As a tribute to former four-time world flyweight (50kg) boxing champion Baby Jake Motlala who sadly passed away at the age of 51 recently and is regarded as probably South Africa’s most successful boxer of all times, I thought it would be a fun exercise to find out who you believe SA’s top sportsmen of your time are (preferably in rank order).
Here are a few to consider:
Boxing
Baby Jake Motlala
Brian Mitchell
Gerrie Coetzee
Cricket
Graeme Pollock
Jacques Kallis
Mike Proctor
Allan Donald
Barry Richards
Shaun Pollock
Rugby
Schalk Burger
Frik du Preez
Morne du Plessis
Naas Botha
Danie Gerber
Golf
Gary Player
Ernie Els
Retief Goosen
Bobby Locke
Swimming
Penny Heyns
Natalie du Toit
Tennis
Johan Kriek
Amanda Coetzee
Wayne Ferreira
Athletics & Running
Ockert Britz
Bruce Fordyce
Wally Haywood
Motor Sport
Jody Scheckter
Peter Lindenberg
Soccer
Lukas Radebe
Gary Bailey
Benni McCarthy
Jomo Sono
Surfing
Shaun Thomson
Jordy Smith
I guess no.3 for me might have to be Ernie Els
Schalk Burger in his prime and on top former is a better allround player than Ritchie McCaw. McHardCaw did most of his damage on defence while Burger apart from being one of the best tacklers the game has ever produced, was also excellent at carrying the ball up. In times when Bok teams struggled for retention, one could always count on Schalla to carry it up and make sure it was recycled once he went to deck.
I’m not optimistic about Burger’s RWC15 chances but I’m also having increasing difficulty imagining McCaw making the showpiece as a player. I think his body has circum to wear and tear. He is looking old, slow and tired.
I’m still trying to decide if Gary Player or Graeme Pollock should be my no.1. Player has the international track record while Pollock was denied the opportunity to stake his international claim as one of the best ever batsmen on earth. Lets face it we have produced some good batsmen over the years but never really produced another worlds greatest batsman, which is what makes Pollock special.
@vatikaki: Dear Sir. I agree with you that Mr Schalk Burger don’t get the credit he deserves. I can’t believe there is supporters even considering that he won’t be in contention for the bokke in the next World Cup. Up North we’ve got a lot of respect for the man (maybe it has got something to do with the fact that he tackled the shibbits out of our teams the past couple of years). I have noticed especially the mountain goat supporters have a tendency of not appreciating their players and coaches. I for one have a high regard for Mr A Coetzee for changing a nothing Mountain goat team into CC champs and a serious contender for the Super Rugby cup. But alas I see on rugby blogs that the strepies supporters don’t rate him at all.
As mentioned above Mr Scalla IMHO second to Mr Frik Du Preez as all time best bok player. If his dropkicks and goalkicking were as good as Oom Frik’s we can put him at no 1. So at least Mr Scalla can work on those two aspects of his game the off season. I just pray he doesn’t drop, place and score a try against the Mighty Bulls in a CC while I am still alive. Regards dear sir (and leave our Pretoria boitjies alone or else…..)
Flip Mr Beet this editor which gives a person a couple of minutes to rethink and re strategy’s is cool!
Jacques Kallis should definitely be up there . statistically the greatest cricketer of all time with a super long career to boot.if he were English or Australian or Indian he’d be given GOD status a looooong time ago
Gary Player.
But I like that Schalk Burger is on there as a suggestion. My call for greatest Springbok. Fact that he is still so under-appreciated in South Africa is embarrassing and just shows some peoples lack of rugby knowledge. Tough on Danie Gerber but I love Schalla.
@Grasshopper: Johan Fourie – was right up there at a time when Seb Coe and Steve Cram ruled.
And never forget Paul Nash the only African ever to hold the world 100 metre record and as far as I know he is a Michael House Old Boy
@Gungets Tuft: yep, I know Ernst actually met him at Zurich airport about 8 years ago, great guy!
Elana Meyer, Jaques Freitag, Hestrie Cloete, Okkert Brits, Hezekiel Sepeng, Frantz Kruger, Zola Budd and Godfrey Mokoena can be added to athletics!
I see somebody mentions Francois Pienaar who must be one of the worst flanks to ever put on a Bok jersey he was a good captain nothing else.
Gary Player must be our top sportsman of all time.
