Interview with Gabriel Simaan – 1967 Gabriel began his career at St David’s in grade 1, 1956 as a day boy becoming a boarder in
He remembers crying all day and his teacher, Mrs Brick sat him next to Derek Schoombie. Gabriel was the first of Nassey Simaan’s sons at the school. He also recalled his brother Antoinne killing all the fish in the fish pond. Gabriel took a bus to Corlet Drive then walked to school most days and with his brothers delivered milk on the way. All the boys were scared of Mrs Kenesovitch. Br Andrew was in charge of sport. When in boarding school the boys could work out when Br Andrew was in his room and on one accession George Da Matto, David Palmer and Geoff Price went off for a smoke on the lower field. Br Andrew got wind of this, put on his habit and went out with his torch and caught them. The matric boys sat at the head table in the dining room and Br Andrew walked up and down using a chain to hit boys if they misbehaved. Gabriel put books in his pants when he was sent to Br Anthony for caning. Other Brothers were Br Vincent and Br Bosco (Mario). Gabriel enjoyed the sports days and athletics events were very special. Gabriel didn’t play soccer but went instead into the U12 rugby team at the age of eleven. The boys were only allowed to play rugby once they reached high school. He didn’t play cricket but played tennis and participated in athletics. Gabriel was a good rugby player in the high school with Nassey being the rugby coach. Gabriel was captain of the U13A but was eventually dropped as captain because he was too naughty. His team U13, U14 and U15 won almost all their games. Although Gabriel loved athletics he always had to compete with Terence Lavery who held the world record for U17 sprint. In high school, Lavery had to drop out of rugby and concentrate on running and as a consequence their rugby team was no longer so strong and began to lose games. The Marist weekend in Cape Town was a phenomenal experience. The boys planted the new cricket fields, knocking on doors in the area for donations and were very successful. In standard 9 they were sometimes allowed out of school in the evenings. One of the boys, George Da Matta’s father owned a fish and chip shop, and he lent the boys his truck to transport the grass which they collected from nearby Gabriel’s home in Buccleuch and planted up the rugby and cricket fields. Br Anthony was not aware of the boys trips to the fish and chip shop in Melville. Gabriel made some good friends which included Jo Stravino, Anthony Reswick, Peter De Kock, Kevin Hussey, Johnny Williamson and Johnny Miranda. Gabriel was appointed prefect in his matric year, was awarded his honours blazer, scrolls for merit and rugby and was also captain of the army rugby side, Roodepoort. He was selected for the Transvaaal U20 rugby team but injured his hand and stopped playing although his father, Nassey maintained it was because he discovered women! Nassey was always disappointed that Gabriel didn’t become a provincial Transvaal rugby player. On leaving St David’s, Gabriel went into the army followed by 5 years studying pharmacy at the Johannesburg Technical College. He then opened his own pharmacy and pharmaceutical companies together with his brother Andrew and currently owns Eurolab. He was awarded the Healthcare IMS award in 1996. Eurolab opened 18 months ago and is currently the second biggest supplier of generic oncology drugs only marketing drugs which have been approved by the US Federal Drug Agency and the MCC in Europe. Gabriel supports a settlement nearby his game lodge establishing a community centre, a store to sell goods. JLE July 2013
“Keeping the Ball in Play” Nassey and Agnes Simaan were the parents of Gabriel Simaan who matriculated from St Davids in 1968. They were deeply committed to their school, their legacy spans generations and remain quite literally, rooted in rugby. While Nassey coached rugby, Agnes laid the grass on all of the rugby fields and cricket oval. She is remembered by the boys as driving the little blue tractor at all hours of the day preparing the turf. She secretly buried medals and statues blessed by Brother Anthony under the grass on all of the fields to ensure that the boys were blessed and protected. They regarded her as a second mother, seeking out her advise and common sense and she was always up for a chat with a cup of tea. One of Nassey’s greatest accomplishments was his role as the Marist Inanda’s first team rugby coach. During his 3 year reign, the school enjoyed their greatest success with records that still prevail today. His players from this era recall how there were no superstars in their team: They were a small bunch of very average rugby players and Nassey focused on the weakest and smallest players