History of Ultimate in South Africa

*If you read this and find that you have additional info or know of corrections to be made, then please contact us [contact@safda.org.za]

The 1980′s

The first records of Ultimate being played in South Africa date back to the mid/ late 1980′s. A group of players based in Pinelands played on a regular basis, although the group was reportedly more interested in Free Style than Ultimate. The group eventually stopped playing although some of it’s members remained and were around when things were resurrected in the 1990′s.

The 1990′s

Justin Smith keeps it going…
Justin Smith was the leading light when it came to organizing Ultimate in the early 1990′s. Smith registered SAFDA with WFDF and organized pick-up games on a regular basis. These games were played at Westerford High School and at UCT by a small group of players.

Pick-up was sometimes played as many as three times a week and the number of players involved slowly increased via word of mouth. By 1995 there were as many as 20 active players in Cape Town.

The Development Programme
Growth was slow but the Cape Town Ultimate community had a vision and growth continued steadily. A significant boost was the launch of a development program in 1997. This was done in conjunction with Truworths, who also sponsored Ball room Dancing and Basketball as part of their Corporate Social Investment Program.

It was this development programme that introduced a number of future stars, like Asanda Nanise, Derek Ntsume and Asanda Ntshanga to the game. It also helped some of the original group of players to start thinking about Ultimate in a more structured and organized way.

1998

Worlds USA
In late 1997 it was decided to send a team to the World Championships that were being played in Minneapolis the following year. At this stage no South African team had ever played in a tournament of any sort.

The team trained hard and did a significant amount of research before flying out to attend the event in August 1998. We were up against the best in the World and in a cruel twist of fate South Africa was drawn to play reigning World Champions Furious George in their opening game. It was the first proper tournament for 90% of the team but the ignominy of a bagelling (to lose a match without scoring) was avoided when Ant Pascoe hit Conrad Vermeulen in the end zone for South Africa’s first ever international goal.

Although South Africa failed to win a game at the 1998 event there were nevertheless many incredible experiences and a lot of close encounters. Games against Venezuela and Colombia were close run affairs, and for those who were there the barefoot game between SA and Colombia was a moment to remember (it was also the last ever barefoot game played at Worlds and a fitting tribute to the way the game had been played in both countries until prior to the tournament).

The tournament was a huge success and the team returned to South Africa determined to grow the sport and to take it to the next level. Pascoe assumed the leadership of SAFDA and World Club Champs in St Andrews became the next target.

1999

World Clubs Scotland
This was South Africa’s second ever tournament. A significantly stronger team was sent to Scotland but unfortunately the weather was not ideal. The event was dominated by extremely strong winds. Once again the team was made up entirely of people from the Cape Town Ultimate community and sadly once again South Africa was unable to manage a win. Although officially we finished second last after one team withdrew at the last moment.

2000

Worlds Germany
Just when it looked like South Africa would go winless for a third consecutive tournament South Africa secured a famous 15-12 win over Spain. It was a massive surprise as South Africa had earlier lost to an emerging Ireland side who had in turn lost to Spain. Buoyed by the win South Africa went on to secure a second win, trouncing Taiwan 15-1 in the final play-off game to end the event on a high note. The tournament was held in Heilbronn, Germany.

2001

With the experience gained at two major international events it was time to host our own tournament in South Africa. We had been playing a limited two team league for almost a year, but something new was needed and so Nationals, the first major event in South African Ultimate history was arranged. The first event, held at Hamilton’s in Green Point featured four teams and was a major success. Big Strong Arm, who had become something of a super team in the Cape Town scene were the deserved winners – not just for the way they played at the tournament, but as recognition of the dynamic, competitive Ultimate they had brought to the Cape Town over the preceding year, when the league was born.

2002

This was a big year for SA Ultimate, with Nationals once again taking place and a team travelling abroad to participate in the World Club Championships in Hawaii.

Nationals of 2002 saw the first team from outside the Western Cape participating with the emergence of Johannesburg’s Ultitude. The Big Strong Arm were no more and instead it was a motivated ISO who romped to victory. Nationals 2002 saw such strong winds blowing that games were moved to Clifton Beach for an afternoon to ensure we could complete the action.

