Siya Kolisi: simbool, totem, talisman

BOEKUITTREKSEL

Siya Kolisi: simbool, totem, talisman

Toe hy die eerste swart Spingbokkaptein in meer as 128 jaar van rugby in Suid-Afrika word, was die verwagtinge van en verantwoordelikheid op Siya Kolisi enorm. Oor en oor is hy gevra of hy dink hy was 'n politieke keuse, 'n toegewing aan transformasie. Hy is 'n rugbyspeler, nie 'n politikus nie, het Kolisi geantwoord. Maar tog was hy vir swart mense 'n verwysingspunt, met 'n baie sterk boodskap. Dié boekuittreksel is uit Rise, die amptelike biografie van SIYA KOLISI.

  • 13 Oktober 2021
  • Mense & Kultuur
  • 6 min om te lees
  • artikel 6 van 9
  • Siya Kolisi

COACH Rassie’s 2018 target, specified in his contract, was 45 per cent players of colour in all matchday squads, going up to 50 per cent by 2019. He said three things about that. First, knowing the figure was a good thing, so we all knew where we stood. Second, he wouldn’t be handing out cheap caps or altering squads just to make those numbers. Third, there was enough talent in the Super Rugby franchises – which he and his staff kept a close eye on – for us to be competitive and transformed all at once, and the new policy of honest selection would help that. Few, if any, black players had ever been kept in the team when they didn’t deserve to; lots of white players had. No more.

Just to show how serious he was about integration, for our first home game under his leadership, against England at Ellis Park, he picked 11 black players in the matchday 23 and gave three black players their first start. But his biggest decision, and the biggest shock, he saved until last; and it came in a normal team meeting with no warning at all.

‘Siya will be captain for the England Tests,’ he said.  ‘Siya will be captain for the England Tests.’ ..

Registreer gratis om hierdie artikel te lees.

Hallo! Welkom by Vrye Weekblad. Ons inhoud is nou in Afrikaans én Engels beskikbaar.

Al wat jy hoef te doen om gratis te begin lees, is om met jou e-pos te registreer en ’n wagwoord te skep.

Om dit te doen, kliek eenvoudig op “REGISTREER”.

Reeds geregistreer? Kliek op “MELD AAN” om voort te gaan.

Vir nuwe VWB 3.0-navrae: WhatsApp 071 170 8927 (net vir teksboodskappe) of stuur 'n e-pos aan hulp@vryeweekblad.com.