LET ME tell you, if someone had whispered in my ear at the start of 2025 that the Suzuki Griquas would lift the Currie Cup trophy, I would have smiled politely, patted them on the back, and quietly walked away. 

Fifty-five years. That's how long Kimberley waited. That's how long the peacock blue-and-white faithful held on to a dream that, for many, had faded into folklore.

And then, on that September afternoon at Ellis Park, George Whitehead stepped up with ice in his veins and slotted a long-range penalty deep into stoppage time to seal a famous 27-25 victory over the Fidelity ADT Lions. 

The Griquas were Currie Cup champions once more.

That victory rippled through the Northern Cape like a thunderclap. Small-town grit had toppled big-city grunt. Cameron Hufke's opening-minute try, Lourens Oosthuizen's powerful finish, Mnombo Zwelendaba's crucial 72nd-minute score – these moments will be etched into the memories of rugby supporters for generations. 

What this triumph means for the province cannot be overstated: it is proof that belief, identity, and unity can still punch well above their weight in South African rugby.

But this historic win in September was only the crowning jewel in a year brimming with sporting excellence. So let's wind back the clock and take a whirlwind tour of 2025's greatest moments on the local sports front.

January–February

The year kicked off with the Northern Cape Schools SA20 cricket play-offs. Kalahari High took the boys' crown; Kuruman Hub clinched the girls' title. Both earned their stripes to represent the province at the next stage in Potchefstroom. Youth cricket here is alive and kicking.

February belonged to dreamers. Noel Cossa, the kid from Mozambique who'd declared he would win before even knowing how he'd get home, proved himself a prophet at the Free State leg of the Kimberley Diamond Cup. 

"If I didn't have ears, my smile would wrap around my face," he said after pocketing his R15,000 prize. 

Meanwhile, archery was drawing back its bow across the province, with Africa Genesis Archery welcoming a wave of new clubs – from Orania to ELCON School for the Disabled.

March

Has anyone noticed how green the veld gets around Kimberley after good rains? Well, in March, another kind of green – the kind that comes with being new to the big stage – was shed by one of our own. 

Emile Witbooi, just sixteen, made history as Cape Town City's youngest-ever player when he stepped onto the PSL pitch. His dad, Bradley Ralani, captured it perfectly: "A father's joy knows no bounds when his son reaches for the stars and succeeds."

But March's marquee event was the Kimberley Diamond Cup, which transformed the Skate Plaza into a vibrant melting pot. Over 100 skateboarders from across Africa descended on the Diamond City to battle for R200,000 in prize money. 

Two-time Olympian Boipelo Awuah dazzled in the Women's Open. MEC Venus Blennies announced the provincial government had secured investment for the next three years, with ambitions to host Olympic qualifiers for Africa. 

Kimberley isn't just talking about extreme sports anymore – it's living them.

April–May

April was a bumper month. Diamantveld High delivered a rugby masterclass at the North/South Tournament in Stellenbosch, demolishing Hoërskool Framesby 59-29. Vice-captain Zuan Rautenbach and tighthead prop Dian Ellis each bagged two tries. Coach Phillip Molnar was impressed with how his players responded after a shaky start to the tournament. "We were very clinical in the first half, and there wasn't really anybody to single out – every player did their job," he said.

Over Easter, the Aztec Masters celebrated their 40th anniversary by claiming the Sol Plaatje Masters Football League trophy after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout against Young Pirates. The final ended 0-0 after 90 minutes – packed with near misses and tactical elegance – before Aztecs held their nerve from the spot. 

Captain Alfred Mpanza said it best: "We wanted to make 2025 memorable." 

The Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament also returned for its fourth edition, with 20 top schools competing and scouts watching closely.

Meanwhile, the Griquas' stunning season had its roots in May, when they marched into the SA Cup final. Head coach Pieter Bergh spoke of identity, unity, and attacking rugby. The seeds were planted. 

Off the rugby field, young karateka Kamogelo Makinta from Zanshin Karate-Do earned national colours, securing her place at the AUSC Region 5 Championships. Her message? "Keep pushing. Set no limits."

