Gwijo Squad partnered with Klipdrift Brandy to express themselves through igwijo. It has been a harmonious collaboration.

Behind-the-scenes

Our studio was booked and we had a few willing members who had put up their hands and had a few hours to spare into putting together the project with Klipdrift Brandy.
Happy faces arrived at the studio in time to get a summary of how the afternoon would roll-out.
Voices were warmed up and it was time to take to the microphones in the soundproofed room, with the sound engineer taking full control.
Our camera operator was able to take some great shots of the team in action.
It was a wrap once all the vocals were laid down and the team was happy with the work done over the hours.

The final production

Click on the below links to watch the full video and share it with your friends and family.
YouTube 
Facebook

Uthuleleni Mawande’s lyrics

Umhlabeli: Wen’ uthuleni?
Squad: Uthuleleni Mawande?
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwazi.
(Repeats after each verse)

Umhlabeli: mna ndinguJalamba
Squad: ndinguJalamba, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.
Umhlabeli: mna ndinguMthimkulu
Squad: ndinguMthimkulu, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.

Umhlabeli: mna ndinguMaduna
Squad: ndinguMaduna, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.
Umhlabeli: mna ndingumamTolo
Squad: ndingumamTolo, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.

Umhlabeli: mna ndingumamZotho
Squad: ndingumamZotho, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.
Umhlabeli: mna ndinguJikijwa
Squad: ndinguJikijwa, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.

Umhlabeli: thina singamaZizi
Squad: singamaZizi, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.
Umhlabeli: rona re baKoni
Squad: re baKoni, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.

Umhlabeli: rona re baKwena
Squad: re baKwena, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.
Umhlabeli: thina singoGatsheni
Squad: singoGatsheni, mamela.
Umhlabeli: I’m sorry sis’
Squad: I’m sorry sisi, ndiyakwaz’.

Siyaziqhenya ngemvelaphi yethu. Nani, khanizazise, ningamani?

Don’t forget to share the gwijo with your friends and family. Let’s get everyone involved.

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The results from our first quiz

Too much fun was had at the first online quiz.
Over 28 teams participated and it lasted just over 2 hours. It felt like we had gone out for the evening. The banter in the comments session was unmatched!

The quiz consisted of picture rounds, sports orientated questions, a special music round as well as the popular girl and boy school trivia round.
In the end, The Olympians took top honour and won the quiz by one point to The FE Males. The Hounds and the Teddy came in a close 3rd place.
Who will be victorious at our next online quiz?

A huge thank you to our special guests who participated in our first-ever online quiz: Makhaya Ntini, Babalwa Latsha, Zintle Ndawonde, Ricky Schroeder, Gcobani Bobo and Temba Bavuma. 

Another huge thank you to the Braai Army who got involved and co-posted the quiz on their platform.

How to get involved

The online quiz will be hosted on the Gwijo Squad YouTube channel, as opposed to it being hosted on the Facebook page. This will give those that don’t have a Facebook account to participate as well.
It’s as easy as going onto the Gwijo Squad YouTube channel and playing along.

You have a week to get your team ready, brush up on that general knowledge, and get ready to take on the current winning team, The Olympians.

Let’s beat the lockdown blues, and have fun with family and friends, with a glass of pineapple beer (or something) in hand.

The post The Great Gwijo Squad Online Quiz returns appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

Our Facebook live quiz will focus on general knowledge questions.

What to expect

You can expect to have tons of fun with your friends.
The quiz will be a great challenge for all levels and abilities. There will be sporting questions, identify the pictures and of course, a very special music round.
Brush up on your rugby, netball and cricket knowledge. There will also bonus trivia on South African girl and boy schools.

How to sign up

The quiz will be free for everyone who wants to participate and will be streamed on the Gwijo Squad Facebook page.
There will be a special score sheet supplied and only allocated team leaders, for each team, will be asked to submit it.

Score sheets will be available on the day of the quiz.

How do you form a team?

It’s super easy to form a team. All you have to do is gather your friends, start a Zoom meeting or Whatsapp call on the side, to discuss your answers as a team, but all tune onto the Facebook live stream.
It can be just yourself in a team, or you and the people you are in lockdown with at home as well. Make the right choice and get your team together sooner rather than later.
Teams will also get an opportunity to take a photo/screenshot of their team, and tweet it using #GwijoSquadOnlineQuiz 
What a vibe.

