Rugby stars honoured as Old Dalians

It was billed Night with Our Stars and it certainly proved a huge success.

Organised by Old Dalian president Barry Hayidakis and his committee, the event saw former Dale rugby players Terra Mtembu, Aphelele Fassi, Gcobani Bobo and Steven Hall attend a function in their honour last Friday night at the Malcolm Andrew Centre in King William’s Town.

Robbie du Randt, another old Dalian, was the master of ceremonies.

After Du Randt had asked each of the players to comment on their Dale rugby days, he went on to ask them questions regarding their rugby careers after school.

Later in the evening, several personal items of the players were auctioned off which managed to raise R18,000.

Fassi, who obtained rugby honours while at school, played for the Border Bulldogs before joining the Sharks while Mtembu, a flank, played for the Bulldogs in 2008 and 2009 before joining the Sharks in 2011.

Hall had originally planned to spend only six months in France, but after breaking his ankle, he ended up staying for seven years, representing the country at Test level on two occasions.

SuperSport rugby analyst Bobo said he was the first black person to play for the Dale first team in 1981. He went on to play for the Springboks.

Hayidakis labelled the event as an awesome success, thanking Grant Griffith and Keegan Daniel for all their hard work.

“It was an honour for us to host the guests who asked nothing from us, even paying their own way to get to King,” he said.

Dale first-team coach Griffith, who coached both Mthembu and Fassi, had the following to say: “If a small town like King can stage such a function, imagine how much money can be raised if Old Dalians in bigger centres stage similar events.”