Mark Andrews

Izimvo is thrilled to introduce South African rugby legend and member of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning team: Mark Andrews.

Considered as one of the greatest locks to have played the game, Mark’s Springbok career started at the young age of 22 when he made his debut against England in 1994. Earning a total of 77 test caps, Mark’s career highlights include:

• SA Rugby Player of the year nomination in 1994, his debut year.
• Being a member of the 1995 Rugby World Cup team.
• 60 test points including 12 test tries.
• 160 games for the Sharks.
• Currie Cups wins in 1995 and 1996.

Following his retirement in 2001, Mark played a season in the United Kingdom. He retired from the game at the end of the 2004 season at the age of 32.

Wikipedia Page.
Location: Durban

Mark was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like yourself introduced at a social event.

A: Mark Andrews would have prefered to have been a rock star but as he had no voice, rhythm or looks decided to play rugby.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: Water polo was my sport of choice as a school boy and it was only when at Stellenbosch varsity that I was forced to choose between polo and Rugby.

Q: What you are currently doing and in which ways you are still involved in the game of Rugby?

A: I am a shareholder in a sourcing company that has an exclusive supply contract with Massmart. (Game and Makro stores) As I spend a fair amount of time sourcing products in China, Taiwan and India I have no structured role in Rugby. I am a sponsor of a farm labours team in the Kie road district of East London and try and stay involved with the legends activities as and when possible.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: I have the land and will be starting building in about 3 years. The land is on the Gonubie river near East London and myself and 9 school friends have bought 13 hectares on the Gonubie river and are creating an eco estate. 2 houses are already complete and the rest will all be completed in about 5 years.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property – Looking for your dream holiday home in East London? How about this 3 bedroom home with breathtaking views of Beacon Bay.

Rugby in South Africa

Mark and Matt Damon

Q: Which moment during your schoolboy rugby career are you most proud of?

A: Beating our arch rivals Dale College by 40 points on their re-union day.

Q: If you were to select a South African all-star team with players from any era, who would pick as captain and hire as the coach?

A: Ian Macintosh would be my coach but he would have to be accompanied by a mental health practitioner as he can get pretty emotional. My captain would be Gary Teichmann.

Q: What advice would you offer school-boy coaches in terms of preparing talented players for the off-field demands of a professional career?

A: Have humility at all times, No matter how talented or famous you get you will never be greater than the game or your team and without both you would be not able to achieve anything in rugby.

Q: What do you think the impact commercialization has had on the school boy game?

A: As much as it has helped create bigger, stronger, smarter players it has unfortunately also created a huge number of problems. Steroid Abuse, over training in Gym and a shift away from academic pursuits are just a few issues that have arisen due to the commercialization of Rugby.

A scary stat is that less than 1% of all players who play rugby with the objective of making a career from the game actually do and worse is that the financial awards are never enough to secure one financially for life even if you do hit the big time and big pay days. Unlike Golf where if you have the talent you can earn a decent living for decades, in rugby you have a single decade if you are lucky and with the risk of injury so high, rugby can be a perilous career.

Q: What are your predictions, in terms of technological advances, for the next generation of players?

A: Athletes of all codes seldom understand their bodies and what makes the body and mind allow for a consistent performance game after game. Sports Scientists are forever chasing the “thing” that will allow an athlete to be bigger, stronger, quicker etc but they often cause other weaknesses by focusing on their discovery.

So simply what I am saying is that in my career we went from doing huge endurance sessions and no explosive power to little endurance and tons of explosive power to huge weight sessions with a bit of endurance and explosive power etc.

As every sports scientist came out with a new way to train to make you better the sports world veered to the extreme of that pursuit in an attempt to maximize the return to the athlete often at the expense of a balanced approach.

My prediction is that players and trainers will understand how to train an athlete in such a way that allows his body to perform at its best. Training is going to be engineered to allow each individual to get the best out of their body and accepting that not every new discovery will enhance each athlete in the same way.

In essence training even for team sports will be engineered to the individual.

Q: What advice would you offer the young school boy wanting to emulate your career?

