Respect more important than trophies says Coetzee

Allister Coetzee did not say goodbye to his career as DHL Stormers coach with a Vodacom Super Rugby trophy to go with his three conference and two Currie Cup titles, but he did leave with something he will cherish almost as much – Eben Etzebeth’s Springbok jersey.

Coaches often say that what they work for is not trophies but the respect, support and loyalty of their players, and it was what the men who served under them said about them and felt for them that defines them. As Coetzee said goodbye to the Cape media with his exit press conference, he sang from that hymn sheet.

“The goodbyes and the farewells to the players were quite emotional, and it reminded me that you are not defined as a coach by losing in the quarterfinals,” said Coetzee.

“What the management and players had to say to me in our farewell meeting was very humbling. The players thanked me for what I have done, and then I knew ‘I have done my job, I can be happy’. At the end of the day, that is what defines you as a coach. The big thing for me is that in eight years with this union, I have never lost a change room.

This story is courtesy of SupersSport and you can read it in full here.