In 1995, I was still a student at the University of Cape Town. We had just entered the new South Africa, finally given the privilege to vote and we were hosting the Rugby World Cup. We were a happy nation and even more jubilant as we headed to winning the Rugby World Cup finals - what could have been better for a nation that was so racially divided at that time.I truly felt that I was part of the "rainbow nation". But this feeling of belonging has subsided over the years, there is a lot of pent up aggression and even though our economy was doing amazingly well, we as South Africans were not becoming truly part of the New South Africa.
Our country needed something else and it could not have come at a better time. South Africa, as a nation needed to head into the finals of the 2007 World Cup. The mood back home is one of high spirits, a lot of people wore green and gold yesterday to show their support for their team and for South Africa.
Watching the semi-finals from so far away, here in San Diego, last week, made me proud to be South African. I just wish I was back in SA, watching it with all my friends there. Watching Percy and ny new SA hero, Habana on the field last week was just truly amazing. You made us, proud!!!
Well this weekend, I am going to watch the finals, in about two hours with a fellow UCT 1996 classmate, whom I never knew whilst at university, but happened to be employed at PCG when I arrived here in San Diego. To make things even more interesting, her husband was in my medical class in my first year at university and I did not know him either during that year.. because in those days, we hardly ever interacted.. I think its great to be invited to their home to watch such an important event in South African history. My only wish is that Nelson Mandela was at the finals in France to renew our spirit and hope that South Africa will become a country that we all wished it would be after 1995.
Go Ammabokke, bring the Cup back to where it belongs!!!
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