THE Richards Bay Equalizers paintball team were crowned national champions in the Three Man Division 5 category at the Super Cup at Gariep Dam in the Free State at the weekend.
This major achievement they accomplished in their debut season after dominating the league in Durban.
This year they have been competing in the South African Regional Paintball League (SARPL) at provincial level, which they won to progress to the nationals.
The team got off to a poor start in the preliminary rounds on Friday and Saturday and ended up in eighth position, but nevertheless managed to qualify for the quarter-finals on Sunday.
And then the team ‘pulled trigger’ and showed why they are ranked first by beating Boom 2-0 in the quarter-finals and then ousting Venom 2-1 to book their spot in the finals.
The Zululanders met Western Cape squad Critical in a tough encounter, but the Equalizers come out on top 2-0 to claim the Super Cup.
‘We are planning on playing in higher divisions next year and hopefully get enough interest from the community to enter even more teams from Richards Bay into the SARPL,’ said coach Gerhard Heyneke.
Paintball will take a break over the Christmas period, but will start competing again in January.
Anyone interested in joining this fast growing sport, can contact Heyneke on 083 3978662 or email redbasepaintball@gmail.com.
