Sandile Dikeni
It is quite a phenomenon. The best part of my brain cannot remember if the springbok (as an animal) is only found in South Africa or not, but an insanity in my mind demands that it be regarded as such.
In other words, I want the springbok to be regarded as uniquely South African. So do most South Africans!
To be honest, I was a bit worried about the Bokke when we lost against Japan. It was not merely the loss, hayi, it was against Japan. Honesty does tell a story that says I never viewed the Japanese as anything but a karate entity.
This is my Bruce Lee stereotype. A stereotype that many intellectuals in Khayelitsha and Gugulethu share with me. Call it a fair stereotype, but in my head I can see how South Africa can lose against the Japanese in a karate tournament, but not in rugby. But we did. It was not a senseless loss. In my mind, the Japanese played a beautiful game against us.
They were not only physical, they were also strategic. In other words, it was a rugby match without much karate. When we lost to Japan, I could not see amaBhokobhoko recovering in this Rugby World Cup.
I was not alone. But the Springboks recovered and are now heading for the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in England. I am not the only one impressed with die Bokke, the whole country is. A friend mentioned that a priest in the Karoo mentioned the Springboks in a prayer. I can see that. Remember, Mannetjies Roux (was he a flyhalf?) is from the Karoo.
But honesty does scream that my ultimate joy is that of the Springboks playing with the United States of America and winning in a humbling way. We are able to say USA is a moegoe. We showed the world that the USA consists of a bunch of ignorant people when it comes to rugby.
More, we also indicated to the world that we are not merely rugby players who can handle the rugby ball’s shape, but we are better than them in handling and kicking that ball. Don’t call me immature.
You know it is a joy for anyone in the world to win against the USA. Can you imagine South Africa losing a rugby match against the USA? We would be described as a nonentity, with a feature movie exhibiting our uselessness. The actors in such a movie will also be South Africans with proper South African accents. Imagine then my relief when we slaughtered and humiliated that USA squad.
This is not a prediction of us winning the World Cup. It is just a sense of relief that our performance of excellence is happening in a geography called England. It is fair to say that England and the English do have, shall I say, a humbling effect on the South African mentality.
So, for us to exhibit a strength of character in the UK is commendable. Many commentators will also agree that the Springboks in the UK do not only represent South Africa but the entire continent. They do so in a physical space that is not very famous (historically) for treating South Africa nicely.
It is, therefore, clear to see my anxieties about a South African national rugby squad in England. Truth is, rugby was taught in South Africa by the English. So, you can imagine my desire for South Africa to be the African entity to win the Rugby World Cup in England.
I remember the joy of winning the Cup here in South Africa in the nineties; it was glorious. Remember Nelson Mandela at the stadium. I remember thinking that the narrow win in that World Cup was the gods wishing us blessings as a country. Call me a naive soul, but I do think there is a link between the might of the sport performance and the social vibes that sometimes informs even the harshness of non-bending political essences.
It sounds a bit silly, but I do think that the world takes us seriously when we also exhibit our humanity in entities like the sports world, or the artistic vibes that demonstrate to the world the beautiful complexities we possess. You got me right; I want us to use the moment in England to go beyond the rugby ball. Let it be an exhibition there of the beauty we possess here. Let us say it is not only about things such as rugby balls. It is also about love and the many complex essences that we hold in our hearts.
That, in my opinion, is in the heart of sport. It is the many depths of sporting or cultural activities that demonstrate that complexity called humanity. International sporting moments like these are, for me, an opportunity for us as people to show our humble attachments to the universalities of humanity.
Imagine then how much I wish the Springboks remember that it is not only the rugby ball and the score that speak of their task now in England. It is also how much nearer we have come to human sensibility.
I am not active in sport, but have a deep respect and understanding for those who are. I know that the current view in the country is for us to achieve something in the Rugby World Cup. But I do think it is also wise that we remember not to exaggerate the seriousness of the moment. Remember to play. Playing means having fun. Having fun means enjoyment. Enjoyment is a beautiful notion that your body and mind tends to dance to.
It sounds distant, but believe me, it is closer than it seems; this feeling that sport holds in it. We are sometimes blind to the various parts that sport and the arts can play in our lives. My advice is that we should not be. It is my advice that the crude essence of life be danced with.
It is when the beauties of sport and the arts are recognised and seen that we find the many majesties possessed by our sensitive souls. I am happy that the Springboks are exhibiting a South Africanism in England and hope that the world will see the beauties possessed by this sociology.
I am careful not to sound too nationalistic and I feel that this writing might be regarded as me leaning too much on the nationalistic pillar. If that is the case, I am sorry, it is not my intention. But, damn, I do hope the Springboks demonstrate that beautiful human capacity that our physiology possess.
It is not only annoying but also unfair to limit a South African to the political speak. I want to suggest that we also be regarded as a contribution to the beauties of the human essences.
In sport, the arts and culture we stand, as this nation, an amazing chance to demonstrate to the human being that in all the complexities of life, we simply prefer the simplicities of a social setting, dancing to the beauties of something called life.
I wish the Springboks to win the Rugby World Cup. I also wish that our cricket folks achieve something in the world.