Boks lose two of their finest media stars
SOUTH African rugby is reeling from a double blow with two much loved – and very different – media men passing away within 24 hours of each other earlier this week
Paul Dobson, who died aged 85 from Covid-related complications, was the pre-eminent modernday historian and writer on South African Rugby. It was Dobson, below, who penned the definitive history of the Springboks and a highly acclaimed biography of
Dr Danie Craven. He also wrote fine biographies of Boks coach Nick Mallett and referee Andre Watson who took control of two World Cup finals.
Dobson was much more than a fine writer, though. A popular teacher at Bishop’s for 29 years, where he coached many of their successful teams, he was also a former referee and an acknowledged expert on the laws of the game. He was chairman of the Western Province Referees Association for many years and, even deep into retirement, made a point of sitting their referees’ exam every year to keep up to date with developments. It was for his contribution to refereeing that World Rugby honoured him in 2012 with a Distinguished Service award
If Dobson was undeniably a member of the old Western Province Rugby establishment the exuberant Supersport commentator Kaunda Ntunda, who delivered his excitable machine gun fire commentaries in Xhosa, was a very different kettle of fish. Ntunda, above, died of unspecified causes in
East London aged 38.
A former South African Schools flanker who won the Currie Cup with the Cheetahs in 2005, Ntunda turned to commentary in 2009 and was an instant success.
It was one thing South Africa finally became a truly representative national team packed full of talented black players as well as white but the missing ingredient was a Xhosa speaking black commentator and natural wordsmith with first hand experience of elite rugby to bring all that alive in the native tongue of the majority of black South Africans.
Although acquainted with the Xhosa language and some of its phrasing Ntunda wasn’t brought up speaking it – there are 35 languages in South Africa, some closely linked – but he was determined to deliver his commentaries in Xhosa and studied intensively to bring himself up to scratch. Ntunda considered that he had failed in his playing career but was adamant he would not fail as a commentator.
His commentaries were a triumph. If you want to feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up dig out his commentary of the 2019 World Cup final and in particular the moment in the 66th minute when Makazole Mapimpi strode in for their gloriously-crafted first try and it became obvious that it was going to be South Africa’s day. You might not know a word of Xhosa but you will instantly understand everything Ntunda is saying and every emotion he is feeling.