Latest news with #VanStaden
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Rassie Erasmus, Springboks stoke the fire ahead of second Italy Test
FILE - Flanker Marco van Staden says the Springboks have trained with good intensity ahead of the second Test against Italy. Image: Backpagepix It seems like Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff have turned up the heat at training over the past few days ahead of the Springboks' second Test against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday. The Springboks looked like deers in the headlights at times in the second half of the first Test in Pretoria, as the second-string Italians matched them in the physicality department and even dominated the breakdown. To add insult to injury, Italy also overpowered the Boks during a second-half maul which resulted in a try. And, if it wasn't for the Boks fantastic start in the first half, the final scoreline of 42-24 could have been a lot closer. Flank Marco van Staden, one of the few players to retain his place in the starting side from the first Test, hinted that their training sessions since the first Test have been rather tasty. The Springboks training sessions are brutal at the best of times, as they approach it with Test intensity. Basically, it's a case of "if we can handle our own intensity, then whatever the opposition brings won't scare us". Van Staden expects Italy to deliver another fiery performance, especially at the breakdowns, where they managed to disrupt the Springboks' momentum. But the Boks plan to turn up the Nelson Mandela Bay furnace even more on Saturday. 'They showed last week what intensity they can play with, and we know that performance would have given them confidence, so we are prepared for another big battle this weekend,' Van Staden said. 'They place a big emphasis on the breakdowns last week and did well to disrupt us in that department, so we have to get it right this week to deliver a good performance. 'That said, the intensity of our training sessions this week were good, and I believe it prepared us well for the weekend. One thing's for sure, we know where we need to improve, and we've been working on that.' The Springboks also want to put in a top performance to give Willie le Roux a proper gift on the occasion of his 100th Test match in the green and gold. Veteran fullback Le Roux will become the eighth Springbok to play a century of Test matches when he runs out against Italy in Gqeberha.
Daily Maverick
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
André van Staden: Celebrating four decades of transformative leadership in education
From Gqeberha's classrooms to the rich tradition of Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, André van Staden leaves a powerful legacy as a passionate educator. The former Pearson principal and Grey High teacher reflects on guiding children toward their best futures. In the 1980s, as a young novice teacher André van Staden taught Afrikaans at prestigious Grey High School in Gqeberha, then Port Elizabeth. This would hone his insight into the minds of his pupils, a sensitivity that no doubt propelled his four-decade career. From an Afrikaans home himself, Van Staden describes tutoring language as a privilege: 'When you teach a language, you know the soul of the kids you are teaching. Marking their essays and listening to their orals, you've really got the privilege to know their inner thoughts.' For this interview, Van Staden is speaking inside his wood-panelled rector's office at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch — a space he will relinquish to his successor, Jannie de Villiers, at the close of the second term on 27 June 2025. Asked to point out an item of special significance in this space, Van Staden does not hesitate: a photograph taken at the school's 150-year anniversary in 2016, a year before he commenced his tenure. 'Look here,' he says, index finger hovering as he names the faces: 'Dr Edwin Hertzog (former Mediclinic chairperson); Wim de Villiers (former Stellenbosch University vice-chancellor); Portchie (the artist); Etienne van Heerden (award-winning author); Koos Kombuis (poet and novelist); Jan Braai (recipe author); Waldimar Pelser (former editor and MultiChoice channel director); Tshotsho Mbovane (rugby player and coach); Hendrik Odendaal (freestyle relay medallist); Johann Rupert (chairperson of Richemont and Remgro) …' He adds: 'So you see, there is no mould to the successes of Paul Roos kids.' Balance During the course of our conversation his reflections often pivot around 'balance' — between academic, sporting and cultural achievements — while also bearing on pupils whose talents fall beyond conventional metrics. Once a week at assembly he acknowledges and credits accordingly, he says, finding time to congratulate participants beyond the top teams. Opening a lever-arch file, Van Staden turns through printed notes and photos. 'Now you know my secret,' he says, conspiringly. 