It has taken forty-three years to finally earn a Springbok blazer, but 68-year-old Goolam Abed is not perturbed, and believes it’s ”wonderful” that he finally got the recognition he deserved.
On January 15, British-based Abed will be officially recognized as a Springbok, after playing three matches in the South African squad comprising only ”coloured” players, against another national side comprising ”African” players, in a racially-divided society of the 1950’s.
The fly-half had been recalled for a fourth game in 1961 when he had already packed his bags for a Rugby League career in England. Under the South African Rugby Football Union’s ”Yesterday’s Heroes” programme, all players who had played for the various national sides before unity in 1992, but were denied Springbok colours, are awarded Springbok blazers in recognition of their contribution.
”These are players who qualified to play for the nation, but were denied the opportunity because they were black,” says Mveleli Ncula, CEO of Sarfu. ”We have already honoured many of them, but are still identifying whoever may have missed out.”
Born in Durban but raised in District Six, Cape Town, Abed left South Africa in 1961 after meeting a British bookmaker, Jim Windsor, who encouraged him to try his luck in Rugby League. He has since stayed in his adopted country.
”I left South Africa because I was restricted here, and could not develop much further,” says Abed. ”Although there was racial prejudice on the part of the spectators at times, in Britain I tasted freedom, with far less restrictions than in South Africa.”
He is now a semi-retired printing engraver in Rochdale, near Manchester.
When he got to England, he started as an amateur in Rugby League, a version of rugby he was not familiar with. He learned fast enough with Leeds Rugby League club that he soon turned professional for Bradford Northern and Batley.
”One of the highlights was my first game for Leeds, playing in front of 28 000 people. That was great for me. I liked playing in front of big crowds. Also, in the first five games for Batley, the team earned 39 points, with 36 of them from my tries and goal kicks.”
During the English summer, he would switch codes and play professional cricket. ”I am one of the few players who have played both cricket and rugby league as a professional,” he says with a smile.
His career in South Africa started with Roslyns Club, based in Green Point, Cape Town. He debuted for Western Province (under the South African Rugby Union) at 18, playing 53 consecutive games as fly-half. – Sapa