Pitso Mosimane, coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2018 Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Stadium. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
The Springboks will begin their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan against New Zealand on Saturday.
“I told Siya that he is one of the most important players in the country. I would love to see Siya lifting the World Cup trophy. It would be good for rugby and the rainbow nation. We have got all these nice pictures of our legends who have done well,” said Mosimane.
“I have seen Neil Tovey lifting the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, I saw Francois Pienaar lifting the Rugby World Cup. So let us have Siya lift this one. I think it will inspire Eastern Cape and everybody will say this is an opportunity in rugby,” he added.
The Masandawana mentor even said he is willing to drop everything and jet off to Japan if the Springboks reach the World Cup final.
“Even if I have to go there and support the team in the match of the final… why not? That picture (of Kolisi lifting the trophy) will mean a lot for South Africa, that is why we are still talking about Neil Tovey 23 years ago from now because it is an iconic picture, so let’s have that with Siya and I think president Cyril Ramaphosa would like to be in the picture with him,” said Mosimane.
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