”Go Bokke, go!” is the message from President Thabo Mbeki on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England.
In his weekly newsletter, published on Friday on the ANC Today website, Mbeki said the government was confident the Springboks would repeat what they did at Ellis Park in 1995, and walk away as rugby world champions.
”We are confident that they will respond magnificently to the united national call — BRING THE CUP HOME!”
He assured the team it had ”the unqualified support of our government and our united nation”.
The Springboks’ outstanding performance at the 2007 Rugby World Cup tournament had once again drawn attention to the critical role sport played in strengthening national cohesion and unity.
On transformation in rugby, and making sure there were enough black players available for team selection, Mbeki said the South African Rugby Union, the government, sponsors and everybody else involved ”should work together to mobilise the greatest possible numbers of young people, from the primary schools upwards, to play rugby”.
This was the way to attain the goal of ”normalisation” in rugby, when none would doubt that every player in the Springbok teams dressed in green and gold were there because they deserved to be, as the country’s best rugby athletes.
”For now, what I know is that Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, JP Pietersen, John Smit, Juan Smith and each and everyone of their Springbok teammates have worked together as the united national team that must, on October 20, bring the Ellis Webb Cup home. Go Bokke, go!”
Mbeki is set to attend the match in Paris on Saturday. — Sapa