There are new kids on the Kaapse klopse block and they go by the name of the Exquisite Golden Gate Entertainers.
This klopse team, which hails from the Cape Flats community of Netreg was established by Peter Jaggers and is the first minstrel troupe to come from this area.
One can tell that this team is ready to compete; their theme for this year bravely says, “Our quest to play against the best”.
And if you hear a team oppie pad Tweede Nuwejaar shouting ‘is baatie ons raak kwaatie’ then know that it’s the Exquisite Golden Gate Entertainers, because this will be their slogan for the coming minstrel season.
I love their theme, because in my opinion it is a dignified tribute to the other top teams in the fraternity, and at the same time, it shows the boldness of Golden Gate as they’ve made their intentions clear that they are coming to compete against the best.
I remember back in the day when klopse used to be made up predominantly of people in the area where the team was based.
THE A TEAM: Sedick, Ganief and Naeem. Picture: Supplied.
Nowadays, a klops can be from Mitchells Plain while their entire singpak comes from Kensington, and their band from Delft.
So it is quite refreshing to hear that this is not the case with Golden Gate where the majority of their singpak is from within the community of Netreg, and the same goes for their band.
Mr. Laalie Alexander, who is the top director and spokesperson of Golden Gate, says: “ Ons intention is om te invest in die Netreg community. Hulle moet al die benefits reap van die klops, even op ons sentimentals, ons junior en senior solos, wil ons graag hê ons eie mense moet dit sing.”
Alexander also takes pride in the fact that although it might be their first year, they are already making gears for more than 1000 supporters, so they are bringing the whole Netreg to the stadium.
“It is our first year, so we want to come out with a bang and by the end of the season hopefully we would have shed some positive light on our community, and we would have put our humble community of Netreg on the Kaapse klopse map,” says Alexander.
In the creative department they have acquired the services of one of the best young coaches of this generation, Rameez Sampson, with the assistance of his father, Ismail Sampson.
NEW KIDS ON THE KLOPSE BLOCK: Team plans to play against the cream of the crop. Picture: Supplied.
The musical protégé will be coaching both moppies, so expect the music and harmonies to be tight.
It is not clear who will be performing the moppies, this is apparently one of the surprises up the sleeves of Golden Gate.
The team practices at Klipfontein Primary School every Sunday at 3pm and on Tuesdays from 8pm.
Alexander says all are welcome, but the executive especially encourages the Netreg community to come and visit their klopskamer.
I believe that if you want to succeed in the klopse game then you must get the best people to do the job.
But winning the carnival is not the only measuring stick for success.
There are other successes in this sport, like having positive impacts on our communities.
If Golden Gate achieves at least this in their first year then their klops will be around for a very long time, I think.
Steal the hearts of your community and you can make a much needed difference in the lives of people.
As Alexander says: “For us it’s not just about trophies, we want to build a legacy in Netreg.”
The Exquisite Golden Gate Entertainers have launched their tracksuit and it is available at their klopskamer.
For more information, follow the team on Facebook or contact Alexander on 073 5633 991.
We end off on a sad note this week.
R.I.P: It’s a sad farewell to klops Faried Morrison. Picture: Supplied.
It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Faried Morrison, who has been part of the klopse community since the age of seven, when he first joined Penny Pinchers All Stars.
In later years he became a member of the Mitchells Plain All Stars, Tulips Male Choir and the Cape Traditional Singers.
Faried was a true gentleman.
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