When Kurt-Lee Arendse drives into Loftus Versfeld stadium, there are two people who put every award, every accolade and every success that one of world rugby’s greatest wingers has ever achieved into perspective for him, writes Michael Vlismas.
“Victor and Andries,” says the Vodacom Bulls and Springbok winger. “They give me that drive every single day.”
The two security guards at Loftus Versfeld are probably unaware of the huge role they play in Arendse’s life.
“There are some days when I go to the stadium and I don’t feel on top of things, but then just those one or two conversations I have with the security guards at the stadium changes my whole day. Every time I see Victor and Andries, they speak with so much excitement. I might be feeling a bit down at the time, but just because they’re so excited and happy to speak to me, it lightens up my day. When I walk away from them, it’s changed my whole mood.
“They have a great part to play in the awards I get. It’s just that small chat with them that makes such a difference for me. They’re the people we see every day alongside the field when we go to work. That helps me to just get in that right mindset and start every day fresh. It reminds me to always be grateful for what I have. The awards are a bonus, but that’s not what we play for. We play to give people hope. People like Victor and Andries.”
And then Arendse, in his own soft-spoken way, says something about the award he received as the Vodacom Bulls Player of the Season for the 2023/24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship that is another powerful reminder of how a man who looks like he’s floating on air on a rugby field is able to remain so down to earth off it.
“Throughout the last season, there were so many Vodacom Bulls players who put their hands up for an award like that. I don’t think there was anything more special about what I did. I was grateful, but I felt that Willie deserved it just as much.”
Arendse felt so strongly in the contribution Willie le Roux made to the team and to his own game that after receiving the award, he contacted Vodacom and asked them if he may instead hand his award to the talismanic fullback.
“Since Willie joined the Vodacom Bulls, the experience that he’s brought has just been so good for our team. Firstly, he’s just a great person. But the fact that he’s been playing the game for so long and been a part of the Springbok set-up for so long, he brings so much experience to the table.
“It’s often the small things that he does that people don’t always see, like how he communicates with the players on the field, how he joins the line. Those are the things people often don’t see, but as players we see it and it helps wingers like me to look good.
“Sometimes we want to play fancy rugby, but Willie would come and say just keep it simple. He always tells us that the moment will come when the dam wall will break and then we’ll just walk over the tryline. And then it happens that way. It’s not about doing anything fancy. It’s just about being simple and direct on the field.”
As simple and direct as Arendse’s humility.
As simple and direct as the smiles of Victor and Andries.
The post The two people who drive Kurt-Lee Arendse’s success appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