'I write out my assemblies. Because you must remember, in a busy school of nearly 1,300 boys you've got only once a week to talk to them and it's important to give recognition across all spheres, even if it's a smaller achievement — that child wants some recognition.' These notes are projected as slides during assembly, he says, pausing to indicate recorded rugby results for both the Under-19 A and G teams. 'And of course we can't always show all the results, but then we make sure to include a photo of a lower team. 'And soon, the kids feel that they represent the school, it doesn't matter whether they are in the A or G team. Not all people are super talented at everything. But that kid can go home and say: 'Well, today when they showed the rugby results in assembly, our team photo was up there!' Sometimes teachers miss that, that kids say these types of things at the dinner table to their parents.' Of course, Paul Roos has a formidable rugby reputation, again cemented when they triumphed 36-3 over Grey College from Bloemfontein at the highly anticipated annual interschools clash in August last year. 'That was special,' says Van Staden. 'Definitely our best performance ever against them.' Van Staden is popular in rugby circles, with blog describing him as a 'Winelands powerhouse' and a 'likeable leader'. Leaning towards balance, Van Staden details other sporting highs: 'Many people don't know that most years we have the best tennis team in the country. This year, in golf the SA High Schools Championship is still coming up, but we definitely stand a good chance of being number one. Also, what people don't always see is that we were number two in hockey last year.' Musically, we are exploding. Discussing the school's choir consisting of 120 pupils, his face lights up: 'That's nearly 10% of our school, I mean when they walk onto the stage the stream of maroon blazers is just never-ending.' He adds that Paul Roos has built up an orchestra of 50 boys, 'so musically, we are exploding.' Furthermore he points out the school's strong academics, with a 99.6 % pass rate in the 2024 matric exams (230 out of 231 candidates passed). Van Staden's versatility was exemplified at Pearson High School, also in Gqeberha, where he served as principal from 2004 until 2017 (and as deputy head since 1995). Infrastructure additions under his leadership included a heated Olympic-sized water-polo pool, floodlit AstroTurf, the Eve Alexander Music Auditorium, new academic wings, a science laboratory, a gym and a sports pavilion. 'It was a small school at the end of the city,' he says. 'And we really changed it to the school of choice in Port Elizabeth. Actually it was a major success story, we used to have a numbers problem and worked extremely hard, and today Pearson is flourishing.' Leaving Pearson to take up at Paul Roos in 2017 was hard: 'I was at Pearson for 22 years, so then it's difficult to leave. And there was a temptation to stay there until I retired. The school becomes your baby.' He truly cares about people and makes people feel special and supported. English and History teacher Jayd Georgiades' voice grows tearful while recalling Van Staden appointing her at Pearson in 2015: 'He truly cares about people and makes people feel special and supported,' she says. Georgiades first met Van Staden a year earlier when she was a student netball coach at Diocesan School for Girls, Makhanda. After a series of netball matches at Pearson, she was struck by the neatly attired man cleaning up: 'I was walking around the campus trying to find the bibs and the balls to put on the bus so we could go back to (what was then called) Grahamstown. And this gentleman came up and started helping me, very professional looking in a blazer and tie. I didn't know it at the time, but it was Mr Van Staden. And as the principal, he would stay long after everyone had gone, making sure there was no litter, that the tables and chairs were packed away. And he helped me pack up, as a member of the opposing team.' In his office at Paul Roos, Van Staden is seated on the visitor's side of his large mahogany-hued desk. 'Saturday is a very important working day for me,' he says. 'I love spending time watching all the teams, including the lower teams, achieve. I really get energy from that.' He adds that Paul Roos has 140 staff including 75 full time teachers, with plenty of tasks including the coaching of certain sports, facilities maintenance, and more, outsourced: 'A school is a special place but I always say this, you have to drive it because it's a big business, too. I mean we are a school of over a R100-million budget per year.' Commenting on teaching values to youngsters in light of recent events such as Stellenbosch University residence Wilgenhof's closure late last year, he says: 'I think you have to carefully guide boys on what's acceptable. And that's a process and you really have to sell to them: with what's not acceptable you have to draw the line and say, no, that can't happen. I always say to the boys: we must not lose what's precious to us because of the mistakes that we make.' Van Staden is married to Adia, who retired from teaching at Paul Roos last year. Their sons are Quintin, a medical doctor specialising in haematology in Bloemfontein, and Kurt, an actuary, who lives in Stellenbosch. Currently the couple live on the school's premises at the foot of Stellenbosch Mountain. Van Staden says they will remain in the Boland town after he retires. He will continue working in project management in education — but not at Paul Roos. 