Ackies swears this is his swansong
Fri, 09 May 2008 11:02
Veteran Sharks lock Johan Ackermann has assured all and sundry that his latest comeback will indeed be his last and that he will officially hang up his Super 14 boots at the end of this year's campaign.
"A joke was made at the end of last year's Currie Cup when the guys asked if I was going to retire and I said I was 90 percent sure I was going to retire, so I left 10 percent open," he laughs.
"So at the end of the Blue Bulls game, I said I was 99 percent sure and left the one percent open and here I am, back with the Sharks. It was a blessing that my company Kepu Petroleum released me and let me come back for hopefully four weeks.
"Durban has been my home for the last two years so it is exciting to come back now and it would be great to play the last game at 'home'. The other one was at Loftus where I played my first-ever game so it would be nice to finish here with the Sharks," added the likeable Ackermann.
Ackermann's boss at Kepu Petroleum is the main benefactor at Hamiltons Rugby Club so it's unclear whether the Sharks lock will continue playing club rugby at the conclusion of the Super 14.
He admits that it is very different waking up in the mornings and getting into a routine again following the life of a professional sports person.
"But I have met a lot of nice people so far and I am in a learning process. It's just a question of learning the job every day but the people that I work with are great and have made me feel very welcome," said the 37-year-old.
He has remained fit playing club rugby for Hamiltons in Cape Town and admits that although he's not in the kind of shape he'd like to be, "At least I did something you know. Obviously the intensity is not at the same level but I have played three or four games for them and didn't just sit in front of the couch the whole time."
He has kept an eye on the Sharks' fortunes this season after 'retiring' following the Bulls match and hopes to still make the play-offs despite a disappointing tour for the Durban franchise.
"The base was there but playing the top three sides overseas was a huge ask and we probably just needed one more win," he said.
"The Brumbies game probably to still be in the mix. But it's not all lost although our backs are against the wall so hopefully we can fix it," he added.
He believes that despite their log position, the Cheetahs are going to be strong opposition on Saturday.
"They always are," he says.
"If you look at the Vodacom side, they are playing in the Final, the Cheetahs always have talent and always produced talent at school boy as well as at Currie Cup level.
"They have got the experience with CJ van der Linde, Juan Smith and Rory Duncan and they have lost games by only two, three or four points so they are always competitive," added Ackermann.
When we put it to him that his experience will play an integral role in the absence of Johann Muller, he explains that he just wants to do the job that is expected of him.
"I just hope I can do my part and what is expected of me, but obviously it's nerve-wracking because it can go bad and then everybody blames you and says you should have stayed in retirement," he said.
"But hopefully I will focus on what I can do for the team and play the best I can. In this game it works that all 22 must pitch up on the day and play to win the game," concluded the lock.
With thanks to sharksrugby.co.za