A: Train hard and smart. Get advice from someone you respect who has been on the journey and listen to what they say. It’s an old cliché but you can’t walk into a sports store and buy 10 years of experience. Be prepared to make sacrifices and continually push yourself, not just on the field but off it. Be disciplined and never give up after a bad turn or set back. I have played with too many players a lot more talented than I ever was but who gave up too quickly when things got tough or never went their way.

Life in South Africa

Q: South Africa’s greatest sporting export is?

A: Ernie Els.

Q: If, with the flick of your fingers, you could improve one thing about South Africa, what would it be?

A: Crime.

Q: When asked about South Africa and the current crime levels by those internationally, how do you respond?

A: Having traveled with Rugby as a 19-year-old for the 1st time while South Africa was still under Apartheid was an eye opener to me as I never realized how badly the rest of the world viewed all white South Africans. If you were white and came from South Africa you must be a racist appeared to be the viewpoint of most foreigners.

During this time I learnt that I could change the perception of those people I met. I do the same thing now in my international travels when asked about crime in South Africa which every foreigner seems to know about if they have heard of South Africa.

You can’t deny crime does not exist (It’s hard to when myself and my family have been victims of crime on 12 separate occasions in the last 5 years) but if you give a balanced opinion you can make them change their opinion that South Africa is run by criminals and violent gangsters. This does get harder to do with the like of Malema and our own president carrying on like they do though.

We have to accept that South Africa needs foreign investment and tourist Dollars, Pounds and Euro’s so when as a South African you meet foreigners it is in all our interests to tell them about the positives about our country and highlight the good things that we have.

Life in Durban

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Durban?

A: The Winters, you just can’t beat a winter’s day in Durban. Even more so if you have lived in Northern England like I did for 2 miserable years.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Durban for dinner with old friends?

A: Butcher Boys Umhlanga for a meal and the George & Dragon for a beer.

Q: If you were tasked with commissioning a postal stamp depicting the beauty of Durban and it’s people, which image would you select?

A: I know that Durban seems to be hanging its hat on the new stadium as its new poster child but I would still have a guy in baggies surfing the perfect wave. It was how I saw Durban as a youngster living in the eastern cape and it seems to summarize Durban for me.

Q: Favorite outdoor venue for spending quality time with the family?

Mark and his two sons, Tyson and Xavier.

A: Ushaka marine world would get my kids vote every day of the week.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Durban’s new Moses Mabhida Stadium and do you think the Sharks should make it their new home?

A: No one can argue that the stadium is not very impressive and up with the world’s best but how can we as a country and city build a stadium that costs Billions and will be a drain on our city for years to come. I find it very hard to feel proud of a stadium that cost billions when I drive to work every day and see people living in shacks.

If we had to spend the money why was the current ABSA stadium not upgraded and the rest of the allocated budget used to upgrade the surrounding sporting facilities. Surely we could have used the money to invest in an upgraded athletics track, Cycle Track, Equestrian centre, Hockey fields, basketball courts, swimming pool complex, netball courts, soccer fields etc.

This would have been more sustainable in that it would have added world-class facilities to all these sporting codes that would have been sustainable in that the members of all these codes would have contributed in fees to maintain all these facilities.

It would also have made Durban the destination for a host of national events in all those respective codes making Durban truly the sports capital of Africa thus bringing in constant income to the city.

Finally Durban could then bid for the Africa Games, Commonwealth games, FINA world games etc, etc.

Should the Sharks move, well they would be silly not to move as who else is going to use the stadium after the world cup?

General

Q: Which non-rugby sporting captain do you most admire and why?

A: I don’t really have a favorite captain from other codes but I do respect individual sportsmen and women who do not play team sports as they have to be their own captain at all times. I know the timing is not great but Tiger Woods as an athlete is simply superb.

Q: What were some of your favorite line-out calls?

A: When I played in France as a youngster I arrived not speaking a word of French and as my team could not speak English we had to come up with a fast way of identifying when I had to jump. After much discussion which I never understood a word of it was decided to simply call out my first name or surname when it was my ball. The problem was that the French can’t say Andrews rather they say Andrew with a very guttural pronunciation of the dr in Andrew. This caused me to not jump in my 1st line-out as when the captain called Andrew I had no idea he was calling my name. After more on field discussions they decided to leave out the Surname bit and for the rest of the season my call was simply my name, Mark.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all school-boy rugby players?

