On June 24, 1995, a single day, a single event united the most divided country at that time. At the 1995 Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa became one team, and one country.
The South African Team, the Springboks, was a “rainbow team” for the first time in its history. Chester Williams was the first Black South African to join the historically white team.
The game was tied nine-nine, and was sent to overtime. Joel Stransky of the Springboks scored the winning drop goal, and the Springboks defeated New Zealand 15-12. All people in South Africa shared pride and joy for the win, and the broken country was momentarily united.
Afterwards, the South African president, Nelson Mandela, who was wearing the Springboks’ uniform, gave the Webb Ellis Trophy to captain Francois Pienaar.
As Mandela handed him the trophy, he said “Francois, thank you for what you’ve done for this country.”
Almost simultaneously, Pienaar said in gratitude, “Mr. President, thank you for what you’ve done for this country.”
During that time, apartheid, a form of white supremacy, divided South Africa. The Afrikaner National Party, made up of whites, brought apartheid to the nation in the late 1940s. Whites and people of color were separated, and Black people were moved to poorer towns and given menial jobs. In addition, many sports, especially rugby, became all-white, and blacks were barred from joining the national team.
Nelson Mandela was a hero who fought against apartheid in South Africa. He led peaceful protests and demonstrations, which led him to become imprisoned for 27 years. Yet five years after his release from prison, he became the first African president of South Africa.
Francois Pienaar was the white rugby captain that led the Springboks to become champions in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He came from the Afrikaner National Party, the group that brought apartheid to South Africa. However, despite their opposing backgrounds, Pienaar and Mandela were to become close friends, and Mandela became a fatherly figure to Pienaar.
“I am truly the luckiest sportsman alive by a long way,” Pienaar said. “To be so privileged at that time to be the captain, to share the platform with him [Mandela], to be influenced by him and to get to know him so well.”
Mandela and Pienaar’s valiant efforts to heal the broken nation using sports changed the world. Under the slogan “One team, one country,” these two were able to make the victory celebrated by Black and White people together, uniting the country.
Sources:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/how-nelson-mandela-inspired-francois-pienaar-and-springboks-to-conquer-the-world/articleshow/76505439.cms
https://www.history.com/news/nelson-mandela-1995-rugby-world-cup-south-african-unity
The South African Team, the Springboks, was a “rainbow team” for the first time in its history. Chester Williams was the first Black South African to join the historically white team.
The game was tied nine-nine, and was sent to overtime. Joel Stransky of the Springboks scored the winning drop goal, and the Springboks defeated New Zealand 15-12. All people in South Africa shared pride and joy for the win, and the broken country was momentarily united.
Afterwards, the South African president, Nelson Mandela, who was wearing the Springboks’ uniform, gave the Webb Ellis Trophy to captain Francois Pienaar.
As Mandela handed him the trophy, he said “Francois, thank you for what you’ve done for this country.”
Almost simultaneously, Pienaar said in gratitude, “Mr. President, thank you for what you’ve done for this country.”
During that time, apartheid, a form of white supremacy, divided South Africa. The Afrikaner National Party, made up of whites, brought apartheid to the nation in the late 1940s. Whites and people of color were separated, and Black people were moved to poorer towns and given menial jobs. In addition, many sports, especially rugby, became all-white, and blacks were barred from joining the national team.
Nelson Mandela was a hero who fought against apartheid in South Africa. He led peaceful protests and demonstrations, which led him to become imprisoned for 27 years. Yet five years after his release from prison, he became the first African president of South Africa.
Francois Pienaar was the white rugby captain that led the Springboks to become champions in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He came from the Afrikaner National Party, the group that brought apartheid to South Africa. However, despite their opposing backgrounds, Pienaar and Mandela were to become close friends, and Mandela became a fatherly figure to Pienaar.
“I am truly the luckiest sportsman alive by a long way,” Pienaar said. “To be so privileged at that time to be the captain, to share the platform with him [Mandela], to be influenced by him and to get to know him so well.”
Mandela and Pienaar’s valiant efforts to heal the broken nation using sports changed the world. Under the slogan “One team, one country,” these two were able to make the victory celebrated by Black and White people together, uniting the country.
Sources:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/how-nelson-mandela-inspired-francois-pienaar-and-springboks-to-conquer-the-world/articleshow/76505439.cms
https://www.history.com/news/nelson-mandela-1995-rugby-world-cup-south-african-unity