What is required?

Each team member is required to watch the live stream on Facebook to be able to hear the questions.
Absolutely no googling of answers is allowed. It just spoils the fun.

Let’s beat the lockdown blues and have fun as a family online, hopefully with a beer in hand (left hand).

The post The Gwijo Squad online quiz appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

Here are the latest updates

Proposed Annual General Meeting

An AGM had been proposed to be held during the months of March/April but due to the national lockdown, it will have to be postponed to another date in the year, when it is deemed safe by the government.

Gwijo Squad get-together/braai

The committee was looking forward to hosting a classic Gwijo Squad get-together, where the family welcomes any new members, and where all the members get a chance to catch up in Gwijo Squad style.
Unfortunately, the festivities had to be put on hold due to the outbreak.
But of course, entertainment vibes won’t be scratched off the list… The plans have been placed on ice and when the time is right, the plans will be thawed and the festivities will be enjoyed.

Our events for the rest of 2020

The cricket season of 2020 was a great vibe where the Gwijo Squad not only gained a few new members but it was the Gwijo Squad’s first meet-up for 2020.
Wanderers Stadium was our wonderful summer playground, as we cheered on the Proteas in the stands as they play against England and Australia.
Our football skills were tested against the Barmy Army in a friendly encounter at Pirates Sports Club.
The committee has been working behind-the-scenes (most of February and March), getting in contact with Netball SA and stadium management for the upcoming Springbok matches.
SparProteas netball matches have postponed to possibly later in the year due to the coronavirus.
Our planning to attend the Springbok matches will continue on the sideline, with stadium management and the likes.
We will keep everyone informed once we get the ticket greenlight.

We encourage all our members to stay safe and adhere to all the necessary precautions.

Siyani thanda nonke emakhaya.

The post Get the Gwijo Squad update appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

Who was in the running?

The votes were to access which Springbok matches the members would like to watch as a Gwijo Squad family.
Here are the opponents, venues and dates that were on the poll.
vs Scotland, DHL Newlands | 4 July
vs Scotland, Jonsson Kings Park |  11 July
vs Georgia, Nelson Mandela Bay | 18 July

vs Argentina, Emirates Airline Park | 8 August
vs Australia, Loftus Versfeld Stadium |  19 September
vs New Zealand, Mbombela Stadium | 26 September

The results are in!

How exciting!
Emirates Airline Park has definitely become our official stadium of choice – our home ground so to say. We will most certainly be there in full voice on Saturday 8 August.
Mbombela Stadium came in a close second place, which means Gwijo Squad will be heading out of Gauteng for the first time as a Squad, to Nelspruit for our first overnight trip.
Start saving folks, exciting times are ahead.

Loftus Versfeld makes it to third place, followed by DHL Newlands in Cape Town.
And falling into 5th and 6th choice is Jonsson Kings Park and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium respectively.
Thank you to all who took the time to cast their vote. It really helps to know exactly where the members want to go watch the Springboks play.

How to book tickets

The preparations to go watch the Springboks play at Emirates Airline Park, Mbombela Stadium and Loftus Versfeld are well underway.
The team is booking tickets, arranging transport and of course for the Nelspruit leg, checking out accommodation in the area.
Budgets are getting drawn up.
As per usual, payment instalments to secure your ticket and bus seat will be made available to Gwijo Squad members and any who wish to experience a rugby match with the Gwijo Squad family.

There are only 152 days until we attend our first rugby match against Argentina, at Emirates Airline Park – the countdown has begun.

We can’t wait to start making tickets available for our members soon.

The post The match results are in appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

Springboks’ 2020 match opponents

The six home Tests have been announced for 2020.
The Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches (New Zealand, Australia and Argentina) will take place in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. The Castle Lager Incoming Series (Scotland and Georgia) will be hosted on the coast.