A: Michael Jordan’s book , I can’t accept not trying.

Q: Which South African personality would you most want directing you on your car’s GPS device?

Q: The lady who does the pre re-corded pre flight announcement on SAA flights.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: I would say Zuma but I don’t think any ANC politician in this country is able to give a straight honest answer about anything so it would have to be Barry Hilton…. We all need to laugh more in this country.

We’d like to thank Mark for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success in the future.

Reminder that you can now listen our interviews at http://izimvo.com/listen or subscribe to our Podcast feed http://bit.ly/bgC35E

Gary Gold

Izimvo has the distinct pleasure of introducing the Springbok assistant coach: Gary Gold.

Gary, one of the finest technical minds and strategists in the game, is renowned for his academic and precise approach to coaching. Before joining the Springboks as assistant coach in May 2009, Gary was the head coach of Western Province and London Irish.

Website: http://www.rugbyiq.com
Blog: http://coaching.blog.rugbyiq.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GaryGoldrugbyiq
Location: Cape Town

Gary was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Gary Gold, 40 something, current Springbok assistant coach. They might also mention that I was the former WP and London Irish Head coach. Friends have an amazing ability of keeping your feet firmly on the ground so there would be a lot said that you couldn’t print!  But if they were being generous I hope they would say that I have a real passion for what I do, and am lucky to be one of a small group of people whose job is also his passion. I have two other business interests with a rugby website rugbyiq.com and a sports video analysis software product called Sportscode that keep me on my toes.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I suppose a few things that people may not know is that I am an absolute gadget freak – a nerd in that way I suppose. I particularly love Apple products, and cant move without my Mac. Also with the website, I now write a blog every week and perhaps people who know me may be surprised to hear that. I love doing it because it keeps me abreast of current issues in the game, and it often then leads to me researching them and finding out some really interesting info about that week’s topic. A form of forced learning, I suppose you could call it.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Well obviously as I have 2 Kids, I enjoy spending time with them. They are Jamie 6 and Jemma 9. They’re becoming real little people now and I find it keeps a perspective in a life that can get quite tough at times. I am also a bit of a social guy and I really love spending time with close friends, either having a meal, a game of golf or just a great catch up – generally having fun and getting out and about in Cape Town. I really don’t read nearly as much as I should, but I do really enjoy reading and collecting autobiographies.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: I enjoy space, so I would like the house on a medium size plot. Then it would be great if we could have a great view, not necessarily sea views – we currently have gorgeous mountain views. Then I’d like the house to have the necessary rooms – plus a guest room for mates to come stay and then my pride and joy: a study where I could have all the video analysis equipment I need and also all my nutcase gadgets.

Seriously though, perhaps also a cool garden for the kids, and we have a pool at the moment which is used all day by them, and me if I’m home! If we were on the beach that would be a huge bonus – there’s nothing better than to spend a sunny day on the beach in South Africa.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Rugby in South Africa

Q: Can you describe the moment when you first heard that you had landed the coveted position of Springbok Assistant Coach?

A: Amazing really, it was something like 4 O’ Clock in the morning!! It was in 2008 and I was with the Stormers in New Zealand, Auckland to be precise. I was told I needed to have the interview for the job and so it was arranged with some studio in Auckland. I had to be there at 11.30 at night (about midday in SA) and we did the interview, via video conference, with the panel who were in the board room at SA Rugby offices in Cape Town.

The interview, I thought, was a mess. I could hardly see the faces of the guys asking me the questions and then they wanted to show video footage of specific issues in a game, to quiz me on. The clips were totally fuzzy and I could barely make out the teams playing let alone any specific details within the ruck etc.

The interview took about 2 hours and I caught a cab back to the hotel where I lay in bed mulling it all over. I thought a lot about the interview and decided that I hadn’t done myself any good and really wasn’t confident that the interview did me any justice. But I left my phone on, just in case. At 4am Prof. Jannie Ferreria rang and broke the news to me that I had got the job. It really was the first time in my life that I can honestly say my dream came true – and it was on such a huge scale! Needless to say I didn’t sleep a wink after that. I called home and and one other very close friend, to share the news. Then I quickly realized there was still a tour to deal with. I put it to the back of my mind until we returned and focused on the rest of our Super 14 campaign.

