London Cup: Here’s to you Kim.

Just under a year ago, I reported on BlitzBokke.com on the sad passing of one of the Springbok Sevens team’s great servants.

Kim Massouras did duty as Liaison Officer with Paul Treu’s team whenever they campaigned in the desert city of Dubai.

Despite the regular stick she received from her countrymen for serving the South Africans (Kim was English), she nevertheless saw to the team’s every need whenever they were in her neck-of-the-woods.

In the process Kim became a confidant and friend of our coach. She also easily became a friend and mother-figure to the youngsters who proudly wore our Green and Gold at the Emirates Dubai Sevens.

Current Springboks and SuperRugby campaigners who passed through her able-hands include: Gio ‘Appels’ Aplon (Vodacom Stormers), Mzwandile Stick & Mpho Mibiyozo (EP Kings), Rayno Benjamin (Cheetahs), Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs) and many others.

As the manager of BlitzBokke.com, I became an (online) friend of Kim’s despite never having met her personally. She was just that kind of people’s-person. We often chatted via FaceBook Message and Yahoo!, pre- and after the Dubai Sevens and even during other tournaments. I have to add, because of the time-difference… often at the oddest of hours. Many of the pictures in the tribute video I put together (below) came from Kim herself.

The fact that my report on her passing is (to the day) still the most-read story here on BlitzBokke.com bears testimony to her standing in the Sevens community and as a friend to many all over the world.

Knowing Kim, when Kyle Brown lifted the Emirates Airlines Sevens Cup at Twickenham on Sunday, she probably had a naughty, but proud twinkle in her eye. Her party afterwards would have been epic!

I’m sure Paul and the Boys would understand, when I assume the privilege as editor of BlitzBokke.com, to dedicate the 2011 Emirates Airlines London Sevens Cup to a lost, but never-forgotten friend of Springbok Sevens.

Here’s to you, Kim.

Sláinte.