'I think, especially at the beginning, I will give (Jannie de Villiers) space. And I think to myself, the fact that I'm leaving after eight years does not mean that my affection and my heart will not always be here. I'm still truly passionate about kids. And it's a special school in a very special town. I'm definitely not tired, you know.' Former colleagues and Boland schooling executives will attend Van Staden's official farewell on Thursday, 26 July. Notably, De Villiers from Ermelo also started out as an Afrikaans language teacher. He has served as head of the Diocesan School for Girls in Makhanda since 2020. DM
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Fathers and sons bond at ‘Knipmes' braai
With Father's Day around the corner, Laerskool Totiusdal held a special Knipmes braai for fathers and sons this weekend, accommodating more than 600 attendees. 'Knipmes' refers to a pocket knife used to cut the braai meat right from the grill. Fathers and sons alike had several grills and smokers to choose from different meats. Games, raffles, stalls and competitions were among the activities at the braai this weekend, the second annual braai held at the school. Deputy Principal of Laerskool Totiusdal, Stefan van Staden, said the braai not only serves as a fundraising event for the school but also provides a bonding experience for fathers and sons. 'Last year we had about 300 people and 13 sheep, and this year it was about 600 and 19 sheep on the spit braai. We'd like to thank our sponsors, the men who came out to help today and the community as well. We can't thank them enough for the support they give to the school,' Van Staden said. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for more events that the school will be hosting throughout the rest of the year. The next event is a mother-daughter night. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls focus on winning attitude ahead of Cardiff clash
The Bulls have a chance to catch up to second-placed Glasgow on the URC table with their match against Cardiff this weekend. The Bulls say they plan to maintain their positive mental game and skillset strengths as they prepare for a tough clash against Welsh side Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (kick-off 4pm). The Bulls sit third on the URC log after their 26–19 win against Glasgow two weeks ago. They are in a good position to steal the second spot from the Scottish team (one point ahead), who have tricky final matches away to Benetton and URC leaders Leinster. But fifth-placed Cardiff aren't easy opponents, coming from two wins in their last matches against Munster and Ospreys. They have had mixed results so far this season, both at home and away, but are known to be able to turn up on the day. When the teams clash at Loftus, Cardiff will be eying a difficult but not-impossible move up to fourth place so they can host a quarter-final. Cardiff come with belief 'I think they are going to come to Loftus with intent. They are going to come with the belief to win,' said Bulls loose forward Marco van Staden. 'Cardiff has had a very good season. We are expecting it to be a very big battle. We are not expecting anything less.' He said the Bulls would carry their confidence and momentum from a stellar month-long tour in Europe where they beat Bayonne, Munster and Glasgow – the latter two being the URC winners over the past two years. 'I think our attitude was very good against Munster and Glasgow. I think we'll just go with that same attitude in the next two games and the play-offs. 'No matter if the occasion changes, we still have to play the way we train and the way we've been playing the whole season…. We want to play without the pressure of the occasion.' Bulls draw strength from each other, their families Van Staden in fact missed the Munster game to be with his wife for the birth of their second daughter. He said being on such a long tour away from one's family can be difficult, but the Bulls have created a culture where they draw strength from each other and the support of their loved ones. 'A lot of the guys have children and it makes it a bit more difficult but I think is everyone is very happy and looking forward to the next few weeks at Loftus. 'Our motivation is just playing for each other. That is something that doesn't change week to week. We decided to play for each other, fight for each other, fight for the players not on tour, fighting for the players on tour that are not playing, fighting for our families. 'We as a group have created a bigger 'why' for us. That is something we will carry forward for the remainder of this competition.'
