Johan Ackermann, the new head honcho for the Vodacom Bulls, is frankly fed up with being the bridesmaid and never the bride when it comes to rugby finals. Taking over from Jake White, who, despite steering the team to three URC finals, couldn't clinch the title, Ackermann is now on a mission to quench his thirst for victory.
With a history of near-misses, including two Super Rugby finals with the Lions and a Challenge Cup final with Gloucester, Ackermann's appetite for a win is more voracious than ever. "It's a burning desire, I want to win a final – I’m tired of losing," he confessed, echoing the sentiments of many a frustrated coach. Captain Marcell Coetzee is right there with him, adding a simple yet potent,
"Me too."
Ackermann is clear about one thing: desire alone won't deliver the goods. "It’s something we really want, so we want to prepare the team really well. Ultimately, I must just make sure the players, the staff and everybody works as hard as we can but make sure that we enjoy what we’re doing because it’s a game that we love," he outlined, stressing the blend of hard work and enjoyment essential to their campaign.
The pressure is palpable, with Ackermann feeling the weight of expectations. "Obviously, it does put extra pressure on because I try not to read the media, but you see the headlines. That’s probably the only measure of success for our supporters, because every supporter wants their team to win," he acknowledged. For now, though, his strategy is to keep the team's eyes on the immediate prize. "I said to the players this morning, next week is the first game and that’s all we worry about now. If you think too far ahead, you’ll probably miss the small things," he advised.
The Bulls are set to kick off their URC campaign against the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday. With a new captain at the helm, and a coach who's no stranger to the harsh lights of finals rugby, this season promises to be one where the Bulls either charge or get charged. As Ackermann and his team buckle down, the rugby world will be watching to see if this season can finally satisfy his burning desire for silverware.