‘Coetzee is the right man’

WPRFU president Thelo Wakefield believes Saru will do the right thing by appointing Allister Coetzee as Bok coach.

Coetzee has emerged as the favourite to succeed Heyneke Meyer, with Saru set to announce its decision regarding the future of the Bok coach and his management team after a general council meeting on 11 December.

Wakefield, who believes several other management staff should be fired along with Meyer, said Coetzee would be a good appointment.

'There has to been drastic changes if we want to move South African rugby forward,' he told Die Burger. 'We must make South African rugby a force again. With a strong management team behind him, Allister can succeed as Springbok coach. He has extensive Super Rugby experience and was assistant coach to Jake White when we won the World Cup [in 2007].'

Coetzee speaks Afrikaans, English and Xhosa, and Wakefield said he believed his multilingualism is another reason why he should coach the Boks.

'It shows his diversity and ability to make everyone feel welcome through communication. Allister is great with people.'

On Monday, Wakefield was re-elected unopposed as the WPRFU president at the union’s 24th annual general council meeting.

Wakefield, who will serve in his final term for the next three years, thanked outgoing executive member Nadir Isaacs, and welcomed all the executive members that will help 'lead and guide WP Rugby into the future'.

The general council voted in the following executive committee:
President: Thelo Wakefield (unopposed)
Deputy president: John Bester (unopposed)
Vice-president: Zelt Marais
 
Additional members:
Peter Jooste
Ronald Bantom
David Kagan
Spencer King
Moneeb Levy
Gerald Njengele
Reuben Riffel
Anele Zita

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

Post by

Craig Lewis