The Sunday Mail
PETER de Villiers and sensational headlines are like Siamese twins.
It was something the Zimbabwe Rugby Union knew before appointing the 60-year-old gaffer and something they will have to contend with for the duration of his two-year stay in the country.
The Union has over the years developed a reputation of neglecting and abusing their coaches, and De Villiers is not known to take such things lying down.
Take the 60-year-old gaffer’s relationship with his former paymasters at the South African Rugby Union for example.
The Paarl-born tactician is reported to have had a few choice words for his old boss last week when he expressed bitterness at the manner in which he was treated during and after his four-year stint with the Springboks.
“I am so glad to be the new Zimbabwe coach, it gives me comfort because I am not welcome in my own country. So I am leaving,” De Villiers is reported to have told the media.
The media conference was his last chance to throw shade at his former bosses, who he accused of ruining the sport and ill-treating employees.
“The first thing I will do when I get to Zimbabwe is sing the national anthem, because they want me there. The Springboks don’t want me.
“I got a call from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to say there is a problem, SA Rugby say I am blacklisted and they cannot appoint me.
“When Boland wanted to make me coach, someone from SA Rugby offered them R2 million not to appoint me, and a union like that cannot afford to say no to that sort of money,” he said.
The ZRU will have to get used to De Villiers’ not pulling his punches.
As the 60-year-old begins his latest sojourn into international rugby, very little is known about Zimbabwe rugby’s latest acquisition aside from his distinct beard, horsy voice and numerous quotable quotes.
The only guidelines available for Zimbabwean populous appears to be exacts from his autobiography “Politically Incorrect”.
“Intrinsic to my coaching philosophy is the view that it is not about the coach, it’s about the players,” wrote De Villiers.
Here he was referring to his decision to not go out on the field in 2009 when the Springboks won the Tri-Nations, saying: “I know when people need me, and they don’t need me when they win.
“When you go onto the field to join in the victory celebrations, you take the focus away from what has happened in the match. It’s the players who play the game, and winning is the just reward for the hard work they’ve put in.”
De Villiers prides himself for an ability to form bonds with players, a recurrent theme during his 20-year coaching career.
He did so when Saru appointed him Springboks coach in 2008, convincing then captain John Smit to stay on as skipper. He has already done the same in Zimbabwe with Sables captain Denford Mutamangira.
Admittedly the two situations are different in that reaching out to Smit was the first step in healing the wounds created by his so-called token appointment and the beginning of a quota system that almost destroyed South African rugby.
With Mutamangira, De Villiers was merely reassuring the team that he would not rush to make unnecessary changes.
Still, in both cases the veteran gaffer showed willingness to create bonds and instil loyalty.
Such things are necessary in his profession, where jobs are few and far in-between and results are not the only things that matter.
Players now have power, and a revolt from them can end the tenure of a winning coach.
The ZRU appears keen to give the new coach the room he needs to settle into his post and start the very difficult task of taking local rugby back to its glory days.
“The coach is currently in South Africa finalising his affairs and we trust he will return sometime this coming week,” said ZRU vice-president Losson Mtongwiza. “We expect him to hand in his training programme, after which we will avail whatever resources he needs to ensure the team does well.
The Union is reported to have availed a car for the coach in South Africa so that he can tour that country and establish ties with Zimbabwean rugby players based there.