Q: Congratulations on a very successful 2009 season. What are some of your favorite moments from the season and which tests are you most looking forward to in 2010?

A: Thank you, it was a truly special year. However, 2010 is a completely different prospect. Where 2009’s focus really was all about the B&I Lions, 2010 marks the true start of our planning and preparation for the 2011 World Cup. So many things need to be considered and done this year in order for the squad to be optimally prepared and up for it. For example, a few positions that may not have enough strength in depth, need to be identified. Then we need to focus on the potential replacements who can fill that position, should they be needed. Then we need to give the player an opportunity to play so we can see how he fares as a test player. I know Peter has thought of all these things and he is very well organized and prepared. If we do need to go this route, it may mean we have to play certain tests this year without our strongest possible team. And yet we are faced with the glaring reality that winning is non-compromisable in South African rugby – or certainly is for a large majority of the media and public! So I suppose it is all a balance – one that also throws other curve balls at us, such as injuries.

I honestly look forward to every single test with the same excitement, nerves and anticipation. But I suppose the first test of 2010 which is against France, will be a massive one for us to be able to get redemption. Then of course, as current Tri Nations Champs, it is always going to be huge when we play either Australia or NZ and with a tougher draw this year, we travel away first, it will pose us a real challenge to retain the trophy. These are all important challenges leading into 2011 because world-class teams need to form and maintain the ability to win when expectations are highest.

The two main highlights of 2009 were definitely the 2nd Test against the B&I Lions in Pretoria and the tri nations test in Hamilton. We were lucky to win the Pretoria test, but we did show an amazing amount of courage and tenacity to come back from a disastrous start. The series win, I believe, will only be fully appreciated in time to come. This B&I Lions team were really that good. After a poor week in Brisbane the week before, the guys knew they had to dig deep once again and needed to win the Tri Nations that day. They knew they could not leave the outcome to be determined the next week when NZ played Aus. It was special to win the Tri Nations in NZ, but also to beat the All Blacks 3 times in a row was also incredibly unique. It is a pity we had a poor run at the end of the year.  It seems that it is those memories that remain fresh in people’s minds. Yet the fact that we had one of the most successful years in the history of Springbok rugby remains.

Q: If you were to select a South African all-star team with players from any era, who would pick as captain?

A: As good as some of our captains have been in past eras, my pick would really have to be John Smit. That choice isn’t because I have the pleasure of working with him now, but because I believe he has what it takes to lead men with varying talents and from all walks of life.

I also doubt there can be any other professional sport in the world that has more off-field complicated issues to deal with such as the Springboks. John has an incredible knack of dealing with them all, without compromising his ability to earn his place in the team or his playing ability. He is also is our most experienced captain of all time.

So as I said, as much as I truly believe we have produced some other great captains, in my eyes, John’s appointment is a no brainer.

Q: What advice would you offer school-boy coaches in terms of preparing talented players for the off-field demands of a professional career?

A: I definitely believe that schoolboy coaches have a much greater role to play in the “Life skills” elements of talented rugby boys’ lives. Plainly speaking, one of the biggest problems that young pro rugby players experience is the radical change to their profile and bank balance. This may, and has in certain cases, led to the young men getting ahead of themselves and losing focus on their primary job of playing and training, to be the best they can be.

Also, through a disciplined environment, schoolboy coaches have the opportunity to really enforce how vitally important it will be for the boys to keep a perspective about his achievements. Coaches allow him to see that he will have a role to play in the community and that his life will one day be viewed through a microscope by his young fans. They will look to emulate his every move and may believe that if high profile rugby players can act in a specific way, then so can they.

In short, they can play a massive role in teaching them humility.

Q: What do you think the impact commercialization has had on the school boy game?

A: It has had a profound impact. The game of rugby has now become a full time, multi-million rand business, and players, being the most valuable commodity in this empire, are being sought after at a much younger age.

