Kolisi urges Boks to channel spirit of Soweto to beat All Blacks
Captain Siya Kolisi calls on the Springboks to summon inspiration from Soweto's pivotal part in South Africa's history as they host New Zealand on Saturday.
The Springboks' Captain Siya Kolisi has urged his team to draw strength from Soweto's significant role in South Africa's history as they face the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup match at the FNB Stadium. A former black captain, Kolisi highlighted the 1976 Soweto Uprising, a pivotal moment in the fight against apartheid, in which thousands of students and young protesters were killed by police.
He stressed that the stadium, which hosted the World Cup's opening match, holds immense significance and that the young heroes of Soweto inspire the team today. Kolisi expressed gratitude for those who fought for freedom, even though they missed experiencing it themselves. He emphasized that giving their best in the match is a tribute to their sacrifices.
The match also serves as a parallel to the 1996 All Blacks' success in South Africa, a landmark victory. The All Blacks have won their previous two visits to FNB Stadium, and a win would put them 2-1 up in the series. New Zealand's brother-sister duo, flanker Wallace Sititi and Amarante Sititi, will be on the replacements bench, marking the second set of siblings to play for the All Blacks on the same day.
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- Kolisi urges Boks to channel spirit of Soweto to beat All Blacks sports.yahoo.com
