Bruce Fowler from the Southern African Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK) is inviting all Springbok rugby supporters in Hong Kong to watch Victor Matfield celebrate his 100th Rugby Test today (Saturday August 28, 2010).

The Blue Bulls’ Matfield will become only the third-ever Springbok Rugby player to achieve this milestone after John Smit last week (number 2) and Western Province’s Percy Montgomery (number 1).

The Springboks will play Australia in their penultimate Tri-Nations Test at Loftus Verfeld later today.

South Africans in Hong Kong are urged to head to the ironically Aussie-themed WoolooMooloo Restaurant in Central.

WoolooMooloo is also the workplace of Bruce’s girlfriend so needless to say happy hour prices will probably prevail.   Just turn up will you?!

Tri-Nations Rugby: South Africa vs Australia

Saturday, 28th August at 11pm.

WoolooMooloo Steakhouse, Ground Floor, Onfem Tower, 29 Wyndham Street, Central.

Bok Centurion No.3 with Number 1 Percy Montgomery

The Springboks will take on the might of the New Zealand All Blacks during a historic rugby test at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Bruce Fowler from the Southern African Association of Hong Kong (SAAHK) invites all Saffas to join them at WoolooMooloo in Central.  The test will be broadcast at around midnight (1 hour delay).

In addition to the fact that history will be made with the first-ever rugby test being played in a township, some other milestones will/may be reached on Saturday:

* Springbok captain John Smit is set to become only the second South African to play in 100 Test matches when he leads the Boks onto the field

* Should John score a try, he will equal the Springbok record for most tries in tests as a hooker

* John will be playing in his 26^th Vodacom Tri-Nations test as captain, the most capped captain in the tournament.

* This will be the first Test match at this venue since the stadium’s completion in 1988. For the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament the stadium was known as Soccer City

* This test will be the 81st between South Africa and New Zealand and the 34th Vodacom Tri-Nations test between them

* South Africa’s Vodacom Tri-Nations record against New Zealand is: Played 33; Won 10; Lost 23. Tries scored 60 and tries conceded 84.

* Victor Matfield will play his 23rd test against New Zealand, the most capped Springbok against New Zealand. This test will also be his 40th Tri-Nations test, the third most capped player in the tournament with George Gregan (48) and George Smith (41) being the top two players.

* Bryan Habana needs one try to become South Africa’s most prolific try scorer in tests. Bryan currently shares the record with Joost van der Westhuizen with 38 test tries. Bryan will become the most capped Springbok wing (63) in this test.

Our sister-site, BlitzBokke.com made the following tribute video to Bok Skipper John Smit.  The video was subsequently featured on Sport24.co.za:

The Canny Man‘s posters all read “An oasis in WanChai” but I personally like the one I saw on a video today:

“A football-free zone.”

OK, so South Africa just recently hosted a very successful football World Cup but man… a month of football is probably as much football as I can take!  Truth be told, I’ve probably seen enough round-ball “action” to last me till the next World Cup.  Which is probably a good thing, what with the RUGBY WORLD CUP in Zealand looming in 2011.

I am currently teaching a bridging course for new Secondary 1 students in Lok Fu and one of my colleagues is none other than the former Hong Kong rugby captain Semi Iafeta.  Apologies to Semi, but I didn’t recognise him until I did a bit of “research” online today.  However, in my defense Semi, your hair used to be a lot longer!  Like most international rugby boys here in Hong Kong, Semi Iafeta is a semi-professional who makes his living teaching in Hong Kong.

Semi Iafeta with ball in hand, playing for Hong Kong

It seems that the big Number 8 is also quite the video producer, having produced the video about The Canny Man I mentioned earlier:

I am starting this category off with a young man from my “hood”… the Cape Flats of South Africa’s Mother City:

Cape Town.

His FaceBook Profile reads (sic):

Im a crazy guy who loves making muziq…thats right im a MUZO!  Its in my bones and i cant shake it…  Im a nomad,gypsy whateva you wanna call it…

Im Proudly South African…But now live wheva i can set up a stage!

Charl “BabyBoy” Pilwan is probably most known by those of you who used to frequent a quaint champagne bar in Central’s SoHo district called Soiree.

When I first got to know Charl, he was part of the resident band at Soiree called Choklit Soul comprising of Charl and Denver Damons from Cape Town as well as Rickie from Indonesia.

While the outfit has since disbanded with the departure (from Hong Kong) of Denver and Rickie, Charl Pilwan is very much partying up a storm, these days as part of a musical outfit playing at various party venues around Macao including the world-famous Venetian.

