New Bulls Currie Cup coach Phiwe Nomlomo has revealed how difficult it has been to command equal respect as a black coach in South African rugby.
Following the conclusion of the 2023/2024 season of the United Rugby Championship, the Blue Bulls confirmed the appointment of Nomlomo.
"It’s tough as...f%#k! When you hear black head coach, it is just a head coach. It is not different to any coach. It's an honour to look after the Bulls,” he told SportsBoom.com.
Nomlomo went on to say that he preferred to be referred to as a coach, and not a ‘black coach’.
‘The stigma is not what we want’
"You talk about that [development of coaches], in the coaching staff you got a guy like Werner [Kruger] who played overseas, played for Scarlets and has got over 100 games, Currie Cup and Super Rugby with the Bulls. A guy like Kennedy [Tsimba], who is a Hall of Famer as a Flyhalf to manage games, it makes my life a lot easier. The coaching staff is strong and that makes a massive difference in my life.
"I tell you why I don't like it [black head coach]. Imagine the players hearing that, at the end of the day, they see a coach. You can call it whatever you want, the stigma is not what we want when we coach and we don't coach according to colour, we pick the best people. It's null and void to me.”
The Bulls made a strong start to the new Currie Cup season last week, dispatching the Griffons 52-10 away from home over the weekend.
Next up for the Bulls is a clash against the Cheetahs, at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria on Friday. The Bulls are in Group A of the Currie Cup, with Western Province completing the pool.