Brain Mitchell was okay he defended his title plenty of times but never against any world beaters at that time Azumar Nelson from Ghana was by far the best African boxer by mile and Mitchell never went close to him he would have got his butt kicked.
@Tjoppa: Ha Ha – he is my hero, there have been many a game where I have wanted to emulate his feat!
@Grasshopper: I have just watched a Legends of Cricket episode about Hadlee. Along with Tendulkar probably the most humble cricketer you will ever hear. Ricey never suffered from humility ….
De Villiers … not yet. Cox, absolutely. Very very hard man, his lightie is busy following in his footsteps.
Add marathon – Willie Mtolo (New York) and Bruce Fordyce.
Ernst van Dyk – if you haven’t heard of him, sies. Google. Wheelchair athlete, 9 Boston marathons, one each in New York, Paris, LA and Great North. Amazing athlete.
@Gungets Tuft: I’m going to be controversial as always, Clive Rice was better than Richard Hadlee and Ian Botham! Throw in Roland Schoeman our best ever swimmer with Chad Le Clos. Also De Villiers in the Dakar, Alfie Cox in the Dakar……the list is endless!
For rugby I would throw 2 names in. Philip Nel, captain of ‘the Greatest Springboks’ of 1937 – the only South African national rugby team to have won a test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
And Keith Oxley.
I know, both College boys, but they have the credentials.
Motorsport – Kork Ballington – might still be the only man to hold the 250 and 350 title at the same time, twice in 1978 and 1979
Swimming – Karen Muir – world record at the age of 12.
Cricket – leave out Clive Rice and he will hunt you down …
Barry Richards, our best cricketer to never get a chance….so sad!
I’d personally say Benni McCarthy he has a very high profile winning the UEFA champions league his the only sport South African to have done that. He is Bafana Bafana all time top scorer,I can go all day about his successful career. During his last days of playing he finished off his career here in SA with Orlando Pirate he then won the (Treble) n the league it was a must win match then,Pirates were play Golden Arrows Benni then scored 2 goals including a wonderful freekick to give Orlando Pirates the league. He finished his career on a high
I think we miss the point. A person that comes to mind immediately is Piet van Zyl.
I’d personally say Benni McCarthy he has a very high profile winning the UEFA champions league his the only sport South African to have done that.I can go all day about his successful career. During his last days of playing he finished off his career here in SA with Orlando Pirate he then won the (Treble) n the league it was a must win match then,Pirates were play Golden Arrows Benni then scored 2 goals including a wonderful freekick to give Orlando Pirates the league. He finished his career on a high
@Deon Pitzer: Hansie Cronje??? Do you know what Hansie did to SA cricket?
@CharlesZA: No, Kallis should be there as well.
Mentally the best sportsman SA has ever produced must be Brian Mitchell. Defended his world title 13 times. Every defence of his title in his opponents home country in front of his opponents fanatical supporters. Fighting the best in his division. Being knocked down in South America (Chile?)with one of the best over hand right hand swing shots to the chin against one of the hardest hitters in the division. Standing up to a 8 count and still coming back to beat the opponent. Fighting in Sacramento against the darling of the town in a unification bout, giving the guy a lesson in boxing.
Suppose if you take international acclaim into consideration Gary Player must be the no 1 sportsman SA has produced.
Swimming. No Chad le Clos?
Rugby. Schalk must be one of the best but Frik Du Preez must be SA’s no 1 rugby player. If Scalla can score a try, a dropgoal and a penalty kick against the Bulls in a CC final I will put him in front of Frik. Scalla as the bravest player thus get a close no 2 vote from moi 8)
First above Kallis?
Charles, fielding cannot be quantified. He is the first in many people’s minds when mentioning cricket, and what he did for SA as a sportsman. Not measurable.
Jonty is not even in the top 20 SA cricketers of all time.
Elana Meyer, Ryk Neethling, Johan Fourie, Danie Malan, Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes, Francois Pienaar?
Gary Player by far, but a big unknown legend was Graham Pope-Ellis completing like 46 Duzi’s in a row! (Gungets can quote the actual number). Matt Bowman in paddling and the Chaplupsky’s are up there. Kevin Curren in tennis and Gordan Murray for F1 design. The list is endless……
Gary Player. Dont think it is really close. He is the 3rd best golfer ever and no one else on that list is the 3rd best at their respective sport all time.