Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has shown some leadership qualities that only tangentially had to do with the actual winning of the games.
Last week, I wrote about the leadership qualities of SA’s director of rugby and former national team coach Rassie Erasmus. But honestly, no examination of leadership in this Rugby World Cup campaign would be complete without including that of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
But it does strike me that Kolisi’s leadership qualities are very different and no less valuable than those of Erasmus. In some ways, they are quite conventional, and I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Kolisi sensed this, and his first admirable act on winning the game was to rush across the field to lift the head and relieve his stress and anxiety of his teammate.The second incident came during the post-match interview in which he was congratulated on the back-to-back wins and asked to “tell me about this moment for you”. The first words out of his mouth were not about his actions or even those of his team, but about his opponents.
There is a bit more too; in the same post-match interview, Kolisi managed, in the space of less than two minutes, to explain what the win meant for South Africans and South Africa now, in its rather battered state:Children of the developing world working together to make things possible, on the field or in the office, it shows what we can do, etc. It was all there. He just seemed born for that moment: proud and humble. Hard to pull off if it is not genuine.
Can’t we leave Siya and his boys that gave up their lives over the last 3 months to get them to this point? I get Cyril being there as head of state and as wonderful precedent set by Mandela, but really, to include any claptrap emanating from Malema’s forked tongue should not even be aired. The joy belongs to the team. And to the millions of people that played their part in the wonderful spirit of unified support in South Africa and all over the world.Ummm….
They showed what can be achieved by humbling yourself, respecting one another & working together. That whilst Politicians seek to divide us & create an ‘us & them’ – common values, vision & purpose, can achieve ‘greatness’
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Siya Kolisi makes Rugby World Cup history leading record-breaking SpringboksSpringbok skipper Siya Kolisi has made history leading the national team to the Rugby World Cup in France.
Read more »
Siya Kolisi: Things to know about the Springbok captainFind out more about inspirational Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi as he prepares to lead his country in the Rugby World Cup final.
Read more »
‘Our country goes through so much’: Siya Kolisi dedicates win to MzansiSpringboks captain Siya Kolisi said people who are not from South Africa do not understand what winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup means.
Read more »
Watch: Rachel Kolisi in tears as Siya lifts the trophyWhen your bae lifted the World Cup trophy - Rachel Kolisi was engulfed by emotion and tears as Siya Kolisi lifted the trophy.
Read more »