World Clubs USA
Meanwhile in Hawaii the SA team finished with their best ever placing in international competition. A key win over Singapore saw South Africa escape the bottom pool for a very pleasing finish.

2003

By now South African Ultimate was growing rapidly. Aside from Cape Town there were regular games taking place in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg. Johannesburg hosted Nationals for the first time and two sides travelled up from Cape Town to attend. Pietermaritzburg also made the trip and introduced the rest of the country to their unusual brand of thumber forehands.

In 2003 the running of SAFDA fell to Dominic Cull who assumed the role of Chairman.

2004

This year did not feature a Nationals tournament, although Rocktober, an annual event played in Johannesburg was born.

Worlds Finland
This was a major focus for SA Ultimate and for the first time ever South Africa fielded more than one side at a major international event. An indication of how things had grown was the fact that SA managed to field sides in three divisions: Open, Mixed and Junior.

All the sides did well with the Open team coming 13th, their highest ever finish.

2005

Again there was no Nationals this year, however a summer league was started in Cape Town towards the end of the year featuring 4 new teams: Work in Progress, Remnants, Khaya (the development kids from Khayelitsha), and the Cape Disc Doctors.

2006

Nationals Cape Town
Nationals returned to Cape Town this year and held on a scorching hot and wind free weekend. The teams competing included: Ultitude (JHB), Long Donkeys (PMB), Sweet Chilli (CT), Cape Disc Doctors (CT), Khaya (CT), and the Remnants (CT).

In the end, Khaya the team that had started off as the Truworth’s development project so many years ago, came to the fore with some brilliant and athletic ultimate, to take the title of from a competitive Remnants team. Khaya were also presented with the Summer League trophy proving that their place as the top team in SA was well earned.

Dom Cull stepped down as SAFDA Chairman and Ant Pascoe took over once again.

2007

Nationals Cape Town
The largest local event yet, with 9 teams competing, was hosted in Cape Town in cold, wet and windy weather. The same line up from 2006 was supplemented by teams from Pretoria and Stellenbosch as well as a charismatic new CT side, Disconnected. This year it was the emerging Cape Disc Doctors who stormed to the title, sweeping all in front of them with their direct, high-paced game.

2008

Worlds Canada
The game was still growing in South Africa and a team was sent to Worlds in Vancouver. Unlike the previous World’s sides which had been comprised of regular and familiar members, this team featured a lot of first-time travelers, exposing a whole new generation of South African players to the game at the highest level. Led by Andre Standing and Ryan Males, the team finished 16^th after a number of close games to very strong teams. Facing up to teams such as the eventual champions Canada, offered much quality experience to the rookies. The side managed wins against Dominican Republic and Mexico, whilst being competitive but falling short of wins against Netherlands and a few others.

Nationals Cape Town
On the local level Chilli, who had been formed two years earlier by veterans Ant Pascoe, Ian Alexander and Leor Williams finally won the National title, beating a powerful Ultitude side in the final.

2009

Nationals Johannesburg
Joburg hosted their second Nationals this year, combining the country’s two big events into ‘RockNationals’. Featuring 2 international teams from Swaziland and Mozambique, 2 Joburg teams (Ultitude & Disco), 2 Cape Town teams (Chilli & Zebru) and 2 teams from KZN comprised of the Long Donkeys and the newly formed Prawn Bunnies from Durban.

In a tournament filled with tight games and excellent Ultimate, it was concluded with a dramatic and competitive match against the 2 giants of SA Ultimate: Chilli and the Long Donkeys. It was Chilli who eventually went on to win, becoming the first side in SA Nationals history to defend their title.

Lionel Lurie became the new SAFDA Chairman.

2010

Ultimate is now played regularly in 4 provinces with the game taking off in East London. The sport is growing steadily in all areas with a beach tournament held in Durban and Mozambique

Nationals Cape Town
Pushing the sport even further, this event hosted 12 teams from around the country, competing for the title of SA National Champions. This included East London and UCT who both entered teams for the first time. And in a huge step for women’s ultimate a 5-2 mixed rule was implemented that required teams to field a minimum of 2 females on the pitch every point.

For the third consecutive year, Chilli dominated the competition including a newly formed super team from Cape Town, Khayoba.