It’s a dream come true for Stick
IF there are two people with whom Mzwandile Stick would have liked to share one of the best moments of his rugby life, it would be his late mother Nomsa and Springbok Solly Tyibilika.
After being named Allister Coetzee's assistant, one of the first stops the new Springbok backline coach made was at the grave of his mother, whom he affectionately called “Sasa”.
So dear to him is his mother, who died in 2001 when he was a teenager, that his personalised car number plates in Port Elizabeth read “SASA 66 EC” — her nickname and year of birth. This is so that wherever he goes he knows his mother's spirit is with him.
“The first thing that happened was I thought about my mum — everything I do, I do for her. It is her memory that motivates me. Wherever she is I want her to be proud,” Stick, 31, told Times Media after the announcement of his appointment.
“After it had all sunk in I went to her grave to say 'thank you'. I told her that I hadn't forgotten her. Even though she is gone, her spirit is alive and with me at all times.”
Less well-known is that Stick had a close friendship with former Bok flanker Tyibilika, who was gunned down in Cape Town in 2011.
The pair celebrated many milestones from their days growing up in the PE township of New Brighton — where both were bitten by the rugby bug at a young age.
“Solly Tyibilika is another person I wish was here for this moment,” Stick said, clearing a lump in his throat.
“When he became a Springbok (in 2004) we stayed together in Durban and we celebrated that together.”
There was life back in his voice as he reflected on the most important call he received after the news of his appointment broke on Tuesday. It was his sevenyear-old daughter, Khanya Mkhonza, who excitedly wished her dad well.
“It is often tough at times because I don't get to see her as often as I would like because of work. But we do keep in constant touch,” Stick said.
“She was also one of the first people to call after the announcement. Hearing her telling me she was very proud and that she loves me was all that mattered to me.”
It has not even been a week since his appointment, yet questions have already been raised around his credentials as a coach – particularly at international level. After an extensive sevens career with the national sevens team, which led to him captaining the Blitzboks to their 2009 series win, Stick coached the Eastern Province Under-19 side to the Currie Cup title in his first foray into coaching last year.
But the Southern Kings backline coach feels that in the same way Nick Mallett was appointed Bok assistant in 1996 after coaching at Boland for a year, and Heyneke Meyer got the role in 1999 after being assistant at SWD Eagles from 1997, he should be given an equal chance.
“Look at our previous coaches and tell me which one started with experience,” said Stick.
“I played with (Lions coach) Johan Ackermann at the Sharks, I played with (Cheetahs CEO) Rory Duncan at the Kings, I played with (Blitzboks coach) Neil Powell and (new Varsity Cup champs Pukke coach) Jonathan Mokuena – look at what they have achieved. No questions were asked. Now why can't Stick and Allister Coetzee be given an opportunity to prove themselves too?”
Stick can also count on the backing of the first man to give him a provincial coaching job at the Kings, former Bok prop Robbie Kempson, and exBlitzbok Mpho Mbiyozo.
“Look at history, he is not the first assistant with no experience at that level. Nick Mallett was one at some stage, for example. I don't know why some people are up in arms. What I know is that Stick will not let the jersey down. There are few people who work as hard and push themselves like he does,” Kempson said of the man who won the under-19 Currie Cup with the Kings last year.
Mbiyozo, a former teammate at the Blitzboks and Kings, added: “I have no doubt that he will be successful. He loves rugby and there are few things he is more passionate about than the Springbok brand. Why would he accept the job if he knew he could not do it? I know he will do everything possible to make sure the Boks are successful.”
He is not the first assistant with no experience at that level. Nick Mallett was one