adminKennedy Makambira Sports Correspondent
THE legendary former national rugby team centre and fullback and Prince Edward School alumni Ian Robertson, who succumbed to leukaemia in South Africa was one of Zimbabwe’s greatest rugby players. Ian’s exploits on the rugby field were phenomenal and he played for both national teams on either side of the Limpopo River.
He was named Sportsman of the year in 1976 in this country and two years earlier had broken into a Springbok side and toured France for Test matches.
Robertson played a sterling role at centre during Springbok’s two-Test victory over the hosts.
Ian played for Old Hararians Sports Club and made his debut aged 19 for the Rhodesia national team and went on to play 56 times for his country of birth.
His colourful career saw him play for among other teams, Transvaal, Western Province, Pretoria, Harlequins.
In 1979 he was badly injured in his last match for then Zimbabwe Rhodesia against Transvaal.
Ian Robertson returned to rugby as the coach of the Prince Edward Tigers in 1996.
The Tigers had a lean 1995 season by their normal standards and, with centennial celebrations two years away, the situation needed addressing.
Robertson was approached and as a former PE pupil and head current headmaster at St Georges College, Kevin Atkinson recounts, “it took cajoling, coercion and pleading with Robertson to get him to take up the job. This was so because Robertson was a man who was fully committed, frank and open and had no time for half-baked and partial engagements.
“He was 100 percent professional and once one committed to a task he expected everyone to apply themselves fully and with due diligence and he never pulled any punches in pointing out unprofessionalism’’.
While Ian never hid his frustration with mediocrity or lack of full commitment from his players, administrators, match officials, management, or ground staff, he was equally quick with praise and appreciation.
Ian pounded the Tigers into a formidable unit that went on to be ranked sixth best in Southern Africa and certainly one of the finest Prince Edward Tigers team of all time.
By the time they celebrated their Centenary in 1998 and, leading into 1999, the Tigers were the “Kings” of Zimbabwean schools rugby beating all and sundry on the local scene and across the Limpopo too where in Ian’s last season only Bishops School from Cape Town spoilt a 19-match winning streak.
Alongside Patrick Gumunyu, Robertson brought in a new professional perspective and high standard to schoolboy rugby.
Gumunyu was the Tigers team manager with Robertson the coach when, as Centenary Publicity Director, I travelled with them to take part in 1998 St John’s College Easter Rugby Festival in Johannesburg South Africa.
Stumbling upon an opportune moment to publicise Prince Edward’s centennial celebrations, I approached the aides of the guest of honour and then President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, asking that PE be accorded a few minutes to present a gift to Madiba.
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