Rugby, like any sport , is generally won by the team with the best players. So the drive and focus on signing the best players as soon as their talent has been identified, has meant that scouts, certain unions and clubs now look to sign the best school boys as soon as they show any sign of being able to make it in the big league.

Consequently, schools have realized that commercial opportunities can also be found by having their teams play in big games and get more TV airtime, so they too are now looking to offer bursaries and opportunities to young boys who are talented. This may not necessarily be a problem situation, but perhaps there may be a case for schools, or boys under a certain age, to be governed by a salary cap.

In the UK they do have some tight controls on how much the young academy guys can earn until they get a full pro contract. I don’t see it as a problem at present but it should be monitored.

Q: What are your predictions, in terms of technological advances, for the next generation of players?

A: I think because of what big business sport has become, it has also now become more important that decisions made on the field of play by officials need to be accurate. The result of a game should not be affected by officials making errors and they need not be if we use technology correctly.

In rugby league the referee may look to the TV adjudicator to assist him on almost all his calls. In fact the 4th official may actually notify the ref of an incident he has missed without being called upon for an opinion. Similarly, American Football has full video reviews and the NFL believe that it adds to the occasion.

Certainly in the recent cricket series between SA and England, the teams were allowed to call on video reviews. I believe the crowd actually enjoyed the tension of waiting for the outcome, and ultimately everyone is happier if the correct decision is made.

So in rugby I see it as a matter of time before more decisions are allowed to be reviewed by video officials, so that they are given more latitude to overrule a decision made by the match ref if it is blatantly incorrect or may affect a score. There will be some people who won’t want change, but rugby is in danger of being left behind as other sports embrace technology to assist in the correct decisions affecting outcomes. I am sure we will see more technology being introduced in the near future.

Life in South Africa

Q: South Africa’s greatest export is?

A: In sport, I think Gary Kirsten taking India to the No 1 position in World cricket has to be our greatest export presently. In stores around the world though, I think Oumas rusks, Biltong and some of our wines. These were always sought after and deemed our finest exports by South Africans during my time in London.

Q: What about life in South Africa did you miss the most while coaching London Irish?

A: The list could be endless, but I definitely think our lifestyle here in SA cannot be beaten by any country in the world – matched perhaps, but never beaten. Sadly we only realize how beautiful SA is when we are away from it long enough. We truly have a privileged lifestyle here in Cape Town, not only with its beauty, but also with the great weather and the amazing places to spend time at – right here on our doorstep.

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: We have, but thankfully not seriously. It certainly did however give us a wake up call that we need to be more vigilant.

It didn’t change my perception of the country, it just made me realize that we need to adapt certain habits to ensure we are safe as possible, but not let it affect every minute of our day.

Interestingly, spending time in the UK has also taught me that the grass is certainly not greener on the other side. There are so many great things about SA and our people, and those positives and prospects far outweigh the hangover we are still experiencing from our unfortunate past.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: Far be it for me to be giving him any advice, but I would dearly love to see him administer a government that is sincerely focused on health, education and of course security. How amazing it would be if every SA citizen could receive health care if they needed it, an education through to tertiary level and a safe and secure environment to live in. It would be great to see the people who work in these sectors i.e. teachers, nurses, doctors and police, be rewarded with substantial benefits and incentives. It might make their so often thankless tasks so much more appreciated, and it could in turn encourage more people to want to seek a career in these fields. I think it should be the priority of the government to subsidize these professions so that they thrive instead of being compromised due to lack of funding.

Sadly though, if I did that I fear he may start asking me why we falter in the scrums, or didn’t manage to beat France and Ireland, and then I suspect he may tell me to leave him alone and focus on my own job, whilst he focuses on his! Then I think I may just obey him and slip away quietly.

Life in Cape Town

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Cape Town?

A: Everything except the traffic! Cape Town is an amazing city, possibly one of the most diverse and beautiful in the world. It really can be 4 seasons in one day and we have one of the most loyal and supportive sports crowds in the country. As a guy involved in a professional sport, I couldn’t have asked to do my job in a better city.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Cape Town for dinner with a group of friends?

A: So many great restaurants but the New Grand in the Waterfront is special.

General

Q: Which non-rugby coach do you most admire and why?

A: Alex Ferguson. He has successfully broken the mould of so many incorrect theories that surround coaching and the role of coaches. Phil Jackson – NBA coach for the LA Lakers and previously Chicago Bulls. An amazing man manager who really seems to understand the essence of getting the very best out of his players consistently. Also, mainly due to his spiritual outlook on life, he seems to have mastered the art of keeping perspective. He is a man who has achieved incredible success and great disappointment, yet he is able to stay consistent in his philosophy and behavior. I believe this is ultimately why the successes have far outweighed the disappointments.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all school-boy rugby players?

A: As I shamefully admitted, I do not read nearly enough. But if I was to choose a book that had a profound affect on me, it is the best selling “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. He discusses the dangers of an out of control ego and has so many lessons that are needed by an individual embarking on the challenges of pro rugby – and of life. If that is too heavy, and you were to ask specifically for a rugby book, then John Smits – Captain in the Cauldron tells a great story of his journey, yet shows his ability to stay normal and humble through all of his success.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

A: Right here in Cape Town. I’ve been away too much lately so home feels like a holiday! But the sound of the sea and to wake up breathing the sea air, would be a great bonus.

Q: How many Voyager miles did you clock up during the 2009 season?

Q: About 150 000 miles.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Tiger Woods. Would ask him if we could play golf together now that he has a bit of time on his hands.

We’d like to thank Gary for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him and the Springboks every success for the 2010 season.

Stefan Terblanche (Photo by Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Izimvo is honoured to introduce Springbok and Sharks Rugby player, Stefan Terblanche.

Stefan’s professional rugby started at the Boland Cavaliers where he played under the tutelage of Nick Mallet. He earned a total of 66 caps for Boland before making his Sharks debut in 1999.  Stephan rejoined The Sharks for the 2009 season after playing for Swansea’s Ospreys in Wales.

Stefan’s Springbok career includes 37 caps with a total of 19 tries and 95 points. His try per match ratio of 0.51 is among the highest in Springbok history.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Terblanche
Location: Durban

Stefan was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Stefan Terblanche, age 34, petrified of clowns!

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: Favorite movies – Braveheart and Shawshank Redemption.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Having a few beers with friends and playing with my two children.

Rugby in South Africa

Q: Having lived the dream of every schoolboy rugby player by representing both your province and country, what advice would you offer young players wanting a career in the game?

A: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it! If you want it badly enough, you CAN achieve it!

Q: If you had to single out a highlight from your rugby career, what would it be?

A: Winning the Currie Cup with the Sharks in 2008 and beating Australia whilst playing for the Ospreys in Wales.

Q: What do you think the impact commercialization has had on the school boy game?

A: In my opinion – a negative one. There is far too much pressure on school boys to perform and not enough fun.

Q: If you were to select a South African all-star team with players from any era, who would pick as captain?

A: Easy choice – Gary Teichman.

Q: What, for you, has been the greatest lesson from your years as a professional rugby player?

A: Having sacrificed a lot for rugby – it’s still just a game and should be enjoyed. Never take the enjoyment out of it!

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Family no but close friends yes. We do take precautions by living in a gated community and by being alert but we still LOVE this country!

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: Not an option for us but I don’t judge or blame anyone for considering such options.

Q: If you were South African president for just one day, what would you change?

A: I’d bring back the death penalty for rapists and murderers.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: My hometown – Swellendam, Gwahumbe Game and Spa in Kwa Zulu Natal and the Transkei.

Life in Durban

Q: What do you think is Durban’s number one tourist attraction?

A: ABSA stadium on match days. Can’t beat the atmosphere on the fields after a game!

Q: Favorite venue for watching the big game?

A: Any place with family and good friends.

Q: Favorite beach?

A: Northbeach.

General

Q: What are you going to buy yourself as a 40th birthday present?

A: A golf cart.

Q: Which sporting personality have you most enjoyed meeting?

A: Shane Williams – Welsh winger. Great guy and absolute genius on the field. Joe Roff – Aussie Rugby player.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

Q: In the Transkei with my wife.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Interesting and successful businessmen and women in KZN.

We’d like to thank Stefan for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the 2010 season!