Revelling in history, ferocity of non-racial rugby
I ALWAYS choose my words carefully – sometimes too carefully, I guess. So when, in a Cape Times 140th anniversary article on rugby on Wednesday, I described SA Cup matches between Green Point-based Western Province and Tygerberg, their bitter rivals from across the boerewors curtain, as “brutally uncompromising encounters”, I immediately received some calls to set me straight.
“That’s one way of putting it,” said journalist Mo Allie, suggesting further that I had become a master of euphemism.
Another writer, Herman Gibbs, went to Facebook to say: “Having been at the receiving end of a bloodied nose while playing for Cities (City and Suburban) Under-18 and Under-19, I would say ‘some brutally uncompromising encounters’ is woefully understated.”
There was unanimous agreement, though, from far and wide, that the non-racial South African Rugby Union (Saru) produced some excellent players, who in another time and another place would have played international rugby.
James A Atkins from Toronto in Canada, but Jimmy Atkins when he worked for the Cape Herald in the 1970s, said: “For what it’s worth, I believe Cassiem Jabaar was the greatest player in the SARU era and would probably have walked into any Springbok side. He made every team he played for better.
“Peter Mkata (of Kwaru) would be another obvious choice. Mkata had a superb sidestep, flytrap hands and displayed a creative flair that justified the price of admission.”
Warren Ludski, another former Cape Herald writer, who is now living in Australia, wrote: I don’t see too many Tygerberg names bandied about here. In the sixties and seventies, they produced a few standout players… Jooste, Millin Petersen, Cissie Damons, the Booysens.
“I was proudly Elsies and Meltons (for a while anyway).”
Ierfaan Cassiem wrote: “My favourite players. Anwar Majiet (he was an allround classy footballer. Could play anywhere in the backline. 10 for club, 12 for Province & 15 for SARU)
“Taureq Britton (another player who not just looked the part physically, but he had an engine. Could go all day).
“Yaghya Sakier (was ahead of his time. Most intelligent rugby player I knew. Was the Zinzan Brooke of South Africa).”
Legal expert Hishaam Mohamed chose City and Suburban’s Saait Magiet, the great “Lippe”, Salie Fredericks of Western Province and Tygberg’s Daniel “Spookie” September as his top 3.
“They were all gifted… natural footballers and played with flair,” he wrote.
But then, like a true legal person, he decided to have another go, this time choosing Cassiem Jabaar, Irvin October and Faik Davids.
Mogamat Sheribeen Amlay wrote: “I have 3 players I consider the best cos I saw them play and played with them – Aubrey Poggenpoel, Ebrahim Viljoen and Riyaad Najaar.
“They would have walked into any world team and been comfortable,” he confidently added. “Players I never saw playing but I heard lots about are Armien Manuel and Saait Magiet."
Jeremy Johnathan Quickfall agreed with Amlay’s choice of Manuel and Magiet. He described them as “great players who would have made their mark in the international arena”.
Andrew Arries chose Gary Boshoff and Gabriel Noble, who represented Tygerberg, and current Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, who once starred as a scrumhalf for Eastern Province in the SA Cup competition.
“All of them very competent and committed game-breakers,” he wrote.
Keverne Gordon said: “My names are Salie Fredericks (lock), Cassiem Jabaar (scrumhalf) and Yagyah Sakier (8th man). They were players who impressed me by far.”
Nazeem Esau’s choices were Hardy Dollie, Achmat (Grootkop) Isaacs, Jumana Khan, Faghme Solomons, Ebrahim (Kang) Solomons, Mogamad (Kakvoet) Theunissen, Taliep Salie, Salie Fredericks, Yusuf Davids and Abubukar Moses.
Peter Jansen said Saru had so many good players that it was impossible to choose just three of their greatest.
Pressed to choose, he said eventually that if he were to choose players who had a “presence”, who provided “leadership” and who were “inspirational”, he would choose Pieter Jooste, Salie Fredericks and Desmond Booysen. But he added: “Surely mentioning only three is an injustice to all the others?”
There was some criticism, though, from Naadir Agherdien: “I could not help feeling that the (top) article ended a bit abruptly. Dougie should do the part 2 follow-up and take up the story from 1976 to 2016. I look forward to it.”
Russel Michaels said: “Cassiem Jabaar (had a) great service, (was a) master tactician, (could) dart around (the) scrum. Norman Xhoxho (Kwaru centre) could sidestep off either foot; Desmond Kramer (EP wing) (was a) mercurial runner and prodigious scorer of tries.
Bradley Shaw said: “We have such a rich history in this country. I have never seen/heard this historic account of rugby in Cape Town before.”
Some of the comments from Facebook:
Clyde Van Graan: I remember that EP vs WP game going very well
Dennis Cruywagen: Dougie I enjoyed reading it. Thanks. Isn't the scrum half the Bok coach?
Dougie Oakes: It is indeed. I wasn't at the office yesterday when the page was made up, otherwise I would have fixed the caption.
Dennis Cruywagen: Ai!
Mogamat Sheribeen Amlay: I have 3 players which I consider the best cos I saw them play and played wvith them.Aubrey Poggenpoel, Ebrahim Viljoen, Riaad Najaar.They would have walked into any world team and be comfortable
Andrew Arries: Gary Boshoff, Allister Coetzee and Gabriel Noble. 2 Tygerberg & 1 EP. All of them very competent and committed game breakers.
Keverne Gordon: My names are salie fredericks (lock) cassiem jabaar (scrumhalf) yagieyha sakier (dif) 8th man
Keverne Gordon: They were players that impressed me by far on any given day
Mogamat Sheribeen Amlay: Players I never saw playing but I heard lots about are Armien Manuel and Saaid Majiet
Jeremy Johnathan Quickfall:2 great players who would have made their mark in the international arena.