{"id":257880,"date":"2020-05-18T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/257880\/simmer-stand-together-through-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2020-05-18T09:52:33","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T07:52:33","slug":"simmer-stand-together-through-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2020\/05\/18\/simmer-stand-together-through-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Simmer stand together through pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

After recruiting a record number of players for the 2020 season, Germiston Simmer Rugby Club was ready to tackle its way through the challenges that lay ahead.<\/p>\n

The season came to an abrupt halt, not only for the club but also for sport as a whole, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>

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The GCN spoke to Louis Britz, co-chairperson of the club, to find out how the club has been affected by the pandemic and lockdown.<\/p>\n

Before heading into lockdown the club\u2019s players, over 120 new and old players, tested their skills at three rugby days.<\/p>

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ALSO READ: Simmer enjoy rugby day wins<\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cWe were performing very well,\u201d said Britz.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe even managed to beat Brakpan\u2019s first and Springs\u2019 first teams and our other teams were also on a winning road, with our third team celebrating an unbroken winning streak.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club was excited for the season that lay ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were very excited to compete this season with our new main sponsor Phakisa Holdings, and the exponential growth of players,\u201d said Britz.<\/p>\n

This excitement, however, was beaten back by the lockdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides not being able to play and practice during lockdown, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a very hard effect on some of our players,\u201d said Britz.<\/p>\n

\u201cA number of the players are currently without an income as they are unable to work.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome have even had to move back to their home towns, while others have had to ask for extra help.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a club, we have done what we can by buying non-perishable food to make up food parcels for the players in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the hardships and uncertainty, the club is able to keep the Simmer team spirit alive through communication.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are fortunate to still have communication with all the players and coaches via our WhatsApp groups, and the men post daily and enjoy making jokes,\u201d said Britz.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Simmer tackle their way into new season<\/a><\/h4>\n

In an ideal world the club\u2019s plans for the year would have seen them moving back into the Pirates Grand Challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would have liked to have grown and developed our players, win the season and compete in the promotion games so that we could move back into the Pirates Grand Challenge,\u201d explained Britz.<\/p>\n

Britz\u2019s message of hope for sportsmen and rugby players who are missing the sport is to stay fit and stay humble.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing each other \u2018tomorrow\u2019 is more important than never seeing each other again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove each other and share happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Germiston Simmer Rugby Club?s first team at the Brakpan Rugby Day held before the Covid-19 lockdown began.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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