Empangeni will miss you
Empangeni Rugby bid a hearty farewell to Angus Macdonald on Saturday
Mike Harrison
IT was a sad occasion as Zululand Rugby Academy Co-ordinator, Angus Macdonald, said goodbye to friends and members of the Empangeni Rugby Club (ERC) on Saturday night.
His enthusiasm for everything he did was the keynote of his successful three-year stint as head of the Academy.
His main objective was to produce top quality young players who would filter into, and benefit, the Sharks in years to come.
By doing that the Academy would help to grow the game of rugby in KZN.
And he realised his ambitions as he worked extremely hard to create a wonderful rugby environment which was at one time the talking point of many who had the pleasure of watching his students play.
Admittedly he had Ricky Huey to assist him in his second year, but he then took over after Huey's departure which left him with the coaching and running of the Academy.
The team didn't do as well as was expected, but with one or two key players moving to the Rhinos' squads and Tiaan van Wyk bailing out halfway through, it became a tough season.
Provincial selections
But they often led comfortably at half time in the Frank Norris competition only to let things slip in the second spell.
However, they still managed to crack the provincial teams at the end of the season, not only in KZN but with the Griffons and Lions as well.
A number of the players, either benched or in the Rhinos team that won the Murray Cup, have come through the ranks or have been closely associated with the Academy.
This was a feather in Macdonald's cap.
It was also good to see them including and consulting him on the coaching aspect before that final.
There is no getting away from the fact that Macdonald, who often had to contend with a squad that had little depth in numbers, made a big contribution to the well-being and rise of fortunes of the ERC.
In making a presentation to him from the ERC, Chris Edwards paid tribute to his organisational skills, enthusiasm and wonderful contribution towards the community.
He has the ability to recognise a player of class which has been a major asset and the success of the Academy.
He goes to Maritzburg College at the end of the month. We wish him well and he will always have a home here in Empangeni.
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