Captain of the Springboks Siya Kolisi (C) and his team mates pose with the Laureus World Team of the Year award after the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards show at Verti Music Hall on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus)
We all know it was an amazing team victory when the Springboks hoisted the Rugby World Cup last year. And now, that has been underlined by the Boks being named team of the year at the Laureus World Sports Awards against serious opposition, such as the triumphant US women’s football team and Liverpool, who have dominated the English Premiership.
At the awards ceremony in Berlin, Bok captain Siya Kolisi, ever modest, said the rugby triumph was an inspiration for many people in South Africa. Now, kids from the township, like him, could see themselves in a similar position, he said.
Kolisi also pointed to the unity within the team as one of its strengths and said sport can do so much to unify people. His message is needed now more than ever, as fractious South Africans rake over the past.
It was interesting, though, to note the presence at the ceremony of billionaire Anton Rupert, whose Richemont corporation help set up the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Rupert has been vilified by the woke for allegedly being the lynchpin of white monopoly capital.
We should be thankful this has not deterred him from using his money to try to make South Africa a better place for those less privileged.
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
