The boxing fraternity is in mourning after the recent death of talented coach Freddie Dicks.
At only 44, Dicks still had a lot to accomplish with his boxers at the Bert Collins Boxing Club in Springs where he served as head coach.
Dicks hails from a great boxing family, as his mother Jeanette Dyzel is one of the best coaches and referees in the country.
A middle-distance and cross-country athlete growing up, Dicks had over 10 years experience as a coach and was looking to become a three-star coach and be selected to be a part of the national team attending the Tokyo Olympic Games.
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Dicks would most likely have achieved that dream as the calibre of boxers under his tutelage were national and African champions.
Gerhard Thysse became Zone 4 champion in April 2019 in Botswana and was the SA Elite champion in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Chantel Erasmus was the SA Youth champion in 2019 and Clayton Meyer was the SA School Age champion in 2018.
His daughters Geannè and Minnet Dicks were also champions, winning several national titles between them.
Geannè was the SA School Age champion in 2015, the SA Junior champion in 2016 and 2017, before winning the SA Youth champion in 2018 and 2019.
Minnet won the SA Junior title in 2018, picking up from where her sister left off.
Dicks was the only coach in 2018 to boast with five SA champions in all the age categories.
His mother said a proud moment for her son was when his boxers won national titles and his daughters became national champions at the same time.
“The tears of joy were unstoppable for him and his daughters. He walked away as the proudest coach because three of his boxers won SA titles at the same championships, while Gerhard Thysse won the SA title at Elite Championships in July and during December Clayton Meyer won the SA School Age title,” she said.
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Dyzel said the club will miss his way of training and encouragement.
“He was still training boxers when he was critically ill. He always had the interest of boxers at heart.”
Andile Mofu, president of the South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo), said the progress Dicks had made with his boxers was incredible and the fact that he was the head coach at such a young age spoke volumes of his ability and the respect he commanded.
“It’s very sad. It is a big loss, not just to the boxers he coached and the clubs he served, but Sanabo as a whole as he was destined to go on to even greater things.
“His fun-loving and caring nature and his great technical skill and coaching prowess will be deeply missed by all of us,” said Mofu.
When asked how she would like Dicks to be remembered, Dyzel said his dedication towards his boxers and his determination that if you start something, it must be finished.
“He left big footsteps which will be hard to fill. Because of coach Freddie, Bert Collins became the most feared club on the East Rand,” she added.
He leaves behind his mother, three daughters, one son, two brothers, and a sister.
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