VIDEO: Siya's blunt message to President Ramaphosa
It is a communiqué Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has been dispatching to the world for two months and now he has directed it at the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
In brief, his message is: ‘Embrace the diversity of the country.’
That is what makes the Springboks the world champions they are.
The global media corps didn’t quite understand the message.
Kolisi delivered that same message, just more directly, at a public appearance at the union buildings in Pretoria on Thursday – the start of a four-day victory parade in which they will take the Webb Ellis Cup to several metropolises.
Kolisi challenged President Ramaphosa to embrace the spirit of diversity on display during the Boks’ successful World Cup campaign.
He thanked the President and his cabinet and “most importantly” the people of South Africa for their support.
“We chose to dedicate this World Cup to you, the people, because we are where we are today because of you,” the Bok skipper said in his public address.
He touched on the resilience of South Africans and their ‘never-say-die’ attitude.
“The other countries don’t understand,” he said – a theme often expressed at the World Cup.
“You have to be a South African to understand the hardships you go through in this country.”
Then came the clincher and his powerful message to the President.
“We are very diverse [as a team],” he said, adding: “Diversity is our strength in South Africa.
“I want to encourage [you] Mister President and the cabinet, we need to use our diversity a bit more.
“It is a powerful force that a lot of countries don’t have, that we can use.
“Coming from different backgrounds and different areas, we see life differently.
“The more we share towards South Africa, the more we put South Africa first and work for South Africa.
“Everything I do is focused on that and that is what we did as a group of players.
“You can use that in the country.”
* (Article continues below the Siya Kolisi speech …)
[WATCH] Captain Siya Kolisi challenges President Cyril Ramaphosa to use the spirit of diversity displayed after the #Springboks World Cup victory for the entire country. “We need to use our diversity a bit more.” #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/FcGyHy0725
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 2, 2023
* Meanwhile, thousands of people gave the World Cup-winning Springboks a roaring welcome in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto on Thursday, the opening day of their four-day trophy tour.
South Africa edged arch-rivals New Zealand 12-11 to achieve a record fourth World Cup title and their second in a row in a gripping Final last Saturday in Paris.
In Soweto, teenagers danced in their school uniforms, as others, young and old, waved South African flags and yellow signs reading “thank you Bokke [Springboks]”, waiting for the yellow and green open-top bus carrying the players.
Wearing a green and gold t-shirt, Dined Malise, 49, left home a couple of hours before the team’s scheduled arrival to get a prime spot along the route.
“I’m so proud about my Bokke [Springboks], especially my captain,” she said before breaking into a “Viva Bokke, Viva!” cry of joy.
Supporters erupted in a loud cheer as the players, wearing yellow t-shirts emblazoned with the team’s motto “Stronger Together”, rode through one of Soweto’s main streets, with captain Siya Kolisi rallying the crowd from the front, holding the Webb Ellis Cup.
‘Into legend’
The team began its victory tour earlier in the day in Pretoria, where the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the players for uniting a country with a divisive past.
“Saturday, you strode off the pitch of victory and passed into legend,” said Ramaphosa, who this week declared a public holiday on December 15 to celebrate the win.
“In doing so you have lifted the spirits of an entire nation and filled us with pride.”
In recent years, Kolisi, 32, has been pivotal in bringing many young, black South Africans closer to the sport.
The Springboks, who also passed through Soweto after their 2019 win, “was not a thing here,” said resident Lindiwe Mkhize, 43.
Home of two of South Africa’s biggest soccer clubs – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates — Soweto has long been the domain of the round ball.
But rugby “is getting more popular by the day,” said Mkhize, a teacher, adding she hoped the team’s visit would be followed by investments in rugby infrastructure to help local children chase their dreams and erase the perception that “rugby is not for us as black people”.
The latest success brought joy to a nation that is still described by the World Bank as the most unequal in the world and battling unemployment, crime and electricity and water problems .
“We are not happy but the Boks make us forget for a while that… There are still a lot of people who are in poverty, who are starving around here,” said Mokgako.
The Springboks will go to Cape Town on Friday, Durban on Saturday and East London on Sunday.
“The performance of the Springboks has reminded us that even amidst our many challenges, there is always room for optimism and hope,” said Ramaphosa.
Additional reporting by Newzroom405 & AFP
* Picture credit: @PresidencyZA
“Thank you to everyone who has come out to support us” 🏆🚌#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/IU7v7rD8ev
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2023
“You are our driving force” 🙏🇿🇦#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/kV1CnUE7AM
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2023