Choklit Soul’s Rickie, Denver and Charl partying up a storm at Soiree (Pic: Mike Jansen)

While they played mostly covers at Soiree, Choklit Soul has since recorded a successful album of original songs in Hong Kong.  Here is Charl singing their song “My Home” included in the Choklit Soul CD.  The video is made up of footage of his recent trip back home:

My Home. Charl & Zoe Pilwan on a recent trip back home to Cape Town.

Zoe & Charl atop Table Mountain with Camps Bay in the background (Pic: FaceBook)

Musical rebel with a Cause: Charl Pilwan and his Missus Zoe (Pic: FaceBook)

Here is a more recent video clip of Charl with an outfit he performed with at Soiree called The Mark Chapil Project:

The Mark Chapil Project consisted of Charl on vocals, Troy (hidden) on keyboards, Fernando on drums and guest artist Michal on trumpet.

Check out more of the Mark Chapil Project in England here

Charl Pilwan singing “No Woman,No Cry” here

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South Africa, and indeed Cape Town has so many talented, experienced and highly trained musicians and artists.  Unfortunately, their ability to perform and make a living is very limited and many of them choose to seek employment abroad.  This is a record of those musicians and singers who chose Hong Kong as their home-away-from-home.

For the love of Music.

If you liked this post about Charl Pilwan PLEASE nominate this blog:

One of my favourite hang-outs when I’m in the mood for some big-band jazz and a couple of big beers (not necessarily in that order) can be found in one of Tsim Sha Tsui’s food-districts: Ned Kelly’s Last Stand in Ashley Road.

In December 2011 Ned Kelly’s Last Stand will celebrate it’s 40th Anniversary.  During this time, the entertainment business being what it is here in Hong Kong and indeed anywhere in the world, Ned Kelly’s Last Stand has become a true Hong Kong institution that is known and fondly remembered by patrons all over the world.

The small stage precariously perched on one side of the venue has hosted numerous bands over the years.  These include: Sergio Mendez Band, Jimmy Rogers, Kenny Ball & His Jazzband, Winifred Atwell, Rosemary Clooney, Kay Starr, Matt Monroe, Charlie Barnet, Bob Wilber, The Imelda May Band, Kenny Martyn, The Tom Jones Band and many others.

These days, bandleader Colin Aitchison and the Colin Aitchison & The China Coast Jazzmen is responsible for entertaining the fans and the five or six musicians who do duty every evening do a grand job of entertaining the packed crowds who swarm in every evening around 9pm.

Ned Kelly’s Last Stand is open daily from 11h30 to 2am. and the live Dixieland jazz daily starts from 9:30pm until around 1am.

It serves Australian fare, including juicy pork sausages with mashed potatoes and onion gravy; beef stew; fish and chips; Australian sirloin steak; Irish stew; hamburgers; and cottage pie (baked bowl of minced beef, onions, vegetables, and mashed potatoes).

How they manage to feed and entertain so many hungry and thirsty patrons in such a small venue is beyond me, but who cares?  They do a damn fine job!

Happy Hour is from 11:30am to 9pm, with reduced prices.

(Pictures below: Mike Jansen)

Here’s a taste of Ned Kelly’s Dixieland Jazz band, courtesy of alblurt06 on YouTube:

Additional video clips of Ned Kelly’s Last Stand/The China Coast Jazzmen can be found here

Find Ned Kelly’s Last Stand here:

View Larger Map

(Additional picture of Ned Kelly’s Last Stand/The China Coast Jazzmen courtesy of Colin Aitchison on FaceBook)

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, in conjunction with the Royal Overseas League Hong Kong (ROSL) would like you to join them at the residence of Ms Tembi Tambo (SA Consul-General) for a performance by the legendary PJ Powers.

Powers last appeared at The Fringe Club in Central in 2008 after which she promised to return to Hong Kong.  If you missed her then, this is your chance to catch her performing live right here in the SAR.

Come and watch the sun set whilst enjoying a glass of wine and canapes.  You can also try your luck at a lucky draw to win some exciting prizes.

Venue: South African Consul General’s Residence: House 10, 74 Mt Kellett Rd, The Peak

Time: 18:30 – 21:30 Date: Saturday 31 July 2010

Cost: HK 380 members or HK 450 non-members

All the information about registration and payment options can be found here

Bafana Bafana may have made a graceful exit from the 2010 World Cup, but the Gees (Spirit) around the biggest sporting event in the world is far from over.

Roger Chan at Sheffied Ltd. informed us that they have supplied Langham Place in Monkok with enough South African wine to last until way after the tournament ends.

Now you can watch your favourite team play in the World Cup in the luxury that only Langham Place offers, with FREE-FLOWING South African wine nogal!

Here’s all you need to know:

This is where you can find Langham Place:
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My pal Kevin over at the Canny Man loves his footy.

