Springboks win the Mandela Legacy Cup
ILLOVO - With much fanfare and excitement, the Mandela Legacy Cup was off to a successful start. The cup saw the national cricket and rugby teams band together to celebrate the late icon’s legacy.
UPDATE: 5 December, 10pm:
The Springboks clinched the win against the Proteas in the Mandela Legacy Cup on 5 December.
The Proteas were first to bat and their line-up included 947 Breakfast Express presenter Darren “Whackhead” Simpson. The side scored 181-runs.
The Springbok players displayed impressive catching skills on the field but the batting skills of Victor Matfield, Tiaan Liebenberg, Butch James and Willem Alberts led the side to victory with a score of 185-5.
There was much camaraderie between the players during the match. The atmosphere at the Wanderers Stadium was electric as the crowd shared in the excitement and encouraged the players.
5 December, 8pm:
The iconic clash took place at the Wanderers Stadium and saw a cricket match played between the Springboks and Proteas.
Danielle Melville, director of communications and outreach at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, explained the significance of honouring the late icon through the cup.
“Nelson Mandela recognised the power of sports to unite people and how it can be a catalyst for change in a nation,” she said.
She added that the decision to host the match on 5 December was in commemoration of the first anniversary since Mandela passed away.
Hashim Amla, batsman for the Proteas, echoed her sentiments saying that the sports community was only too happy to be able to live out Mandela’s dream through hosting this significant match.
Springbok lock, Flip van der Merwe, expressed confidence ahead of the clash saying that the rugby team had prepared well for the clash.
“To be able to unite a nation with cricket and rugby is a lovely thing because it speaks to Mandela’s legacy,” he said.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation focuses on contributing to the creation of a just society by utilising the legacy of Nelson Mandela as a vital instrument for sharing memory.
The festivities at the stadium began at 3pm and included an autograph session with players and performances by Johnny Clegg and Prime Circle.
The match started at 6:30pm. The Proteas were first to bat and by 8pm they had posted 181-runs, which was a decent total for the Springboks to try and chase.
