JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s first black Test captain, Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi, brushed off racial tensions that have marred his appointment, vowing Wednesday to lead the national team to victory.
In his first public appearance since being named Bok captain two days ago, he told journalists in Johannesburg that he wanted to focus on the game and not on the political and racial narratives around his historic appointment.
“I can’t focus on what those people are saying, I can only focus on people that really matter to me and who support me,” Kolisi said.
“Coach ‘Rassie’ (Johan Erasmus) is not a politician and I’m also not a politician.”
Kolisi this week became the first black to be named South Africa Test captain, ending 127 years of white skippers since the national team debuted.
Controversy has shadowed the 26-year-old flanker’s appointment to the prized position with some on social media and in rugby circles seeing his position as a political appointment.
Post-apartheid government and rugby bosses have battled to enforce racial transformation in a team that once barred blacks.
At least 50 percent of the team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be black after a deal was struck between the ruling African National Congress party and rugby officials.
Kolisi said he believed his promotion was genuine and based on his skills.
He pointed out that he and coach Erasmus had known each other since he was 18.
“For the coach to show this much faith in me, I’m just going to give everything I can and do my best and make sure that I deliver.
“I can only control what I can do on the field.”
South African rugby has historically been entrenched in racial politics, with the sport viewed as predominantly white.
Blacks were barred from representing the country at rugby during apartheid and progress toward a team reflecting the 92 percent black population of the country has been frustratingly slow.
Although only eight percent of South Africans are white, they have dominated provincial and national rugby teams.
Racial tensions reignited off the field this month when TV analyst and former black Springbok Ashwin Willemse accused two former white internationals of being “patronizing.”
Willemse stormed off a live Super Rugby show after saying Naas Botha and Nick Mallett, who also coached South Africa, were “undermining” him.
The Springboks play England in Johannesburg (June 9), Bloemfontein (June 16) and Cape Town (June 23).
South Africa’s first black rugby captain Kolisi brushes off racial tensions
South Africa’s first black rugby captain Kolisi brushes off racial tensions
- ‘Siya’ Kolisi told journalists in Johannesburg that he wanted to focus on the game and not on the political and racial narratives around his historic appointment.
- Racial tensions reignited off the field this month when TV analyst and former black Springbok Ashwin Willemse accused two former white internationals of being ‘patronizing.’
$1.5m Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup draws strong field
- Nasser Mutlaq saddles 4 for Friday feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
- Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah top rated of 11 runners
RIYADH: Trainer Nasser Mutlaq will saddle four runners in this year’s $1.5 million (SR5.6 million) Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup, which takes place on Friday at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah, ridden by Adel Alfouraidi, is the pick of Mutlaq’s entries for the Group 1 event, which is the jewel in the crown of the two-day Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival.
Despite having run only six times, the 6-year-old has four wins and is top-rated of the 11 runners for the 1,800 meter feature.
Last time out he beat the reopposing French-trained Al Kaaser by four lengths in the G3 Imam Turki bin Abdullah Sword on Dec. 27. Turki Al-Khalediah II and Mutwakel Alkhalediah, which finished third and fourth in that race, and recent winner Mostabsil Al-Khalediah complete the Mutlaq quartet.
Another French raider is Moshrif, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, which chased home Tilal AI Khalediah in the G1 Al-Mneefah Cup during last year’s Saudi Cup weekend.
Mutlaq will also be well represented in Friday’s $300,000 Princess Mounira Bint Abdulaziz Bin Musaed Bin Jalawi Cup over 1,600 meters, saddling three of the eight runners.
His trio comprises Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah, which was second to Tilal AI-Khalediah in Taif in September, Mubarizat Alkhalediah and Maitha Al Khalediah. France will be represented by the Elizabeth Bernard-trained Algheed.
Thursday’s feature is the Group 2 $500,000 Al Khalediah Stable International Cup over 1,600 meters, in which Nawahel Alkhalediah and Nijinski Al Maury stand out in a field of eight after finishing sixth and seventh respectively behind Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah last month.
Before that will be the inaugural running of the $100,000 Mutlaq bin Moshrif Cup, staged in honor of Nasser Mutlaq’s father, who died last year.
Saturday’s all-thoroughbred card features the 2,400 meter $40,000 Al-Jouf Region Governorate Cup which has a full field of 20 declared and includes two runners for the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, headed by jockey Camilio Ospina’s course and distance winner Almaqam.
Also on the card is the $40,000 Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture Cup over 1,600 meters for fillies and mares. The British-trained Dance Desire for the Ricardo Ferreira, Thamer Aldaihani, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah combination is top rated.
