The image of soccer genius and legend George Best as a compulsive extrovert and womaniser was refuted by two South Africans who knew the soccer genius and legend better than most.
Best, who died on Friday at the age of 59 of a lung infection to his alcoholic-ravaged body, which had required a liver transplant four years ago, played several games as a guest for Jewish Guild in the old National Football League in the 1970s.
He was described by former South African and Highlands Park midfielder Martin Cohen as ”coming from the salt of the earth — a very rare player and a very rare human being”.
Cohen played alongside the Manchester United icon when they were both with the Los Angeles Aztecs in the United States in 1977.
”He was basically a shy person behind all the glitz and publicity,” said Cohen, ”and cultivated the outspoken, bravado image and sharp tongue as a tool against what he perceived a cynical, unprincipled media whom he despised.
”I remember the phone ringing once,” said Cohen, ”and the caller announcing himself as John Smith of The Sun.”
”’This is George Best of the Earth,’ replied Best, ‘so just fuck off.”’
Cohen said women flocked to Best like moths to a flame — ”but it was not because he chased them. Rather, it was because he was so good-looking and had such a magnetic personality they found him irresistible.
”I met him in London five years after we played together in America,” said Cohen, ”and he treated me like a long-lost brother. That’s the kind of guy he was.”
Lawyer Itzey Blumberg, who was a director of Jewish Guild when Best played briefly for the club and who was his constant companion in South Africa, described him as a ”gem — a very unique person”.
”I owned a beaten-up old Toyota at the time, with the passenger seat only prevented from collapsing by an old hockey stick,” reminisced Blumberg. ”The Guild directors sent a fancy limousine to take George to the Rand Stadium, but he insisted on travelling in my jalopy.
”He spent most of his time in South Africa partying and only showed his rare talent for the first 10 or 15 minutes of each game. But one shot from almost the halfway line at Balfour Park rocketed against the crossbar and was the best of Best.”
Blumberg introduced Best to controversial stripper Ultra Violet, who was one of his clients, and the pair raised more than a few sparks.
”But he was never happier than in the privacy of his close friends,” said Blumberg, ”and I still cherish a vintage wine bottle we polished off together at one such meeting with a couple of friends.” — Sapa