A new era dawns at Garsfontein as Sylvester Booysen steps into the spotlight as Head Coach of Bere rugby, adding the role to his portfolio as Director of Rugby late in 2025. With expectations high and standards firmly set, Sylvester now becomes the face of a programme that has quietly rebuilt itself into one of the most stable and forward-thinking in schoolboy rugby.
He follows in formidable footsteps. Johan du Plessis departs having entrenched his legacy as one of the most successful coaches not only in Garsfontein’s history, but in the broader Noordvaal Cup landscape. His influence on the programme was profound, both on the scoreboard and in shaping the culture of excellence that now defines Garsies rugby.
Despite the transition, there is little sense of crisis. On the contrary, Garsfontein finds itself in a position of strength. Over recent seasons the school has deliberately started a shift away from a heavy reliance on recruiting elite players from other schools at U16 level and above. Instead, the focus has moved to identifying talent at Grade 8 level and developing players in-house, returning to a more traditional, homegrown rugby model. It is a long-term investment that is already paying dividends in the junior age groups.
In most programmes, such a shift would naturally see a Director of Rugby devote more time to overseeing structures, systems and coach development. Sylvester, however, is confident that the foundations are already firmly in place. He has indicated that his time allocation will not change significantly, particularly with regard to the junior age groups, where much of the programme’s future is shaped.
The start of 2026, however, will feel markedly different from 2025. Garsfontein has bid farewell to three towering figures who each played a pivotal role in reshaping the school’s rugby identity.
Headmaster Leon Bantjes, a passionate advocate for rugby, has retired. His leadership provided unwavering support to the sport and its development within the school. Deputy Headmaster Retief Smith, a man deeply intertwined with Garsfontein’s short history as a young school, made the emotional decision to move on and took up the role of Headmaster at Eldoraigne during 2025.
And finally, Johan du Plessis himself has moved on. A product of Garsfontein, and among the first students educated at the school, his journey came full circle as he rose to lead the programme. Now he takes up a new challenge at Menlopark, a fellow premier league Pretoria Co-ed.
Change, then, is unavoidable. But at Garsfontein, it is not feared. With Sylvester at the helm, strong structures in place, and a clear development philosophy guiding the future, the Bere enter 2026 with confidence, continuity and ambition.
This is not a rebuild.
It is a new chapter built on solid foundations.
Garsfontein Bere Coaching Line-up – 2026
1st Team Coaching Staff
Sylvester Booysen – Head Coach
Marinus van der Watt – Assistant Coach (Backs)
Andries Bekker – Assistant Coach (Forwards) (Consultant)
Andries Coetzee – Defence Coach & Kicking
Armand Olivier – Conditioning
Marcelle Coetzee – Rucking
Jacques van Rooysen – Scrums
Lezanne Vermaak – Physiotherapist
Henning Gericke – Sports Scientist
Gustav Theunissen (Snr) – Team Manager
2nd Team Coaching Staff
Marco Labuschagne – Head Coach
This layout reads cleanly for publication and gives the article a strong, professional finish with the full 2026 coaching structure clearly showcased.
@Rainier (Comment #17)
As the famous Jose Mourinho once said, “if I speak I am in big trouble.” I suspect you might be spot on!!
@BereFan (Comment #16)
Tx. I refer you to the term “constructive dismissal”.
According to me he resigned as well, there was a message that was sent on whatsapp where he himself said it.
@ReckoningXV (Comment #13)
You must have insider knowledge that Doepie resigned. Please elaborate.
@PietPompies (Comment #12)
Goeie punte wat jy maak! Al enige nuus (bespiegelinge) oor nuwe skoolhoof kandidate daar by die Bere?
@Eden Park (Comment #10)
“Amazing how a resignation turns into a conspiracy the moment bloggers need content.The coach resigned. The school appointed a replacement. That’s called adulthood, not intrique.
Hopelik sien ons nie dieselfde by Garsies as wat ons by die Bulle gesien het toe hulle hoofafrigters vervang het nie. Ek dink baie gaan afhang van die begin van die seisoen… as dinge goed of selfs net so-so begin, dink ek sal die oorgang OK wees. Maar as hulle swak begin, gaan dit moeilik wees om uit ‘n verloor kultuur te ontsnap. In 2024 het Garsies vroeg 5 in ‘n ry verloor op Noord-Suid, Wilde Klawer, Affies en Kloof… maar met Dupie se ervaring kon hulle daaruit kom en op die ou-end steeds die Noordvaal Beker wen. As iets soortgelyk gebeur sal die nuwe coaching span getoets word. Die kwaliteit afrigters is daar, die kwaliteit spelers is daar… dit gaan ‘n mental challenge wees. Hopelik begin hulle sterk genoeg – dan behoort die oorgang nie so onstuimig te wees nie.