Playing the field

DHL Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town, will host it’s final Springbok match ever, as the oldest Test stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, prepares to go ‘under-the-knife’.
The lovely humid city of Durban will host the Springboks at Jonsson Kings Park.
Georgia will be hosted by the Friendly City on Mandela Day at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Argentina will play the Boks at Emirates Airline Park, which has become the Gwijo Squad’s unofficial home ground stadium.
The clash with Australia will be played at Loftus Versfeld, where the men from Down Under have yet to win against the Boks, and where Gwijo Squad in 2019 had a blast of a time.
Nelspruit will bring with it the Mbombela Stadium, where the Boks will play New Zealand for the first time ever at it. Should the Gwijo Squad vote to attend this clash, it will be the Squad’s first out of province (and overnight) trip.

“The Springboks had a fantastic season last year which resulted in successes in both the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup and we saw the passion for the Boks from all South Africans upon their return from Japan,” – SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux

Who gets to vote?

Unfortunately, the Gwijo Squad will not be able to attend all the matches, but the Squad can try and attend the matches that the members would like to attend!

Rank the matches that YOU would like the Gwijo Squad to attend in 2020!

* All options cast before the closing date will be considered.
* Closing date of the poll is on Friday 28 February. 

SBWL to go to all the matches but the way the Cyril economy is structured…
Get your say today and get involved!

The post Pick the rugby match appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

The arrival

The Gwijo Squad absolutely love supporting the national cricket team, and this particular Saturday at the Bullring wouldn’t be any different for the supporters club.
The day has been in the Gwijo Squad calendar for more than three months and the day had arrived.
The Squad started arriving just before lunch and gathered at their section – Unity Stands Upper Level.

Molweni nonke

The first gwijo of the day was a greeting as well as a quick warm-up of the voices and of course, making an announcement to the rest of the stadium that we had arrived… We were present… And we were fully behind the Proteas no matter what the situation was on the field.

The support

Next stop: Pink Day

What an incredible day. It was the first appearance for 2020 by the Gwijo Squad and it went down swimmingly.
The members got to Wanderers Stadium, greeted each other at the stands and made sure that they were heard.
It’s good to be back together as a family. It sure does feel good.
We can’t wait until our next outing at the Momentum ODI (more commonly known as Pink Day) to erupt the stands again with our voices and be a supportive family to the Proteas.

The post Gwijo Squad raises their voice at Wanderers Stadium appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

2020 and beyond

The All Blacks will be visiting the cradle of humankind and experiencing load shedding for the first time since they stole the game from us in Pretoria, and Gwijo Squad will be sure to remind them that we’re World Champions (venues and dates not released yet, but that’s never stopped us from planning and preparing), additionally Scotland and Georgia could provide us with a nice vocal warm-up (assuming that at least one of the 3 tests will be in Joburg or Pretoria).

More immediately, there is the small matter of a horde of warm beer-drinking vitamin D deficient delinquents traipsing around our country making a noise in our stadiums like this is their mother’s house. We can’t stand for such disrespect in our backyard. Everyone and I mean everyone, needs to stand up and defend our country’s honour by unleashing our full arsenal of amagwijo when we hold the fort at the Wanderers for the Test match and Pink Day.
For those who’ve not seen what’s been happening at the other stadiums, the English have come through in their masses and if we drag our feet in buying tickets we could find ourselves in the unthinkable position of being outnumbered in the Gwijo stronghold of the Bullring.
We can’t allow such a travesty. I, for one, cannot wait. The Wanderers is going to be a jump and I’m looking forward to showing the visitors what we’re made of.

A quick update on Gwijo Squad matters

2019 was certainly a watershed year for us, assisted in no small part by the fact that it was a World Cup year and Gwijo Squad had come to represent the changing face of South African rugby.
From the onset, the Gwijo Squad committee had resolved that we would use the platform that we’ve been given to impact the sporting environment on and off the field. To this end, we have set ambitious CSI goals that we are confident will be transformative for communities and individual young athletes in our target sports who need a leg-up to reach for their dreams. Over the year we had numerous activations in partnership with brands which has been instrumental in building our reserves.

