Cape Town – Former Junior Springboks, Boland and Western Province flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie has started a new role, which gives him an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the professional game.
Isma-eel Dollie has been appointed as national player relationship manager at MyPlayers, which is the South African professional players’ organisation. This will see the 32-year-old providing valuable advice, insights and liaise to all members, which include Under-19, Under-21, provincial, Super Rugby, sevens men and women, and Springbok players.
“I’m very excited to join the MyPlayers team. It’s an exciting position, which allows me to give back to the professional game,” Dollie told MyPlayers. “I plan on working closely with the player reps at the provincial unions. The organisation provides great services, including contract insurance, financial advice, academic opportunities and many more benefits.
"I want to help the guys make the most of these services so they can have more time to focus on their rugby. My role is to engage with players regularly as well as conduct team visits throughout the country.”
Dollie has the relevant professional experience for his new role, having played for Boland and Western Province at junior and senior levels. He has national honours, having represented SA Under-19s in 2003 and 2004, the SA Under-21s in 2006 and the Emerging Springboks in 2008.
He was included in former Springbok head coach Peter de Villiers’s first-ever training squad in 2008. He also played overseas, spending three months at the Brumbies Academy in Australia before playing two years at Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan.
Dollie also boasts a Bachelors degree in Social Science and a Post Graduate qualification in Management from the University of Cape Town. He also achieved his Post Graduate Certificate in Education during his time as Marketing Manager at Wynberg Boys’ Junior School.
“I really enjoyed my time in Japan. Being one of a few South Africans (Thinus Delport and Jaco van der Westhuyzen to mention a few) experiencing a new culture and country was enriching and fulfilling," he said
"It was a great experience playing rugby at a faster pace and experience the game in different conditions. My playing and academic experience will hopefully be a huge help in my new position. I’ve seen lot during my time as a professional player and I believe I can advise players to make the right choices during their careers.
"I want to help every player achieve their respective rugby goals, but also to remember that there is more to life than sport. It’s very important you better yourself as a person, not just a rugby player.”
In addition to his new role, Dollie is very involved in amateur rugby in the Western Cape. He’s been head coach of Union Milnerton for five years and enjoyed great success as the club has enjoyed an impressive promotional run into the region’s top division – Super League A.
Former Springbok centre Adi Jacobs also forms part of the management at the club as backline coach. While it’s been some time since Dollie retired as a player in 2011, it’s clear to see there’s much more to come from the former flyhalf where rugby’s concerned.