Springboks Again Seek To Lift Spirits In Troubled South Africa
Umer Jamshaid Published July 23, 2021 | 09:10 PM
Cape Town, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jul, 2021 ) :Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said on Friday his team would once again hope to lift the spirits of a troubled nation when they play the first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town on Saturday.
"We are South Africans before we are Springbok rugby players," said Kolisi, referring to his country's coronavirus pandemic and recent violent protests which claimed the lives of more than 300 people.
Kolisi was widely praised for his speech after South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019, saying "There are so many problems in our country, but we have a team like this from different backgrounds and different ethnicities who all had the same goal which they wanted to achieve.
"I really hope we've done this for South Africa to show that we can all pull together to achieve something." He said on Friday that problems seemed to coincide with big games by the Springboks, who will play three Tests against the Lions on consecutive Saturdays.
"We are going to make sure that we focus on the job that we have to do. As coach Rassie (Erasmus) said in the build-up to the World Cup, we are in a place of privilege. We do what we love every single day.
"If we are able to put a smile on peoples' faces and, for a moment in time, let everybody else put their problems aside when we win, they feel like they win too, that whatever our difficult situation is we are always able to pull together.
"We've got families, we've got friends, we've got people who have suffered during this time. We want to make sure that while we have the privilege to do what we do, we give it our ultimate best.
"We know people are behind us, no matter what it is they are going through. If we can put a smile on people's faces, it will make us happy and drive us even more."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
14 hours ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
2 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
4 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
4 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
6 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
7 days ago
-
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
7 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
7 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
9 days ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
9 days ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
11 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
13 days ago