The Springboks double World Cup winning Captain, Siya Kolisi, has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to use the team’s victory as a catalyst to unify the country.
Kolisi was speaking at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, during the start of the team’s Webb Ellis Trophy, where he was received by Ramaphosa and some of the cabinet ministers.
“We need to use our diversity a bit more, it’s a powerful force that a lot of countries don’t have that we have and can use very brightly. Coming from different backgrounds and areas, we all see different life challenges and we see life differently. That is what we did as Springbok players, and we did it by playing rugby. It is not very easy, but I believe you can use that amongst the country itself and with everybody that you work with in Parliament,” said Kolisi.
He also thanked the President for visiting and motivating the team ahead of the final against New Zealand in Paris, France. The captain dedicated the trophy to all South Africans.
“We as a team, we choose to dedicate this World Cup to you, because you’re the reason we are where we are today.
“The way that you don’t give up, your resilience spirit, how hard you work and the things that you must go through to be where you’re in life. Obviously, there other countries cannot understand, your support kept us going,” highlighted Kolisi.
For his part, coach Jacques Nienaber thanked the fans for supporting the team, even during difficult times.
“The players sacrificed families, their bodies, they paid with the time away from the families to win the cup. Thank you for believing in us when we made changes, when we lost test matches, changed 18 players, and we said it’s a strategy. Thank you for believing and still supporting me. I love you all and thank you very much,” said Nienaber.
The coach is leaving the Boks to go join Leinster in Ireland. Ramaphosa applauded the team for winning the cup and uplifting the spirits of South Africans.
“Never in the history of the Rugby World Cup has any team lifted the trophy on four occasions, until now. In doing so you have lifted the spirits of an entire nation and filled us with pride. You have united the South African people,” said the elated Ramaphosa.
The victory tour will see the team visiting Johannesburg, Soweto and FNB stadium today, proceeding in Cape Town on 03 November, Durban on 04 November, before the tour ends in East London on 05 November.
