Black players ‘must man up to go places’

ATTITUDES need to change if the South Africa wants to see more black rugby players making it to top-flight rugby and eventually being a Springbok.

Bok legend Doli Ntaka and rugby developer Eric Bokani addressed delegates at the Raymond Mhlaba National Heritage Rugby Tournament gala dinner at University of Fort Hare in Alice over the weekend. They touched on a number of issues that affect the sport negatively in the province.

Ntaka, who has played for Crusaders that competed against the Defenders and Star of Alice in the 1970’s, said players needed to change their attitudes and start loving what they do in order to go far in the sport

“Today’s players are sissies and they are treated like babies as if they are being forced to play. We wanted to play but today you have to beg players or if you don’t beg them you won’t get them.

“We played under the iron-fist and you would be told in the change-room that if you don’t want to play just stop and go home.”

Ntaka said today’s players lacked dedication and discipline even though they had more resources at their disposal. He also slammed Thando Manana who recently released a book Being a Black Springbok. “I was shocked to hear he is the first black Springbok because in simple terms that says prior 1994 there were no black Springboks.”

In closing remarks Ntaka said aspiring Springboks should love what you are doing and work harder because it won’t be easy.

Matlosana Rugby Academy founder and rugby developer Bokani said he was disappointed by the low interest in rugby development in the area as the region has in the past managed to produce some of the best players and administrators in the country.

Bokani said rugby coaches should go back to primary schools and start grooming youngsters at an early age and not go out to ask for money to start academies.

“If anyone comes to the mayor’s office to ask for money to invest in a 16-year-old, that’s a waste of taxpayers money. I ran that academy with zero budget because development doesn’t need money.

“You can run a development structure with any space you get from your community, and take children to do what you want in any sporting code.

“Then you can go to government because I don’t think people like the mayor can say no to you if you tell them that your kids are playing a fixture and they need jerseys.”