Former Umpire Rudi Koertzen Dies In A Car Crash
According to a local news story, a head-on collision claimed the lives of South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, one of cricket’s most recognisable figures, and three other persons. The collision happened early on Tuesday in South Africa’s Riversdale.
The Despatch resident Koertzen, 73, was travelling back to Nelson Mandela Bay from Cape Town after a weekend playing golf.
His father died on impact, according to Rudi Koertzen Jr., who spoke to Algoa FM News.
Rudi Koertzen Also Played Cricket For South Africa
“He went on a golf tournament with some of his friends, and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf”, Koertzen Jr said.
He has always loved playing cricket, and while working as a clerk for South African Railways, he participated in league cricket. Eleven years after becoming an umpire in 1981, he officiated his first game at Port Elizabeth between South Africa and India.
In the 1992 Boxing Day Test between South Africa and India in Port Elizabeth, Koertzen made his Test debut. He also played in a record 209 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty20 matches, but his favourite memory of his career was playing in the 1999 World Cup opener between England and Sri Lanka.
“This morning I thought I will have a nice and easy day. However, they started putting pressure on me to see if the old guy can handle it. That’s cricket. It’s an amazing sport and I was so honoured to be part of it and I’ll definitely miss it” he had told Sky Sports in an interview.
I am really looking forward to retirement. I’ve got a few things lined up but I am looking forward to taking a break and spending time with my family.”
He was amongst the top umpires in international cricket for a long time.
