Club members speak fondly about De Klerk

With the recent death of well-known Edenvale Panthers Rugby Club chairperson and coach Victor de Klerk, the team’s captain and a club member met with the NEWS to speak about the late chairperson.

Edenvale Panthers’ Vic De Klerk remembered

According to Phil Venter, who is the captain of the Panthers, Vic died on November 2 at the Edenvale Hospital.
Phil said on the morning of November 2, Vic had complained of not feeling well and was taken to the hospital.
The death of the beloved chairperson came as a shock to everyone.
“For the past two weeks he had been having some breathing problems but the doctor gave him the all clear on November 1. We were actually meant to gym together on the day he was taken to hospital,” said Phil.
“Vic was not just a coach, he was more than that. He was always there for his teams at any time. Rugby and the club were his life,” said Phil.

Dewald Keys, a member of the Panthers Club, said Vic was a mentor to the team and would help team members no matter what.
“He was a father figure to everyone on the team. He always built you up and was always there for you,” said Dewald.
Phil said Vic was extremely passionate and dedicated to the club.
“The club meant everything to Vic. It was his baby,” said Dewald.
“When the club was banned a couple years ago, Vic fought for us to make sure the club survived. He was such a special guy,” said Phil.

“Often Vic would stay behind after the matches and make sure that everything was sorted. There was never a time when our jerseys were not hanging up, waiting for us,” said Phil.

“Now when I go there it will feels like something is missing,” said Phil.
Phil said although there is some uncertainty about the future of the club, he emphasised that this is not the end of the Panthers.
“The Edenvale Rugby Club is not going to close. The seniors of the team will pull together, we are just waiting for the dust to settle,” said Phil.