The Lions’ Kiwi coach John Mitchell has become the latest international victim of the crime wave sweeping South Africa … and he is lucky to still be alive.
In a report that has already reverberated around the world, it was revealed that the former All Black coach, Mitchell, was stabbed in the leg and arm in his Hyde Park Apartment in South Africa on Sunday.
He returned to work on Monday after treatment for minor injuries.
Two men broke into a Johannesburg apartment Mitchell was sharing with fellow New Zealander Wayne Taylor on Saturday night, and one of them stabbed the 46-year-old coach during a struggle, police spokesperson Moses Maphakela confirmed.
Mitchell at first thought the attack was a prank and jumped on one of the assailants.
Taylor escaped through a bathroom window and alerted police when he heard the attackers demand money from Mitchell, Maphakela said.
“He is back at work now and he is okay,” Krystle Geach, spokesperson for Mitchell’s Golden Lions, said.
“He is having a few meetings in Johannesburg and wrapping up loose ends before going on leave on Wednesday.”
Mitchell limped and wore a plaster cast on his right arm when he arrived for work at Coca-Cola Park, according to local radio.
The former New Zealand coach was admitted to a clinic with light stab wounds to his arm and thigh, but released on Sunday morning, said Geach.
The attackers fled with electronic equipment, but dumped the bigger equipment in their flight. Police took fingerprints from the house, but had no further leads, said Maphakela.
“This morning we are still looking for the suspects.”
Lions president Kevin de Klerk expressed his horror at the attacks on the club’s website.
“We have rallied around both John and Wayne during this terrible time and have placed them both in new accommodation for the time being while we find them new permanent residency,” he said.
Mitchell will return to his home in Perth, Australia, for a few days before his team restarts training in November, Geach said.
Mitchell, who recently signed a three-year contract to coach the Lions, ended his contract with the Western Force a year early in order to take up a position in Johannesburg.
He also coached the All Blacks at the 2003 World Cup.
Last month Mitchell turned down an offer to assist Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
Swak!
This makes his job so much more difficult, shame man how can you concentrate on your job if you must watch around every corner. Even worse even when sitting in your room.
A real sad episode. Wish him all the best and hope he recovers fast.
“Last month Mitchell turned down an offer to assist Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.”
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😀 now that is how rumours are started … next thing we’ll hear someone will be claiming to have seen pdv and an unknown man enter jm’s hotel at about the same time as the attack!!!
..
on a serious note … this is not something that you want to read about, especially when its a “visitor” to our beautiful country!!
dis sulke goed wat ons naam naam kak maak orals
I know crime is bad all over but Jhb takes the cake.
Damn!!
Farking Criminals, they should be hung by their balls!
John Mitchell, recover well rugby man, the Lions need you… and I’m sure all of South Africa is behind you all the way.
One would actually have expected the Lions to have found John Mitchell a proper House by now as well as a good vehicle and normalised style of living, seeing as the man is here for 3 years anyway.
It is not normal to live in a bloody Hotel all the time….
Ahhh, I see John Mitchell was actually staying in a Hyde Park apartment, not a hotel….
@ Ashley:
Ash i am glad the Bulls won against the Lions otherwise we would be prime suspects……………… Makes one wonders about you lot down there
Baie jammer om dit te hoor, maar aan die ander kant, wat het ons anders verwag van ‘n land van wetteloosheid en wanorde, waar jou president 20 vrouens het, en die land se rugbyspan afgerig word deur die Boswell Wilkie sirkus.
@ bdb:
Hey begin jy al weer mense met narre vergelyk. Netnou moet jy in die openbaar verskoning vra.
bdb @ 10
uhm … sigh … anger management courses, anyone?
superbul @ 9
hehehehe
wel, as dit bloubul ondersteuners was weet ek hulle sou beslis nie balaclavas gedra het nie
rede: dissie nodigie … want alle bloubul ondersteuners lykie selle!! 😆
#13 Hehe, Ash!!!
Ek stem saam; Super, Blouste en bdb lyk oppe haar baie na mekaar – veral Blouste…
fender @ 14
lmao, goeie ene daai!! 😆
ok guys
i’m out for a while
chat later
12: Ou Volstruis van die Kaap, eendag as jy jou kop uit die grond getrek het sal jy die werklikheid om jou begin raaksien. Stuur liewers vir Deon Fourie na die ‘anger managment courses’ toe, Bakkies sê dit werk !
14: kan nie help as ons al drie soos kampioene lyk nie, maar dankie vir die kompliment.
Bdb, hey luister, ek het nooit gese julle drie lyk soos sampioene nie!
bdb @ 17
wel as ek eers my kop uit my gat uit getrek het … skuus ek bedoel uit die gat uit getrek het
moet ek nog my wp brilletjies ook afhaal … ek weet regtig nie watter een vd twee gaan die moeilikste wees nie, lol
@ Ashley:
skerp seun skerp maar kry weer iets in daai trophy kassie daar op Nuweland( so by the wy die plek is fokken moer oud Jan van Riebeeck het daar rugby gespeel)dan kom chirp djy weer die ooms van die Bosveld.
super @ 20
die dag as ons weer ñ ietsie wen
gaan wprugby met ñ groter kopseer sit
hulle gaan dan eers besef daai kabinet van ons is laaaaaaaaaankal al gesteel
dink hulle gaan sukkel om enigiemand te kry wat regtig kan onthou wanneer laas hy die trophy cabinet gesien het, lol
Sad to read this and read it in the Aussie papers too. Not good for SA this at all. The crime levels back home is just not acceptable anymore. Lions just have to get Mitchell a place to stay in Dainfern Golf Estate. A lot more secure than any place in Hyde Park.
Hope this does not put Mitchell off from coaching the Lions for the next 3 years.
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