Owls Hall of Famer talks life and rugby
His record as the oldest player to ever have don the red and white of the Boksburg Rugby Club still stands. He is 46.
It wasn’t just like any other interview when the Advertiser had a chat with the TW Boksburg Rugby Club’s Chris Myburgh, who is the oldest player to ever represent the club.
Unlike your normal dialogue between a member of the media and the interviewee where the journalist normally ‘breaks the ice’, it was the reticent yet hilarious former hooker who got right into it by opening the floor with the revelation of his date of birth, which falls under the star sign Virgo.
Coincidentally, this writer shares the same star sign, and he let Myburgh know – to which the Owls’ icon responded: “Our star sign says we’re virgins, but we’re not.”
Myburgh’s last game for the Owls’ first team was one of the most important matches in the club’s rich history against Springs Old Boys where had they lost, they would have faced relegation from the top tier league, but victory would guarantee their safety up top.
It turned out to be one of those sporting moments written in the stars for the Owls icon when he scored the winning try to ensure that the Prince George Park outfit avoids the drop.
The former front rower began playing the game in his high school days for the first team from Grade 10 as a wing forward at Hoërskool Voortrekker.
“I first started as a flank and then I moved to hooker, but I never stood in the corner,” he joked.
He joined the Boksburg Rugby Club in 1978 where he starred for one of the u-20 sides. Things were looking much healthier for the club back then: boasting a total of approximately 180 players divided across nine teams: two u-20 teams, two u-21 sides and five open sides.
It’s no wonder from 1978, the club produced about 14 Eastern Transvaal players, today known as the Valke Rugby Union or simply, Falcons.
Myburgh added: “My biggest joy was to come here (at the club) and meet 180 friends, ah the good ol’ days,” he reminisced.
“Former Springbok lock Avril Malan was the first team coach; after him, former Transvaal player Corrie Pypers was coach.”
Sticking with the Bok theme, the father of two sons was quizzed on his all-time favourite Bok – and his answer was full of conviction as his face lit up.
“Oh! Joost van der Westhuizen.”
Myburgh’s playing days came to a halt in 1998 when he suffered a broken neck – forcing him to miss the 1998 and ’99 seasons.
To keep active, he began road running in 2000 before completing his first Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in the same year. He repeated the feat two years later, this time from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
“Everybody told me that I couldn’t do the Comrades and I told them to watch me. In rugby, you learn to make friends; it’s not just about winning: it’s taught me to know my own negatives and shortcomings.
“It’s also taught me to use your one and only strong point to overcome the opposition’s weaknesses – and that’s how I played. Be honest, know your weaknesses and always give a helping hand.
“Money is not everything, today’s youngsters play for money but you should play because you want to develop yourself. If you have a skill and passion, nothing can stop you.”
Myburgh is the deputy headmaster at Laerskool Goudrand and oversees a multiple of sporting codes in 40 primary schools across Boksburg, Reiger Park and Vosloorus – with the help of his co-worker, John Makeke.
He added that his best game as an Owl was against a fancied Brakpan side which included nine provincial players compared to 0 on the Boksburg side – a game the Owls triumphed with the openside flanker named man of the match.
He also extended his gratitude to the Boksburg Rotary Club.
TW Boksburg Rugby Club Eastern Transvaal players:
Marcel Fourie, Rod Christie, Barend Kirsten (captain), Majuba Booyens, Anton Venter, Frikkie Viljoen; Paul Oelofse, Brian Randall, Andries Breytenbach, Dawie Strydom, Tjaart Labuschagne, Derrick Bester and Pietie Kruger. – @SabeloBoksburg
FOLLOW US:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail
