News

De Villiers told to 'sober up'

July 07 2009

Outspoken Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has been told to "sober up" by South Africa's Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile.

Stofile said that De Villiers' comments during press statements may come back to haunt him.

He added that he liked De Villiers very much and knew him as a good rugby player from his playing days in Boland, but suggested the more the Springbok coach talked, the more he got confused.

"The role of the coach is to prepare the team," Stofile told the Daily News.

"The role of the spokesperson is to represent the union."

Stofile stated that De Villiers would only get away with making such colourful statements while the Springboks were winning.

"When we are losing it will be a serious problem. He will be the first to be fired. Coaches get fired for teams not performing, not because they are not doing their job."

It's a startling comment by Stofile, who in essence states that De Villiers' actions - in which he made racial connotations and defended foul play - would only be condoned as long as the players got the job done on the field.