Al wat ek se is dat die arme kinders nog matriek ook moet slaag…….
@Djou (Comment #8)
No, I think you are overly sensitive. The article was quite clear on a few occassions that there is no crisis. I think you might be reading it wrong. From my neutral perspective it was never an article that portrayed any crisis. I just think it is a marketting ploy and reaction on losing one of the best coaches in the country. But people move on, like our own Helmut did. A big loss for Gim, but such is life. At least Gim decently said goodbye to mr. Lehman and honoured him for what he did. We will miss him, but we wish him all the best.
Have a wonderfull day Djou
Ja nee, sou graag wou weet hoekom Doepie nou by die atletiek skool afrig.
As die Bere die jaar beduidend swakker presteer gaan daar emmers schadenfreude wees om op te eet.
Ons praat verby mekaar. Ek praat van die mense wat betrokke is, nie oor hoofafrigter of nie. Want Beet se berig laat dit klink of daar ‘n krisis is, maar as almal behalwe 1 steeds daar is, dan is dit nie ‘n train smash nie.
En NB, Gustav is steeds daar – hy het die rugbyprogram begin 13 jaar gelede en speel steeds ‘n massiewe rol.
@Djou (Comment #4)
No, Sylvester is the head coach now, AND also the director of rugby. He used to be the director of rugby and the forwards coach of the Bere as I understand it with the head coach being dupie. He is now both, head coach and DOR. That is what they said. I read that somewhere else as well, I think SS schools. Not sure of both are wrong? Well, best of luck to the Garsie boys.
Manne die coaching groep lyk al vir die afgelope 2-4 jaar so. Enigste verskil is Duppie wat weg is en Jaco Kriel wat blykbaar nie meer betrokke is nie. Dan ook Marinus vd Watt wat bykom. Die res is almal al vir die afgelope 2-4 jaar (en langer) betrokke by die skool. Dit is niks nuuts nie, dis net nou beskikbaar vir diegene buite die skool. Transparent, soos ons is met ons beurs beleid ook. Duppie bly n hengse verlies maar kom ons hoop een van die mees suksesvolste club coaches in ons land kan sy skoene volstaan.
Beet, apart from the mistakes, you failed to mention the one big constant and driving force behind Garsfontein’s success. And that person is still there. You might have heard of him, because his name is mentioned as team manager. His name is Gustav Theunissen.
So, no crisis at the school!
@Eden Park (Comment #2)
Nie nodig vir enige tongue lashing nie.
Ongelukkig het Beet die inligting verkeerd.
Bekker is nie backline coach nie en Coetzee is nie skrum coach nie. En Sylvester is al vir 2 jaar die direkteur van rugby.
Die enigste verskil tussen 2026 en verlede jaar is van der Watt wat by Duppie oorgeneem het as backline coach.
Die skool het reeds ‘n goeie nuwe adjunkhoof en die hoofpos is reeds adverteer.
So, die storie is sensasionalisties, soos wat goeie skrywers doen. 😄😄😄
@Eden Park (Comment #2)
Nee wat, ek self is in n wag en kyk posisie. Hoor nie van Dup nie so mens weet nie wat is die feite rondom die hele besigheid nie.Anders as party bloggers sal ek n opinie he as die feite op die tafel is.
@Skywalker (Comment #1)
Or a marketing stunt and smokescreen. Many schools however has a big contingent of coaches. They should’ve never ever let go of their previous head coach. I know people in Pretoria and he demanded quite a bit of respect in town and also amongst coaches country wide. This is more to soften the blow of his departure than anything else. I smell a rat. And now I await the garsie bloggers tongue lashing.
All the best to them. Is that the norm nowadays for the number of coaches for a 1/2nd team? 10 peope involved, 7 coaches, 1 physio, 1 team manager and a Sports Scientist as well, seems like a lot. Would be interested to hear. Great to have all that, i am just interested, it seems very professional indeed.