Keep it up, Peter de Villiers

15 July 2008 - 02:00
By unknown

I just want to sincerely and from the bottom of my heart congratulate the Springboks and coach Peter de Villiers, pictured, in particular for a superb win over New Zealand at the "House of Pain" at the weekend.

I just want to sincerely and from the bottom of my heart congratulate the Springboks and coach Peter de Villiers, pictured, in particular for a superb win over New Zealand at the "House of Pain" at the weekend.

I am sure by now all those doubting Thomases would have swallowed humble pie and acknowledged that a black coach can make it. For years, many of our great coaches, including our two World Cup-winning coaches in both 1995 and 2007, tried in vain to register a victory at Carisbrook, dubbed the "House of Pain".

Reading some of the previews of the game on Saturday morning, one could feel that there was no chance or hope of a victory. Another important thing was the humble manner in which the coach treated the victory.

He was not pompous. Like a gentleman of sport, he was my true hero, he reminded me of the great Nelson Mandela after South Africa was awarded the right to host 2010.

Keep it up great coach, Peter de Villiers.

Frans Nkwana, Johannesburg