GREAT LOSS: Chippie Solomon
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Emotions will be running high at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Stormers pay tribute to two of their favourite sons in their United Rugby Championship match against Irish club Connacht.
On a sombre note, the Stormers are paying their respects to their long-serving manager Chippie Solomon, who recently died unexpectedly. At the same time, they also want to give a fitting farewell to popular player Scarra Ntubeni, who is retiring after 15 uninterrupted years at the Cape team.
The 64-year-old Solomon died in the early hours of Saturday morning from a heart attack. He began his role as manager way back in 2004.
“This one is for Chippy,” coach John Dobson said in a Friday press conference.
“Let’s celebrate his life and enjoy a great Stormers performance. I want to appeal to the people of Cape Town, to come and help us honour Chippie,” he said.
“We are not using it as a gimmick, but we have asked, ‘What would Chippie want?’" Dobson explained. “It’s about how we prepare and how we play.”
Veteran flank Deon Fourie knew Solomon better than most.
“We had an hour-long meeting on Monday morning where we all paid our respects,” said Fourie.
“The guys told some stories about Chippie, and everyone had a laugh. Most of the guys were crying. It was very emotional.”
Stormers captain Ruhan Nel said the players have struggled to process the sudden absence of Solomon.
“It has been one of the heaviest weeks most of us have experienced,” Nel said. “The team has had some good conversations about what he meant to us. We got through some good rugby work too — we need to perform fittingly to celebrate his life.”
Regarding Ntubeni, Nel said: “Scarra is the ultimate Stormers team player. He has lived and breathed the Stormers. He contributes so much, even when not playing. He spent his entire career at one club, which is quite unusual these days. We want to do him justice by making the game special for him.”
Dobson added, “Scarra is in the top handful of guys I have enjoyed coaching. He has no respect for his body in the way he gave everything for the team. He always had a smile and time for everyone. He is a special human being, and we want to give him a fitting farewell.”