Double-amputee receives R5 000 from former club
Poorte donates hard cash to former prop.
A R5 000 donation, which was raised at Roodepoort Rugby Club’s Legendary Evening, has been handed over to former player, now double amputee Koos Dirksen (55).
The cash was given to Dirksen during half-time in the top of the table clash between College Rovers and Roodepoort on Saturday 29 March.
According to Faris Sader, vice president in charge of club matters, “This is a small token of our appreciation to say thank you to Koos for all his years of service.”
Dirksen is known to be one of the club’s most versatile players in club history. He at first played in most positions in the back line and, as he got older, decided to join the forwards. He then gave it a shot at tighthead prop, a position he has preferred ever since.
Dirksen was team member of the strong Roodepoort side who won the National Club Championships in the late 1980s. He also featured in the starting line-up of the semi-final clash against a phenomenal Despatch side who had the likes of Springbok great Danie Gerber and Frans Erasmus in their team.
Some of Dirksen’s team mates during his playing days include former Hoërskool Roodepoort, Blue Bulls and Springbok eigthman, Adriaan Richter as well as some Golden Lions regulars Hein Barnard, Hempas Rademeyer, Kalla Botha, Graham Noonin, Deon Keysin, Dries Maritz and Hugo van As.
When not playing rugby Dirksen worked as a diesel mechanic.
His world, however, turned upside down following a nasty leg injury on the field in the early 90s.
“It was during a match that Koos had to be rushed to hospital following an horrific right leg injury. What transpired from there is that they had to amputate his leg. One thing led to another, and a couple of years later, he ended up losing his left leg.
“Koos currently resides in Claremont and for him it is a struggle to survive and cope. We feel that the hard cash will lift the spirits of a man who did and achieved so much for the club,” Sader said.
