A Champion People

For one brief moment of eighty minutes or so South Africa could take its eyes off of itself and gaze at the spectacular event of the final 2019 Rugby World Cup played in Japan this year.

What a transportation into victory ! From the constant media reporting of the murky pit of poverty and its seedy ripple effects in weary worn communities, unsavory, corrupt politicians, and the Government of the day which has failed to deliver good services to its citizens, the Springboks, the South African rugby team, has succeeded in delivering the sweet taste of victory, by winning, decidedly so, the sort-after World Rugby Cup in 2019. Winning this World event surely must imprint the message on all South Africans, we are “stronger together” and, with hard work and dedication we can, and will achieve anything we set our minds to do.
A message that will thrust us forward in re-building the nation with honest scales and firm foundations.

It was a brilliant game of rugby, executed by a brilliant team in brilliant green and gold gear. Many South Africans were glued to their TV sets or noisily cheered on in fan clubs. In the build up to the game the day before, the newspapers and local TV stations did their bit by showing ordinary local people expressing the support for the Boks – people from all walks of our varied South African ethnic groups. I realised once again the big heart of South Africans.

Yes we have come from a hard history where we have had to learn to live in harmony with each other – not an easy task, as we are all a people of passion, where sparks often fly and expressions lead to misunderstandings. But in essence, apart from some who are resilient in their self-absorption and greed, we have done this, the ordinary people of South Africa with big hearts at their core.

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And sport, especially Rugby, has helped us cross those bridges to national pride and unity, that is so essential in becoming a champion people.

It is for that reason I am all for nationalism and not globalisation, which could rob us of our origins, our identities and most sadly – our passions, leaving us eventually only with being a number – e.g. Citizen 666 !