As you all know, at present there is nobody on the committee who draws a salary or derives financial benefit in any way, and I would like to highlight and applaud this extraordinary selflessness from very busy people whose time and skills fetch a hefty price in the market. So to Nkosana Matyeshana, Naledi Mdyesha, Afika Selemani, Malibuye Cossie, Vuyisanani Mangisa, Qhayiya Linda, Chumaninande Mjajubana, Nondwe Maqubela, Mhlangenkululeko Siwisa, Mzwandile Riba, and Nqabomzi Matyeshana, on behalf of the greater Gwijo Squad community and indeed the sporting fraternity at large we thank you. Nangamso.
A special thanks to other Gwijists who have contributed massively as former committee members as well, Sijadu “CJ” Mzozoyana, Sipeto “Volo” Ganca, Phila Bitterhout, and Lusindiso “Loza” Dabula. Your contribution to laying the foundation on which Gwijo Squad is being built has been invaluable.
So, where to from here?
We’ve agonised about what the best structure would be for what we’re trying to achieve for Gwijo Squad (in a nutshell, maximising membership numbers while delivering maximum value to gwijists). We have made a lot of progress in this regard and have gotten valuable advice from other organisations on how best to model the Gwijo Squad going forward (shout out to the Barmy Army who have given us great insight in how they run their organising as well). We’re yet to bed these down as the committee has not met yet this year, but we’ll do so shortly and details of the way forward.

Setting goals

There are a few major goals that we want to achieve over the next 4 years, culminating in 2000 Gwijists going to France for the World Cup in 2023. This is a giant undertaking and, frankly, is the kind of massively ambitious goal that needs a dedicated project manager because the elements are so complicated and time-intensive. We’re already in the process of developing a detailed campaign around it with the assistance of financial consultants, Lifecheq. Please keep this in the back of your mind because, if we are to pull this off, were going to need a massive group effort from the entire Gwijo Squad.

On the subject of looking forward to 2023, South Africa were awarded the hosting of the next Netball World Cup in Cape Town. An exciting development indeed. Over the last 4 years, the Spar Proteas have rebuilt to being amongst the highest echelons of the sport and the journey to 2023 promises to be quite a ride, and we’re here for it.

Finances

As things stand, the Gwijo Squad reserves stand at R329,342 thanks to your effort in getting brands to back us and in then showing up to do what we do best. A special shout out to Klipdrift, MTN, Showmax, & DSTV. The key ingredient in maintaining momentum and steady growth is consistency and quality administration. At present, between the committee members, we’ve managed to divvy up responsibility but, as the squad grows in both number and ambition, it’ll become too large and involved for a bunch of part-timer volunteers to handle and we’ll need to employ people to run the squad on a day-to-day basis (I assure you, this will not be me ). I expect that we’ll only get there in 2021 but it’s an important development to start thinking about and planning for.

How about that final at the Sandton Convention Centre?

WOOOOOOOW! You guys are actually amazing. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I shed a tear or 15 in my wife’s arms after Makazole’s try because it was clear at that moment that the game was over and Siya was going to lift the trophy.
But it wasn’t simply the winning the brought me to tears, it was that it was happening with 1,200 South Africans in Sandton singing igwijo. We even had capped Springboks watching with us!!! People brought their parents, even. It was other-worldly what we pulled off and you can all be extremely proud of yourselves.
What an inspiring experience. It’s a high I’ll likely chase for the rest of my life.

There are probably things that I’ve overlooked and I’ll have to cover in a later update but this was mostly to say thank you for an unforgettable 2019, and I’ll see you all at the Wanderers.

The post 2020 vision and beyond | Newsletter #1 appeared first on Gwijo Squad.

What has been secured:

• Unity Stand Upper-Level seats
• 10% discount on all Gwijo Squad tickets
• A special Gwijo Squad ticket purchasing link for all members
• A special Gwijo Squad discount code for all ticket purchases

Tickets are limited for each match.

We are anticipating a huge crowd for the 2nd-day test on Saturday 25 January – and hence there are a bit more tickets that we have made available for that day. That will be our big hoorah alongside the Barmy Army.

How to book your seat:

Booking your spot is pretty simple!

Click on the corresponding date and image below for the match you would like to attend. We suggest attending all of them.
Enter the promo code: gwijo1000 and click on ‘submit’.
Once it has accepted the code, you will be legible for the discount as well as purchase your tickets.
You will be sent your ticket, print and keep safe ahead of the match/s you have booked.

Friday 24 January >> bit.ly/2EUfn81

Saturday 25 January >> https://bit.ly/2uHRcrG

Sunday 26 January >> https://bit.ly/3aAcqbm

Don’t delay, secure your ticket/s before it’s too late.

Phambili!

The post Gwijo Squad gears up for cricket season appeared first on Gwijo Squad.