretoria Defence Club, the winners, and Potchefstroom which took fourth place. The SADF Women's Hockey team won all their matches at the North Festival Hockey Championships. These champi­onships are in the same league as the men's Allied Tournament.
Op die plaaslike rugbytoneel is een van die merkwaardigste rugbyvertonings in 1987 deur die Weermagklubs van Pretoria en Kaapstad gelewer. Agt van die land se sterkste rugbyklubs is genooi om aan die jaarlikse klub-kampioenskapstoernooi in Durban deel te neem. Die kompetisie is een van die prestige-toernooie op die Suid-Afrikaanse rugbykalender. Die Weermagklub van Kaap­stad het die trofee gewen terwyl sy Pretoriase eweknie vierde in die kompetisie geeindig het.
In 1987 het Kaapstad Weermagrugbyklub die twee hoofligas in Westelike Provinsie gewen deur oa die sterk span van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (Maties) te klop. Pretoria Weermagrugbyklub het insgelyks die kom­petisie in Noord-Transvaal om die Carltonbeker gewen.
Die SAW het ook op die sokkerveld presteer en twee maal die gesogte Curriebeker verower. Alle provinsiale spanne neem aan die Curriebekerkompetisie deel.
Amateurstoei is een van die sportsoorte wat heelwat aftrek in die SAW geniet. Die SAW is dan ook prominent in amateurstoei op nasionale vlak. Oor die jare heen het die SAW talle Springbokke en nasionale amateurstoei-kampioene opgelewer. Die SAW het ook vir tien agtereenvolgende jare die SA Senior Kampioenskapstoernooi gewen en spog ook met 'n trotse rekord teen oorsese spanne teen wie hulle in die RSA en buitelands meegeding het.
Die SAW se manshokkiespanne het verskeie titels in Suid-Afrikaanse hokkie ingepalm en Pretoria Weermag se eerste span het in 1987 die Kampioen van Kampioene-kompetisie gewen.
Net soos in rugby is twee Weermagspanne na die nasionale klubtoernooi genooi. Pretoria Weermagklub het die toernooi gewen terwyl die span van Potchef­stroom vierde geeindig het. Die SAW se vrouehokkiespan het tydens die Noordelike Feeshokkiekampioenspanbyeenkoms al hul wedstryde gewen. Hierdie kompetisie word op dieselfde vlak as die mans se Allied-kampioen-skapsreeks aangebied.
Power Lifting Wietz Steyn recently became the new world champion in the men's section while two women, Hannatjie Visser and Maryna de Bruyn, ended runners-up in the women's section during the World championships.
Over the past two decades the SADF has produced several Karate Springboks. The SADF is presently re­garded as one of the strongest karate provinces in the RSA and several SADF Karatika serve as national referees.
In conclusion, there is SADF participation in less well-known sports such as hot air ballooning, kick boxing, polo cross, motocross and speed boating, where you will find members of the SADF wearing their Springbok blazers with pride and glory.
Besides various achievements at national and international level, the SA Defence Force provided 74 Springboks in 21 different sports. Another 32 members won colours as Junior Springboks or were selected as members of invita­tion teams in 11 different sports, while more than 700 members won provincial colours in a total of 63 different sports.
The champion canoeist, 2 Lt Greyling Viljoen, was awarded the title SA Defence Force Sportsman of the Year during a splendid reception at Voortrekkerhoogte. 2 Lt Viljoen, who has already won Springbok colours on eight occasions, was unfortunately unable to attend the function, however, as he was doing duty in the operational area.
Kragoptel Wietz Steyn van die SAW het onlangs die nuwe wereld-kampioen in die mansafdeling vir gewigoptel geword. Twee Weermagsvroue, Hannatjie Visser en Maryna de Bruyn het tydens die Wereldkampioenskappe tweede in hul afdelings gekoni.
Die SAW het in die afgelope twee dekades 'n groot aantal Sprinbokkaratika opgelewer. Tans word dit as een van die sterkste provinsiale spanne in die RSA beskou. Talle Weermagskaratika dien as nasionale skeidsregters.
Ten slotte kan gemeld word dat sportmanne en vroue van die SAW ook deelneem aan minder bekende sportsoorte soos die warmlugballonvliegkuns, skopboks, veldpolo, veldfietswedrenne en kragbootrenne. Ook in hierdie sportsoorte het lede van die SAW al hul Springbokkleure verwerf.
Benewens verskeie hoogtepunte op internasionale en nasionale vlak het die SA Weermag in 21 verskillende sportsoorte 74 Springbokke opgelewer. Verder het 32 lede in 11 verskillende sportsoorte diens gedoen as Junior Spring­bokke, of lede van uitnodigingspanne, terwyl meer as 700 lede in 63 verskillende sportsoorte provinsiale kleure verwerf het.
Die bobaas kanovaarder, 2 Lt. Greyling Viljoen, is tydens 'n prestige geleentheid op Voortrekkerhoogte as die SA Weermag se Sportman van die Jaar bekroon. 2 Lt. Viljoen, wat reeds agt keer Springbokkleure verwerf het, kon egter nie die besondere geleentheid bywoon nie aangesien hy diensverpligtinge in die operasionale gebied gehad het.