Dear #BullsFamily24,
To start with, you would notice that I have addressed this letter to ‘#BullsFamily24’. We’ve been saying it for many years now, as a supporter of the Vodacom Bulls you are part of OUR FAMILY… a family 2,4 million strong.
You would have also noticed the number ‘24’ on all of our marketing, communication and around the stadium over the last few months. The explanation of ‘24’ becomes a lot easier now, with our short-term goals being achieved. ‘24’ was a dream… a vision… a target… a goal. We used the number as an image and a symbol to work towards, one that inspired every single member of the team, management and staff.
The significance of 24 means different things to different people, but the main ones are aligned:
• We worked towards and achieved our 24th Carling Currie Cup title.
• When broken up the ‘4’ was the goal for the amount of Vodacom Super Rugby titles.
• While the ‘2’ was significant of the number of senior titles for the season (Carling Currie Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby).
• The ‘4’ was also relevant to the number of overall titles at senior and junior levels (U19, U21, Carling Currie Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby).
• It was also a tribute to player number 24, that was the guy that just didn’t make it into the match 23… his attitude and how he approached the week was essential to the spirit in the team.
• Most of all… the Vodacom Bulls have always played with an extra player (figuratively), let’s call it our player 24… and that was you, the fan that never stopped believing in us even through the toughest of times… all 2,4 million of you.
On behalf of everybody at Loftus, I want to sincerely and humbly express our gratitude for your unwavering support. Thank you for investing your time and energy into us… thank you for showing patience and belief, and most importantly thank you sharing in the ups and downs of this journey.
The 2020/21 season will go down in our history as the strangest season ever but will be noted as a successful one. That chapter is over, and we must now move forward onto the next one. We look forward to our new journey heading into Pro Rugby and sharing these moments with you.
Regards,
Jake White
Beste #BullsFamily24,
Om mee af te skop, die skrywe is gerig aan #BullsFamily24. Ons sê al vir baie jare as ‘n ondersteuner van die Vodacom Bulls, is jy deel van ONS FAMILIE… ‘n familie wat 2,4 miljoen groot is.
Jy sal ook agterkom, die nommer ‘24’ op al ons bemarkingsmateriaal, in kommunikasie en rondom die stadion oor die laaste paar maande gebruik. Die verduideliking van 24 is nou veel makliker, met ons kort termyndoelwitte wat verwesenlik is. ‘24’ was ‘n droom… ‘n visie… ‘n doel… ‘n mikpunt. Ons het die nommer ingespan as ‘n simbool en uitdaging waarheen gewerk moes word, een wat elke lid van die span, bestuur en personeel inspireer.
Die belangrikheid van 24 is die verskillende sentimente wat dit vir verskillende mense inhou, maar die vernaamstes is dieselfde:
• Ons het gewerk en dit reggekry met ons 24ste Carling Curriebekertitel.
• Wanneer ons dit opbreek, was ‘4’ die doelwit vir die getal Vodacom Superrugbytitels.
• In die geval van die ‘2’ was dit die getal senior titels vir die seisoen (Carling Curriebeker en Vodacom Superrugbybeker).
• Die ‘4’ was ook relevant ten opsigte van die getal algehele titels wat ons op junior en senior vlakke verower het – o19, o21, Carling Curriebeker en Vodacom Superrugbybeker.
• Dit was boonop ‘n eerbetoon aan speler nommer 24, the ou wat wat dit net nie gemaak as deel van die 23-spanlede nie… tog was sy geesdrif hoe die week aangepak is, van uiterste belang vir die spangees.
• Die heel belangrikste is… die Vodacom Bulls het altyd met ‘n ekstra speler (figuurlik gesproke), ons noem hom speler 24, op die veld gedraf. Dit was die ondersteuner wat nooit opgehou glo het in die Bulls nie, selfs nie eens gedurende taai tye nie… all 2,4 miljoen van julle.
Namens elkeen by Loftus, wil ek nederig en opreg ons dank en waardering uitspreek vir julle ongekende ondersteuning. Dankie dat jy jou tyd en energie in ons belê het. Dankie dat jy geduldig en steeds vol vertroue was en die belangrikste dat jy in goeie en slegte tye by osn gestaan het.
Die 2020/21-seisoen sal in ons geskiedenis onthou word as een van die vreemdstes ooit, maar sal vir ons ook as een van die suksesvolstes onthou word. Die hoofstuk is afgelsuit en nou moet ons begin met die volgende een. Ons sien uit na nuwe uitdaging in die komende Pro Rugby-reeks en om die tye saam jou te deel.
Beste wense,
Jake White
