Part 8: A Tribute: Basil Bey, by Gus & Billy Enderstein

Collecting and collating Basil Bey tributes, anecdotes and stories reveals an array of wonderful contributions from a diverse spread of Ikey players; not only of the Basil Bey era at UCT and at False Bay, but also from ODs, long- time friends of the great man, and rugby followers from all over South Africa and abroad.

One of UCT rugby’s icons, Gustave Enderstein, deserves to be included in the contributions. A cruel malfunction in that mighty frame, brought on by the struggle to master Italian as a means of cajoling Italian rugby players into playing the game ‘Gussie’s Way’, and some dodgy pasta, robbed Gus of one of his prime weapons; articulate, passionate power of speech.

Gus is one of my dearest friends, much loved and admired by many of us. He was never short of words on and off the rugby field. His perspicacity in identifying my shortcomings as a rugby player, way back in 1965, resulted not in a negative ‘Enderstein Dissection’, but in constructive encouragement and guidance. That was the ‘Gus Way’, as it was the ‘Bey Way. Both great Ikey men believed in the mantra; ‘You don’t coach; you encourage.’ That did not mean soft peddling, pussyfoot guidance. Both men had the gift of lighting a fire in one. You were more scared of disappointing them than any opponent.

Gus learned much from Basil Bey. He had the courage and innate strength of character, and body, to spread the Bey rugby philosophy far and wide, at school level and in club rugby. He added his own passionate verbal persuasion; often with dry humour and powerful words’ – many, many words. Basil was a man of fewer words. Both were extremely effective in spreading the gospel of rugby as it should be played.

I hope that Gus and his wonderfully supportive wife, Billy (a force of nature in her own right) approve of my inadequate, but well-intentioned ‘Gus paying tribute to Basil Bey’ offering.

Basil would have smiled his enigmatic little smile and intoned: ‘Gus is a good bloke; a real rugby man.’ Gus Enderstein has earned that praise from the man who made rugby a pleasurable and noble pursuit.