Former SA skipper Clive Rice requires brain surgery (27 Sep 1998)

27 Sep 1998

Former SA skipper Clive Rice requires brain surgery

Bob Dubery for CricInfo

Clive Rice, the rebel-era SA skipper and one of the country's most famous and best loved sporting figures, has learnt that he has a large brain tumour.

The tumour was diagnosed after Rice sought medical advice about a gradual loss of hearing in his left ear.

"It's called an acoustic neuroma and it's about 4cm long," says Rice. "The good news is that it's benign, although removing it will cost me the hearing in my left ear."

Now 49, Rice, who played provinicial cricket well into his 40s, is still an active man and has maintained a high level of physical fitness. He is a national selector, is involved in the Plascon Cricket Academy for promising young cricketers (and boasts that he can still out-run a good number of them), and also races in one of South Africa's national saloon car championships.

He is not letting the diagnosis affect his outlook or curb his activities. In fact he was racing this weekend, after the public disclosure of his affliction.

He said: "This thing [the tumour] only affects my hearing at present, but in motor racing that can be a bit of a bonus."

On the advice of UCB chief executive Ali Bacher, himself a doctor, Rice will undergo surgery in Hanover, Germany.

"Ali told me that some things are negotiable - but in this case he was not prepared to negotiate with me. He insisted that I go to Hanover because that is were I will get the best possible treatment. I was planning on having the surgery done in South Africa, but I took Ali's advice."

Rice expects to be "out of action" for about 2 months after the surgery. "My balance will be gone and I'll be a bit messed up - but right now I just want to get it over and done with."