WINTER in the Western Cape is having a hard time moving on, each sniff of spring quickly hammered by another cold front bringing rain and icy winds.
Yet the atmosphere in this house in Paarl is as warm as the sun that beats down on the fields of France in a seemingly endless summer.
Two of the town’s most famous sons are playing in the Rugby World Cup – and for the people crammed into this room, the tension and excitement are almost unbearable.
The overwhelming emotion, however, is pride – and few can be prouder of Boks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Grant Williams than friends and colleagues Godfrey Gertze (55) and Sylvia Matthee (56).
They’re the unsung heroes who introduced the players – best friends since they ran out for their Under-9 school team – to the game and taught them the tricks of the trade.
The boys were just seven years old at Paulus Joubert Primary when Sylvia showed them how to dummy, side-step and pass, and Godfrey was their Under13 coach.
Sylvia shows us a picture of herself with Kurt-Lee and Grant from their schooldays, standing between them with an arm around each one.
“Grant was small and Kurt-Lee was a long-legged boy and big,” she recalls. “Granty-boy was a quiet little guy. He didn’t talk much but he was fast on the rugby field.”
Godfrey comes over. “How ironic that Sylvia was pictured with the two of them together back then and now they’re playing together again – and this time at the Rugby World Cup,” he says.
We’re in Godfrey’s home in Paarl and he’s stoking the fire in the braai room as family and friends, all kitted out in traditional green and gold, gather to watch the Boks’ first game of the tournament in Marseille.
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 28 September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 28 September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MR COOL
Rocker Lenny Kravitz has just turned 60-and he's as much of a sex symbol as ever
LAST RALLY FOR RAFA
Nadal's early exit from RolandGarros calls into question his Grand Slam future. We look back at his smash-hit career
BEYOND THE MOUSTACHE
Tom Selleckon Magnum, peta Oe handsome for Hollywood and why he wishes people would realise theres mor to him than his famous facial hair
HOPE FOR DEMENTIA
More than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia and it's estimated this number will double every 20 years. But researchers believe there's light at the end of the tunnel
HE'S GOT THE X-FACTOR!
Eric's record-breaking collection of X-Men memorabilia is worth a small fortune
MADE FROM SCRATCH
Every morsel of food Nara feeds her family is homemade - but not everyone is impressed
INNOCENT'S GOT TALENT
South African tenor wins hearts in London with his impressive opera skills
'NOBODY LISTENED'
These sisters say they were sexually abused 50 years ago by family friends - and they want their day in court
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN
The votes have been cast, counted and announced, but is South Africa ready for a new government? The experts think so
A LOW PROFILE
Cancer-stricken Kate isn't rushing her return to public life but behind the scenes she's keeping busy with work and family life