South Africa: Tutu meets Springbok rugby heroes
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Hundreds of thousands of people on Monday took to the streets of Cape Town and its surrounding suburbs and townships as the triumphant Springbok rugby team ended their nationwide tour showing off the World Cup trophy.
The squad returned home following the historic victory against England at the Yokohama Stadium in Japan last week.
The victory tour kicked off at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last Thursday and the team has paraded the gold William Webb Ellis trophy on top of double decker buses in Johannesburg, Soweto, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
The only setback occurred in Port Elizabeth when supporters barricaded roads and set tyres alight after the parade route was changed due to time constraints on Sunday. Thousands of people who had been waiting in the cold and rain were disappointed.
The Springboks issued a statement saying: “Massive crowds, congestion and a waiting flight to Cape Town meant an unavoidable last minute route change. We are as disappointed as you, and we do apologise sincerely.”
The team was welcomed in Parliament on Monday where they received a heroes’ welcome. Among the dignitaries who greeted them was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who said they have achieved much more than winning a Rugby World Cup.
"You have restored our self belief. When we believe in ourselves we can achieve our dreams,” the Nobel Laureate said, adding that Nelson Mandela “is smiling from the heavens”.
What added to the enormity of the victory is that Siya Kolisi – the country’s first ever black captain – was born on 16 June, 1991 which is the annual anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Riots which triggered the revolution that ended Apartheid.
For the first 90 years that the Springboks played rugby in South Africa, only white players were eligible. Following the fall of Apartheid, Nelson Mandela recognised the power that the sport had to promote racial unity and he backed the Springboks in the build-up to the 1995 World Cup, which South Africa hosted and won.
Apart from Kolisi, there were six other black players who appeared in the final and both tries were scored by the black wings.
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the trophy will be based in the city until the next World Cup in France in 2023.
-0- PANA CU/AR 11Nov2019