June–July

Skateboarding for Hope rolled through Springbok, Upington, De Aar, Kuruman, and finally Kimberley, with over 40 young skaters bringing their A-game to the final. South African legends Jean-Marc Johannes and Boipelo Awuah weren't just there to inspire – they mentored. With prize money exceeding R80,000, this went beyond being merely a series of events as it proved to be a turning point.

July brought a story that stopped hearts. More than 30 young footballers found themselves stranded in Portugal after their academy allegedly failed to book return flights. Parents had paid R50,000 each for what was supposed to be an all-inclusive tour. But then something remarkable happened: ordinary South Africans stepped up. People dropped everything to help, made EFTs, drove to ATMs.

"This was a mind-blowingly amazing show of Ubuntu," wrote one person involved. The kids came home – not because of policy, but because people refused to let them face the unknown alone.

August

August was quieter on the calendar, but sometimes the most powerful stories emerge from unexpected places. The DFA featured Lydia Booysen, a dancer whose life changed at three months old when a violent incident left her paralysed from the hips down. For many, such a tragedy would have ended dreams before they could begin. 

For Lydia, it became the start of something defined by resilience and faith.

"When I dance, I forget about my struggles," she shared. She runs free classes in Salt Lake for underprivileged children, using her own Sassa money to help them. She recently competed in Bloemfontein and won gold – the only disabled person in the competition. "After I danced, people were in tears." 

Her journey proves that disability is not the end of movement; it's simply the start of a different kind of dance.

September

And so we return to September, and that unforgettable afternoon at Ellis Park. 

The Griquas' Currie Cup triumph was the headline act, but the month had more to offer. The Kay Motsepe Schools Provincial Knockouts brought together boys and girls from across the province, with Kevin Nkoane Primary School making history in the under-13 girls' category – the first girls' team from the school to qualify for nationals since 1965. Coach Mbulelo Jack Junior called it a three-year project: "Football has become a life-changing opportunity for some of them."

The New Champions Boxing Academy and Platinum Boxing Club brought young fighters together from across the Northern Cape, Free State and Gauteng for a tournament that underlined Kimberley's growing reputation as a boxing hub. 

And in darts – yes, darts – three of Kimberley's finest, Dean Naude, Jaco Thuynsma, and Leane van der Walt, were selected to represent the Southern Hemisphere at the ADG Continental Tournament in Nairobi. Small darts, big dreams.

October

October saw the golfing fraternity gather for the traditional Barney Barnato Golf Tournament, blending skill and history on the fairways.

Meanwhile, Northern Cape cyclists began gearing up for the summer racing season, their wheels set to spin as the temperatures climbed. It was a month of preparation and anticipation for bigger things to come.

November–December

November was about honouring the past while sprinting toward the future. The Kimberley Sporting Legends Trust hosted a glittering weekend that brought together cricketing heroes of yesteryear – including the South African Coloured team of 1967 and the Griqualand West side that won the Booley Cup in 1988. In a powerful moment at the gala event, the lights were switched off, plunging the venue into darkness. Then a single candle was lit and shared, person by person, until the entire hall glowed. The symbolism was unmistakable: everyone has the potential to spread light.

Then came the inaugural Diamonds and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon. For the record, that Saturday morning, by 9am already, had runner huffing and heaving  as the temperatures were already climbing into the high 20s. 

Just finishing in Kimberley's heat is impressive, but ultimately, there count only be one winner, and Bennet Seloyi claimed the title in 2:13:22, pocketing R200,000. Hopetown's Arthur Jantjies impressed with eighth place. With a R1.2 million prize purse – second only to Comrades – Kimberley announced itself to the distance running world.

As the year winds down, the Diamonds and Dorings KDC Skateboarding Championships provided the perfect finale. Athletes from South Africa, America, England, Austria, Portugal, and Thailand descended on the Skate Plaza. 

Freestyle motocross riders added spectacle. With roaring bikes, rolling boards, and the Kimberley sunset as backdrop, 2025 ended as both a championship and a celebration.

Looking ahead

So there you have it – a year remembered for the Griquas' historic triumph, for young athletes rising to meet their moments, for communities coming together, and for quiet heroes who give back without seeking recognition.

Here's to 2026. May it bring even more reasons to cheer.