His establishment, in the basement of the Wharney Guandong Hotel in Wan Chai is also one of the local watering holes that stock our very own Castle Lager Beer.

If you haven’t heard, or if you’ve been locked up by the PLA at their headquarters on Hong Kong Island for the last 2 weeks, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana national team plays France in a crunch-match in Port Elizabeth tonight. (Tuesday June 22, 10pm)

Bafana Bafana (or The Boys) has to win this game convincingly and hope that the other game between Mexico and Uruguay also go their way, in order for them to stay in the tournament.  If not (and it’s a very possible NOT) the South African team will become the first-ever host nation to be eliminated in the first round of a World Cup.

Back to Wan Chai.  The Canny Man is offering a free Castle Lager if you join them for the game (kick-off 10pm).  They will also be giving away bottles of Rooiberg Brut sparkling wine whenever Bafana Bafana scores.  If not they will raffle it.

Contact Kevin or any of the staff at The Canny Man on 2861 1935 to book a table.  Directions to The Canny Man can be found here

The Bulls beat the Stormers by 25-17 to claim their third Super 14 trophy in their historic final at the Orlando stadium.  About 25 South Africans and friends gathered at Wooloomooloo Restaurant in Wyndham Street, Lan Kwai Fong to watch the historic match in Soweto.

Except for one lone excited Bulls fan, the atmosphere at Wooloomooloo was a tad subdued as the Bulls raced to an early lead in the historic match.  Needless to say, most of those in attendance are staunch Stormers supporters.

Wooloomooloo will be showing all the 2010 Football World Cup games.  Contact Raymond Lacdang at the Wyndham Street branch for more details.  They can also cater for group events.

Cheers to Bruce Fowler for making the arrangements at Wooloomooloo.

    Proudly Bulls! (Pic: Mike Jansen)

     Some of the Saffa crowd at Wooloomooloo last night (Pic: Mike Jansen)

    Anxious moments at Wooloomooloo (Pic: Mike Jansen)

    Well-known horse trainer Tony Millard (left) wasn’t very impressed (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Late last year, we received an e-mail from Gustav Preller, a South African businessman in a previous life who has now turned to writing.  Gustav penned Icarus over Hong Kong and will be introducing his first novel to audiences in Hong Kong next month.

Preller, the grandson of Gustav Preller, one of the originators of the Afrikaans language, was born in Cape Town into a well known South African literary and artistic family. After an international career in business he has now turned his hand to writing.

Icarus over Hong Kongis set in Durban and Hong Kong and relates the story of a fall of an investment banker who lived the high-life in, amongst other, the city that we call home.  In it rookie trader Rorke Summers flies too high. High stakes, high bonuses, high living – in Hong Kong and Macau he is seduced by them all. He is caught up in triangles of passion, betrayal and death. And in the most feared triangle of all: that of the Chinese triads.

Pegasus Publishers has the following in their website:

Icarus Over Hong Kong

by Gustav Preller

Pages: 286

Imprint: Vanguard Press

ISBN: 978184386507 0

Was there no one who could help him? So many people, so orderly out in the sun, but he might as well have been alone deep inside Mrs Song’s alleyway. The blade would find him. He’d lie bleeding in the heat and the man would simply melt away.

Like the mythical young Icarus, rookie trader Rorke Summers flies too high. High stakes, high bonuses, high living – in Hong Kong and Macau he is seduced by them all. He is caught up in triangles of passion, betrayal, and death. And in the triangle most feared in the East: that of the Chinese triads.

All the while, on the trading floor, Rorke has to cope with his unrelenting job under the watchful eye of his boss, Quinn.

Will he find the middle way or will he meet the fate of Icarus? And whom does he choose: Vicky, the girl of his dreams back home, seductive Kristin, or the exotic Ling?

Icarus over Hong Kong moves at a fast pace between the trading floor, the casinos of Macau and the teeming streets of HongKong, exposing the money-driven world of investment banking as well as the dark world which exists beneath Hong Kong’s glittering veneer.

Bruce Fowler of the SA Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK) has kindly arranged for Gustav Preller to introduce his first novel to audiences in Hong Kong, as well as giving a talk about the time he spent in Hong Kong and how it inspired him to write this book.  He will also talk about his transition from a corporate life to the “lonely life” of a writer.

Catch Gustav Preller at The Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) on Friday 25th February 2010

I picked up my copy of Icarus over Hong Kong at Bookazine at the Central Ferry Pier (HK$139.00)  My missus is very into Malcolm Gladwell these days so, as soon as I finish all 4 of his books (Eish!) I will get stuck into Icarus Over Hong Kong.

Belowe.