Naas Botha graced Grahamstown’s The Belmont Golf Club with his presence on Wednesday (16 March).
The former fly-half played a round in order to raise awareness for the Stride With Pride for Hospice initiative, which aims to raise money for Port Alfred’s Sunshine Coast Hospice.
Naas Botha graced Grahamstown’s The Belmont Golf Club with his presence on Wednesday (16 March).
The former fly-half played a round in order to raise awareness for the Stride With Pride for Hospice initiative, which aims to raise money for Port Alfred’s Sunshine Coast Hospice.
After marking his second ever visit to Grahamstown with a 76, Botha spoke to Grocott’s Mail about topics ranging from the trauma of losing family members to cancer, to the need for South Africa’s rugby unions to privatise. Here’s some of what the former fly-half had to say:
On getting involved in hospice:
“I’m a little bit low key the last number of years (Sic) – but a couple of years ago, we were quite involved with hospice – quite involved with cancer, because [my brother]had cancer. He lost two of his kids through cancer. We lost my mother-in-law through cancer. My mother just survived breast cancer. To be honest, it’s close to everybody. I don’t think there’s anyone that’s excluded.”
On raising awareness
“Sport should play a part. I think every individual should play a part. Wherever you can assist, you should actually assist, because we always think ‘ag, we’re excluded’ – and before you know, you’re so into it that you’re a part of that big family.”
On Joost van der Westhuizen:
“I think [he’s been an inspiration] for everybody, because we’ve seen great sportsmen getting sick. I see Seru Rabeni, a guy that I actually commentated on from Fiji – he died two days ago aged 37. That’s why I say “nobody’s excluded”, and I think that’s 99% of the message you want to relay to anybody. Don’t think you’re ever excluded, because you’re never.” (Sic)
For part 2 of our exclusive interview, like Grocott’s Mail Sport on Facebook and follow @GrocottsSport on Twitter.