in the group. It was through the self confidence and motivation that he instilled in them, together with his immense knowledge, strategy and love for the game, that they were able to achieve what they did. Not only did Nassey’s loud voice instruct and encourage the boys in the matches as he marched up and down the touchline, but his athletic abilities were legendary. Apparently more than once, Nassey’s wing would get the ball with a gap in the defence. Nassey would be in line with the wing. With a cigarette in his mouth, Nassey would take off at the same time that the wing broke, and sprint down the touch line screaming instructions. By the time the wing made it to the try line, Nassey was already there waiting for him. When one of Nasseys most successful St Davids teams had their 40 year school reunion, they invited him as their guest of honour as a mark of respect. They all describe Nassey as a passionate man who had a vision and skill set far beyond his years in rugby. He instilled in them not only a love for the game but a love and brotherhood for their team mates and school. Les Khourie – his lock reflects on how much Nassey was loved. Khourie believes he shaped and moulded him into the man he is today. The first fifteen from 1972 remains the best team St Davids ever had. Nassey’s rugby talents and passion for the game were passed onto his son Gabe, who matriculated in 1968. Nassey would speak with immense pride of Gabe’s rugby achievements. His favourite recollection was about Gabe kicking a penalty over from the halfway line, in the torrential rain and howling Cape wind, to beat Marist Brothers Rondebosch by 1 point. Gabe’s son, Gaby jnr who was at St Davids until high school is as passionate about his rugby and was a first league and Lions panel referee. He now coaches the U9’s at pirates. Matthew Cooper, currently in Grade 11 at St Davids; great grandson to Nassey and grandson to Gabe, shares his love and passion for the game. His great grandfather would have been incredibly proud of his selection into the u16 Grant Khomo Lions side last year. He wears the St Davids jersey with much pride and a deep sense of honor. He hopes to emulate Nasseys speed and innate understanding of the majestic game of rugby.
Interview with Gabriel Simaan – 1986 (Std 6) Gaby began his school career at Boskop Primary and came to St David’s in standard 2. His first teacher was Mrs Hurley. He enjoyed his time at St David’s and has very happy memories of his time there and friends he made. It was a close family orientated type of school. You were made to feel you were someone at St David’s and were made to feel part of the school. Gaby enjoyed the sport and participated in soccer, cricket, tennis, cross country, athletics, swimming and was in A team rugby in the high school. He was also involved in public speaking and debating and in the inter-house plays in standard 6. Being a small school everyone got the opportunity to try everything. The mix was also good with both rich and poor parents sending their sons there. There was also a lot of involvement with MOBS and the sons of MOBS, an important status. One person he will never forget is Willy Castle who made him absolutely love sport. Willy ran soccer clinics which he enjoyed even though all the boys were so scared of him. By the time Gaby attended the school there were no longer any brothers teaching. Sadly, as the school was going through a bad patch with several changes of headmaster, Gaby’s parents decided to move him to St Stithians for a better infrastructure and academic tuition. Gaby battled with the change and rebelled which affected both his sport and school work. He didn’t have a good relationship with most of his teachers. There were 5 or 6 other boys from St David’s at St Stithians at the time. Gaby only managed to get into the B team rugby and didn’t participate in many of the things he had done at St David’s. The competition was tough and only the best were accepted both for sport and public speaking and debating. He always regretted leaving St David’s and his grandfather, Nassey showed his disappointment with Gaby’s parents decision by no longer supporting him at any rugby matches. Gaby recalled a match between the two schools where his father turned up wearing his St David’s honours blazer. St David’s won the match as a former St David’s boy playing for St Stithians missed a kick by miles. Gaby’s father ran onto the field and hugged him! After matriculating, Gaby went to Wits University to study for a BComm and then started off in the pharmaceutical industry and is now managing director of Trinity Pharmaceuticals. Gaby’s father is a pharmacist. Gaby still has close ties with the school and his son is enrolled to start in Gr00 in 2016. JLE June 2013
