Coetzee comes home
Grahamstown-born Springbok coach Allister Coetzee returned to his roots on Tuesday – and he was paraded through the town on the back of a bakkie.
Coetzee was welcomed by crowds varying from young children in Ghost Town, who chased after the bakkie, to Makana Executive Mayor, Nomhle Gaga, and South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal President, Lex Mpati – who is also the Chancellor of Rhodes University.
Mpati and Gaga were among those who delivered speeches welcoming Coetzee to the town. The former – who was coached by Coetzee’s father, Phillip, during his playing days – said that his fellow Grahamstonian’s appointment had made him “very, very excited”. Meanwhile, Gaga said that she hoped Coetzee’s visit would give him a morale boost.
Transformation was a recurring theme. After Gaga congratulated Coetzee on rising to the top from a divided apart- heid town, Julie Wells showed him the Egazini Memorial of the Battle of Grahamstown.
Gerry Accom – the teacher in charge of sports during Coetzee’s time at Mary Waters High School – then expressed his view that Coetzee should not be held responsible for transforming the Springboks.
Accom called on the South African Rugby Union (Saru) to ensure that disadvantaged schools were given opportunities to produce top level players.
Mpati echoed Accom’s claim that Coetzee had a difficult job in balancing the acceleration of transformation with winning games. However, the Rhodes Chancellor insisted that the 53-year-old was the right man to take on the task.
Coetzee explained his own transformation philosophy, stating: “Transformation is a change in your mindset – a change in heart.
There are perceptions, and you've got to break down those perceptions.”
He insisted he wanted to break down stereotypes facing all races, noting that he had selected a white wing in Ruan Combrinck.
Coetzee said that he also wanted black men to feel they had a chance of playing lock for the Springboks.
Apart from race, Coetzee also hopes to break stereotypes about his home town. He said: “I’m very, very proud to be able to tell people that I come from Grahamstown – because when you come from Grahamstown, you will always have to prove yourself.”