Landboudal Tug of War team impresses world champions

THE LANDBOUDAL Under-18 Tug of War team is headed to an international competition.

Yes, read that again, a high school team from Jacobsdal, just a stone’s throw away, and due south from Kimberley, will be representing South Africa at the GENSB Tournament, set to be held in the Netherlands in 2025.

GENSB is the initials of the tournament’s founding countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland (Schweiz), and Belgium. It was established to encourage young athletes in these nations to compete in and enjoy tug-of-war, fostering both sportsmanship and international camaraderie.

Now here’s the beautiful part of the story: Landboudal will be taking the place of three-time world champion team Oakdale, from the Western Cape. The two teams recently faced off in Mossel Bay when the Eden Tug of War Federation hosted the Eden Tug of War Festival, also known as the Mossel Bay Tug Festival.

The festival not only celebrated athletic excellence but also embodied the spirit of unity and inclusiveness, with mixed-gender teams levelling the playing field and giving more schools and clubs the chance to shine.

The 560kg Oakdale team had been crowned 2024 World Champions for their weight division, for the third time, after fierce battles against several countries’ teams including England, Germany and China. So Landboudal were fully aware of the challenge that awaited them, and gave their all in the final.

But here’s the twist, the reigning world champions Under-19 team had lost none of their pull and precision, and managed to beat Landboudal.

But the team from Jacobsdal must have made such an impression on the Oakdale team that, in a gesture of true sportsmanship, Oakdale’s coach, Piet Lourens, passed the coveted GENSB jersey to Johan Koen Jnr, coach of Landboudal, giving them the honour of representing South Africa at the GENSB Tournament next year.

With nearly a year to prepare and raise funds, the excited Landboudal team is now gearing up to compete against the world’s best. With between 40 and 60 international teams competing annually, this tournament is a massive opportunity for junior athletes to gain international experience and showcase their skills on a global stage.

The DFA caught up with Landboudal’s Tug of War coach, Johan Koen, who remains upbeat about his team’s prospects despite a recent loss to the formidable Oakdale Under-19s, three-time world champions.

“I’m incredibly proud of what my team has accomplished so far,” Koen said. “Losing to such a strong side shows how far we’ve come, and I believe that with more hard work, we’ll start seeing the results we’re aiming for.

“The pressure is on now, but that’s what drives us to improve.”

Koen explained that the team, which has been together for about a year, has made significant progress thanks to their rigorous training schedule. “We practise three times a week, and we dedicate two additional days to fitness conditioning. It’s great to see the hard work paying off,” he told the DFA.

However, Koen also mentioned that tug of war is a fully self-funded sport, and the Landboudal team now faces the challenge of raising around R25,000 per player to compete in the Netherlands next year. The hope is that support from the local community and business stakeholders will help the team achieve their goal.

To this end, those interested in supporting the team can contact Koen at 076 933 0991.

• It was incorrectly reported that the Landboudal Under-19 Tug of War team is headed to the World Championships. It is actually the Under-18 team is headed to an international competition – the GENSB Tournament, set to be held in the Netherlands in 2025.