Botha passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 79 after a lengthy illness. Widely regarded as a legend of the game, Botha was well-known for identifying and recruiting many of South Africa’s future Springboks to play their rugby for the University of the Free State Shimlas and the Toyota Cheetahs.

Tat Botha (right). Photo: Cheetahs

He had a deep passion for the Shimlas and Cheetahs in particular, and countless players may never have reached their heights in their careers had it not been for Botha.

Springbok and Cheetahs great Ruan Pienaar told OFM Sport Botha had a profound impact on his career, as well as the careers of many other players. “It’s incredibly sad news for Bloemfontein, for the university, and for the Cheetahs to have lost someone like Oom Tat,” said Pienaar.

“He had been going through a difficult patch for some time now, but it’s still very, very sad to hear of his passing. My dad and I went to visit him about two or three weeks ago, and it was tough to see him that way because his personality was always so outgoing. He was a people person with an incredibly infectious personality, and it was always fun to be around him.

“Apart from that, he was an incredible rugby man – he loved the university, the Shimlas in particular, and the Cheetahs. Some of the best players who ever played for the Cheetahs came to Bloem because of his scouting. He had an incredible eye for talent, and he was such a fun man to work with. I was also privileged that he coached me for Free State Under-20 just after school.

“It’s a big loss for the Bloemfontein community. He was loved by everyone. I grew up not too far from him, so I’ve known him since I was a small boy. We spent many weekends fishing together and doing all sorts of things. It’s very sad that he’s not with us anymore, but he leaves behind so many good memories. He had a lot of stories to tell about his rugby journey.

“He was always quite a nervous coach. When things got tough, he usually found himself in the toilets because he couldn’t bear to watch. Most of the time, he never finished watching a game, even when he was the coach. He usually only heard the result when the team came back to the changeroom afterwards.

Tat Botha (front middle). Photo: Cheetahs

“He was an incredible man, and he’ll be missed by so many people. We’re all grateful to have crossed paths with him, learned from him, and spent time with him. I’m sure he’s going to be missed by everyone.”

Springboks such as the late Ruben Kruger and current Bok coach Rassie Erasmus are among the many who worked closely with Botha during their careers.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs