Archive for April, 2022

NOTHING IS IMPOSSSIBLE. UMDLOTI BEACH AFTERMATH .

Posted on: April 18th, 2022 by Rob Opie No Comments

Hi There

The weekend directly before our ‘non existent KZN EASTER weekend’, I was watching Scottie Scheffler romping home to his MASTERS victory.

Congratulations must go to a new 25 YEAR OLD AMERICAN humble SUPERSTAR.

Scottie was on top of his game – and has been throughout 2022.

Well done Scottie.

He is now World #1.

He just seemed to be totally in control of his golf – if that is possible in golf?

Somewhat bored , as nobody really put enough pressure on him, I flicked channels to watch Great Britain’s  greatest  culture “horse race”  run at  AINTREE in Liverpool  – over 30 jumps; THE GRAND NATIONAL.

Wow, did that perk me up suddenly.

A rank 50/1 outsider NOBLE YEATS – running right from the back – to obliterate the total field.

“Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen enjoyed a fairytale finale to his career as he guided Noble Yeats to a thrilling victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.”

If you get a chance : JUST YOU TUBE THE GRAND NATIONAL 2022.

I have leant through sport that, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE , but when Tuesday  morning arrived,  in my little home village called  Umdloti Beach, it suddenly changed  my thinking  a little –  mass flooding devastation – and so more  lives were to be tragicallly lost in our beloved KZN province – all in one year !

Having just experienced a 22km excursion on a pumping Umkomaas river – it is no easy thing when caught on a river that shows explosive anger.

Yes, sport significantly changes our lives in many ways , but when lives are lost like in KZN recently – it pales into insignificance in some sort of way.

But, what I do know, is that we always DO bounce back as South Africans . 

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.”

It argues for the good and bad we see in everyday life.

It may take many weeks, maybe months to fix parts of KZN once again – but one thing is for sure:

” Is that when human beings put aside their cultural differences and come together to declare that an urgent common concern is more important than individual cultural differences….things happen a lot faster.”

“IZANDLA ZIYA GEZANA” in Zulu means ‘hands wash each other’:  meaning we need each other to be effective in our efforts to make a difference in our communities.

It is so true.

It fosters continued further UNITY AND RESILIENCE IN OUR COUNTRY …… as we have seen so many times before.

It builds the COMMARADERIE that our great nation desires and deserves.

That is why SOUTH AFRICA IS A GREAT COUNTRY.

Together we will stand TOGETHER as a nation.

#STRONGERTOGETHER #STRONGERFOREVER.

Thanks Rassie Eramus, YOU BEAUTY, for pinning that powerful SLOGAN FOR ALL US SOUTH AFRICANS.

GO GREAT.STAY SAFE.

ROB

…………………………….

LAUNCHING 2022

It is inherent to the human condition that we bond

Rob’s interactive, insightful and inspiring BREAKFAST TALK : “Champions do More”– at your offices to get your TEAM back together and powered up for a great 2022. Contact Rob direct to find out more.

Email to : robopie@thegameplan.co.za

If you would like a complimentary copy of any of my published eBooks – please CLICK HERE to read more and request your FREE copy.

Email to : robopie@thegameplan.co.za

Read more : www.thegameplan.co.za


Ash Barty’s tennis retirement sends out a resounding “Covid Complications” life message.

Posted on: April 5th, 2022 by Rob Opie No Comments

It is not without – it is within“   Rumi

This week’s US Masters Golf takes centre stage.

What a great week, with nobody having any idea who will don the Green Jacket on Sunday.

That is the beauty of Masters Golf with so many winners throughout the recent years.

Few have won the Masters multiple times – Tiger and Jack did dominate years back – but those days are far gone.

Masters is a golf tournament which is won often by the golfer who runs into a rich vein of form in the MASTERS week – and the one who the puts least expectations and pressure on himself to win.

That is why no one knows who that golfer is? 

The crowd pressure this year will be overwhelming post COVID..

Of course, we all wish Tiger will compete this year – aged 46 this year – but his chances must be near zero to make the weekend if he chooses to play, given his fragile walking legs for 72 holes.

Covid changed sport – and life – and many other mental things that surround the game.

It has also placed every common man in the street – in an ongoing position of “UNCERTAINTY.

Our sporting greats who were subjected to all types of national sporting bio bubbles. – let us brutualy call them “C’ like maximum prisons.

We saw many examples of World # 1 performers just throwing the in the towel at various stages.

However, John Rahm after agonizing days of isolation – bounced back to win the US OPEN.

And Dustin Johnson – MASTERS CHAMPION, after 11 days of isolation in a hotel room. 

Or the NOVAX debacle.

Less said is better on how the Aussies handled that situation for Novak.

These are just a few examples of the extreme pressure that COVID has put our sporting champions.

Not to mention teams locked up together.

Now we have a sudden situation when tennis ace WORLD #1 Ash Barty pulls the plug on her career aged just 25?

Ok, so how does this impact on the ordinary person in the street.

How has Covid impacted?

No studies have been done on mental impact.

NO TEAMING EXCURSIONS……..  NO CONFERENCES…………just ZOOOOOOOOOOOM.

NO TEAM WORK. NO commaraderie – where Together Everyone Achieves More Together.

Just Ask Rasssie .

Conferences have literally waned as CEOs choose the safe way out . Some did not !

Nobody really knows the real impact of two years of COVID, but here are my few thoughts to help.

ASH BARTY got tired of trying to:

 “Control the UnControllables”.

After just three major wins.

For a long time Covid has driven worldwide high levels of uncertainty – and as humans we like to be in some type of control.

And when you try to control things which are out of your control – the result is you drive up your own personal :

ANXIETY LEVELS.

Trying to control the uncontrollable is the exact definition of ANXIETY.

So how long can one endure such anxiety in ongoing society?

Two years is just too long ………………….

And we have seen many play –outs, not just from our sporting stars..

It is no wonder; those at the top just decide to bail for their own mental health reasons.

Apparently Ash Barty played golf last week – and won.  

WOW

No doubt she has her own personal reasons after competing in a very tough era of a Bio bubbles, geographical and family constraints.

Nobody will ever really know how isolation impacted – especially for the Aussies who had stricter rules.

Covid challenged many worldwide.

It changed world rankings in so many sports 

But Ashley made her call:

“I have no gas left to compete.“ Ash Barty

Go ASH, for when YOU have F.C.B in abundance:  FAITH, CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF, you will always be a WORLD CHAMPION in your own heart.

Looking forward to Masters – the crowds are finally back .

Who is your bet on?

My bet is Rory ?

Your feedback – you personal opinion – is always appreciated and valued.

Please share as your feedback stories can inspire others in my new 2022 book which is happening: : 101 Sporting Motivations – UNFINISHED “.

Email to : robopie@thegameplan.co.za

GO GREAT

ROB

…………………………….

LAUNCHING 2022

It is inherent to the human condition that we bond

Rob’s interactive, insightful and inspiring BREAKFAST TALK : “Champions do More”– at your offices to get your TEAM back together and powered up for a great 2022. Contact Rob direct to find out more.

Email to : robopie@thegameplan.co.za

If you would like a complimentary copy of any of my published eBooks – please CLICK HERE to read more and request your FREE copy.

Email to : robopie@thegameplan.co.za

Read more : www.thegameplan.co.za