Free State Rugby wishes oom Bert Sorour a happy 90th birthday! 

When Bert Sorour's contribution to Free State rugby has to be reviewed any observer would soon realize that he played a huge role behind the scenes, especially in the meeting rooms of the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU) and South African Rugby Union (SARU) to develop the Free State Cheetahs as one of the strongest and best in South African rugby.

Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs is the one person outside of oom Bert's family who knows him best. 

When you talk to Harold, you soon find out what high regard he has of him as a person, rugby man and lawyer.

''He's one of the most loyal, conscientious, principled, and most intelligent people I know. A man of high integrity. "

"Oom Bert is someone who you can count on any time of the day. He can be how busy, but he will always take my calls and assist us on any legal aspect of a case, or during negotiations of some or another contract.”

''There is much talk of ironmen on the rugby field, but this man has always been a true iron man at the conference table - a man whose judgment and knowledge are widely respected and often in critical stages of negotiation in favour of the FSRU, '' says Verster.

Bert Sorour is a man who, with his rich life experiences and legal knowledge, often guided heated discussions with insight and thoughtfulness in a manner to resolve issues.

''But, Oom Bert is also a very nice person. A man with a dry sense of humour, whose jokes are enjoyed by officials and players alike. He was an incredible tour companion and we share fond memories

He was baptized 90 years ago as Albert Abraham Sorour in Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State, but for most of our younger generation he is just “oom Bert.” 

Bert Sorour is a lifelong member of the Free State Rugby Union and his involvement since the days of an A.K. Volsteedt (chairman of the Free State Rugby Union between 1968 and 1976 is invaluable to Free State Rugby. 

He has always been a major player in the FSRU and of the Ramblers Club's negotiations with the Bloemfontein Municipality regarding contracts for the upgrading of these two sports fields.

As a young Bloemfontein lawyer, he acted for the firm Mandela & Tambo during the stormy political years in the 1960s. Oom Bert says that he has great respect for Mr. Nelson Mandela, later President of South Africa, who himself came to Bloemfontein to consult with them at the time.

It was also during this time that Oom Bert and Adv. Bram Fischer (who played for the Free State scrumhalf in 1927) met several times.

Often, Bert Sorour was in the midst of tough and heated discussions. The debate could have been fierce, but when the meeting closed and the men opened the door of the meeting hall in the reception area of the AK Volsteedt building afterwards, it was striking how especially Bert Sorour engaged with the other board members in a very friendly and courteous manner, as only he can.

Collegians

Some of his toughest times in Free State Rugby was when his beloved club, Collegians (of which he has been a member since 1948) was relegated to the reserve league (second league) of the Free State Rugby League after a poor season. This decision was made at a meeting of the FSRU on the 13^{th of} October 1971. 

Sorour took over the reins as chairman of the club in 1972, and it was mainly himself and Johnny Pentz, a long-time friend and club member, who tirelessly worked hard in the meeting rooms and on the training ground to get Collegians to regained their first-league status within a few months.

At a meeting on the 23^rd February 1972, Oom Bert pointed to many gaps in the existing constitution of the Free State Rugby Union in an attempt to temporarily halt Collegians' relegation. On the 23^rd March 1972, at a special meeting of the Free State Rugby Union, Collegians lost their first-league status by one vote. Pentz took the lead on the practice field with iron discipline and after 8 consecutive league victories in the Reserve League, on the 21^st June 1972, it was decided to give Collegians another chance in the first league. Three years later, Collegians shared the City Cup with the Shimlas of the University of the Free State.

Heart of Gold

The fact that Bert Sorour has a heart of gold will be widely praised. Like when Rampie Stander, Springbok loosehead prop of the Free State, who passed away after a stroke on the 25^th August 1980, and Oom Bert and four other Bloemfonteiners - Choet Visser (businessman), Willem Klopper (businessman), Des Fairbairn (auditor) and Johnny Pentz (businessman) - established a trust for Stander's only son, Jandré.

The five made their services available to the trust free of charge. Oom Bert was in charge of the administration of this trust for 24 years. This money contributed to Jandré's studies and enabled him to qualify as a game warden.

A memorial match in honour of Rampie Stander was held at the Free State Stadium on the 11^th April 1981, which was the launch of the Jandré Stander Trust. Famous British international rugby players such as Bill Beaumont (Irish and Lion captain), John Carleton (English winger), Steve Fenwick (Welsh center) and Phil Bennett (Welsh and Lion flyhalf) would have played in an invitation team against a Free State team.

Oom Bert was Collegians’ - oldest representative at the FSRU, and in 1994 he became a member of the Executive Management (EM) of the FSRU. He was the Deputy President of the FSRU from 1998 to 2012.

Name Albert Abraham. Sorour  Nickname: Bert.

Date of birth/place: 16/7/1930 - Ficksburg.

Children: Three children - A twin (Keith and Karen - who are both lawyers) and Sharon (a journalist). His wife, Helené, passed away in a car accident.

Primary/High School: Ficksburg.

University: University of the Free State Degree(s): BA en L.L.B.

Did you play rugby yourself? Which position (s)? Any celebrities who played with you? Center for Collegians with well-known Free State players such as Jaap Furter, a junior Springbok, Graham Hill, Eddie Conradie and Eric Johnston.

What positions did you hold at Collegians / Ramblers? All possible positions - from reception secretary, secretary, treasurer to chairman for more than 15 years. At the Ramblers from committee member to chairman and president. I was a member of the Ramblers' restoration committee for the buildings and sports fields. The building project has been completed and the sports fields have yet to be done. I have been a member of the Collegians Rugby Club since 1948, and am currently a Lifetime Member of the Ramblers and Collegians.

Who would you excel as the person (s) who had the greatest influence on your life? My father, Mr Lutfallah Sorour - a businessman who immigrated to South Africa from Lebanon at the age of 16 before the Anglo-Boer War - had a dignified outlook on life and had a particular Christian life philosophy, a lot to me and he always encouraged me. My late wife, Helené, who had to spend long periods and evenings at home alone to allow me to be involved in rugby. Toffie Kalil, a former Free State football boss. I did my clerkship at his firm for 5 years, after which I became a partner in the law firm of Kalil & Sorour in 1953. My longtime close friend Johnny Pentz.

Who was your sports/rugby hero? Gerry Brand, Springbok fullback of the 30s and according to a maestro like dr. Danie Craven, chairman of the South African Rugby Board for many decades, is one of the very best rugby players South Africa has ever produced. He has long been a member of the Collegians and the Ramblers Club, as well as a Free State rugby selector.

I am very satisfied with what I have achieved in life, and I enjoy life with my children and grandchildren.

by: Frikkie Van Rensburg