Balancing act doesn‘t faze Franco
Golden oldie into record books
Tokyo – Twinkle-toed Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura has racked up another astonishing landmark by eclipsing former England great Stanley Matthews in the record books with his second professional appearance since turning 50.
‘‘King Kazu’’, who last week became the first fiftysomething to grace the J-League, played in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against V-Varen Nagasaki at 50 years and seven days – two days older than Matthews was when he turned out for Stoke City against Fulham in 1965.
“(Matthews) was a legendary player for us,” golden oldie Miura told local media.
“I don’t actually feel like I’ve gone past a legend. I may have surpassed him in longevity, but I won’t ever be able to match his statistics and career.”
Smith and Van Graan usually work well together.
Springbok backline coach Franco Smith doesn’t believe he is caught between two worlds by having stayed on as the Cheetahs Super Rugby coach.
But Smith admitted at the second day of the Bok training camp yesterday in Sandton that it was a delicate balancing act
“I’m serving rugby, it’s going to be a tough ask, but I worked out my plan and it’s possible but I must emphasise I don’t want to neglect either of the two roles,” said Smith.
He said being on frontline coaching the whole year will also improve his coaching abilities and skills, so the Boks could benefit from him still being involved in Super Rugby.
“So I’m going to try to burn the candle on both sides, but it’s possible and it has been done before. I think Stephen Larkham (Brumbies) is doing it with the Aussies, it’s not impossible and is about management,” Smith said.
While a few players sat out training like Jaco Kriel, Jean-Luc de Plessis, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Jamba Ulengo, Smith was happy with what they have already achieved.
Smith, who said he has already done some work on the French players in action during the European competitions, said he and Johann van Graan work well together.
Whereas Smith is working with the players’ skills, Van Graan does breakdown and attack but Smith said there’s no clash of responsibilities.
“I believe we need everyone to coach and everybody knows my coaching style. Johann has gained a lot of experience, we have already worked well last year on tour and we know each other well,” he said.
“I’m sure it’s never going to be just a one-man act. We are all involved in upgrading skills and working on the breakdowns so we are happy with the way we have planned.
“I need hands and he probably needed hands before, so it will be a well-organised approach.”