AUDIO: Kolisi’s honest farewell as Sharks fall short

AUDIO: Siya Kolisi’s departure from the Sharks has now become a poignant reality.

He is set to feature in his second-to-last outing in a Sharks jersey when they face Benetton at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.

The disappointment of missing out on the top eight has been hard to take for the Sharks, and for captain Siya Kolisi, it’s a moment of honest reflection as the reality settles in that he has reached the end of his journey with the Durbanites.

Set to join the Stormers soon, the No.6’s decision was made in the best interest of his children, as he looks to be closer to them and his family base in the Cape.

Kolisi officially moved to Durban to join the Sharks in February 2021, ending an 11-year association with Western Province in Cape Town.

The Springbok captain’s time in Durban has been defined by leadership, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to the game.

A global rugby icon and one of the most respected figures in sport, he has been a sterling ambassador for the Sharks and has played a meaningful role in shaping the culture of the squad during his time with the Club.

On top of that, the Bok skipper has had to deal with his side’s failure to make the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals.

The Sharks lost 28-33 to Edinburgh on Friday night to extinguish their faint hopes of finishing in the tournament’s top eight.

Their last two outings are against the lowest teams in the standings, Benetton and Zebre, which doesn’t help as the gap between them and the eighth-placed team is now too vast to bridge.

“It’s been a tough week for us with not making the Top Eight. We are really disappointed, especially with the group that we have,” he admits. “We definitely should have qualified for that. We have no excuses for that.”

There is no hiding from the standards they set for themselves and Kolisi made no attempt to soften the blow.

“We want to make sure that we finish strong for the season. It hurts us the way the fans have been supporting us so much and we couldn’t deliver for them, for the club itself.”

For Kolisi, accountability sits at the centre of everything.

“We should be doing better than we did this season,” he says. “But yeah, we’ve got a big challenge this week with Benetton.

“Also, a great team, they’ve beaten some big teams this season, so we want to finish our year strong and hopefully the guys can build going forward with these last two games.”

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Beyond the frustration of results, there is something far more personal unfolding – a farewell that is beginning to take shape.

“For me it’s been tough. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to the boys. It’s been a special place,” Kolisi reflects.

“Thank you so much to the people of KZN for welcoming me and my family. My kids love coming here; they really enjoy supporting the team, they love the city itself and they love the people here.”

He speaks warmly of the connection that extended far beyond the field.

“I’m going to enjoy the last two weeks and enjoy the city and KZN as much as I can,” he says.

“Thank you to the people here, thank you to the Sharks for everything they’ve done for me and for supporting me in everything, and for understanding how important family is – not just saying it, but helping me get closer to my kids.”

As the final matches approach, Kolisi is determined to leave on the right note – not just in performance, but in spirit.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters for the last two weeks and to saying goodbye properly to everyone.”