PAGE 52 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 8, 2013
How Mandela’s ‘Madiba Magic’ inspired victories for South Africa I
T was on his inauguration day in 1994 that the concept of ‘Madiba Magic’ was born the winning influence that Nelson Mandela engendered whenever he went to watch a South African sports team. A soccer international against Zambia had been organised at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to celebrate the transition of power on May 10, 1994 but the South Africans were outplayed by their guests through a goalless first half in front of a 50,000 strong crowd on a day of celebration. The ceremonies marking the handover of power had overrun at the Union Buildings in nearby Pretoria, meaning he missed the kick off but a massive roar was heard when his helicopter was seen overhead and Mandela emerged on the pitch at halftime. Both teams were asked to line up again, as they had done in the pre-match formalities, and the break ran well over the standard 15 minutes as the new president was introduced to players and officials. The effect was immediately both inspiring and intimidatory. “The half-time was probably closer to 30 minutes than 15 but his presence electrified the stadium and energised the players,” recalled goalkeeper Steve Crowley in an interview with Reuters on Friday, just hours after Mandela’s death aged 95. South Africa scored two goals within two minutes of the restart and went on to record their first ever win over an opponent who had previously held the upper hand over them. The power of the magic was no better exemplified than one year later at the same venue when South Africa beat New Zealand with a iconic extratime drop goal to win the Rugby World Cup. Mandela’s arrival on the field in a Springbok jersey, the captain, Francois Pienaar ’s No. 6 jersey before the match stunned the crowd, mostly made up of whites, some of whom still antagonistically waving the flag of the old Apartheid regime from the stands. Within minutes his name was being chanted by a crowd seduced by the symbolism of
•Late Nelson Mandela of South Africa a black president in the controversial colours of a team previously reserved for whites
only. Mandela took to wearing sporting uniforms frequently after that and for South
Africa’s only major football success he was clad in the country’s colours as they won
the 1996 African Nations Cup finals. Once again he put on the Bafana Bafana captain, Neil Tovey’s No. 9 jersey to inspire that victory. ‘Madiba Magic’ was also used to seduce the members of Fifa’s executive committee to help South Africa secure the rights to host the 2010 World Cup. A beaming Mandela, by then no longer president, clasped his hands above his head like a prize fighter and then cradled the trophy like baby after South Africa was awarded the contest in Zurich 11 years ago. It was hoped his last ever public appearance ahead of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup at Johannesburg’s Soccer City would create the same effect. He looked frail as he waved to the crowd from the back of a golf cart. South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala then scored with a stunning left-footed drive to give Bafana Bafana the lead but after Mandela left the stadium early to return home on a bitterly cold night, Mexico grabbed a late equaliser.
... regrets not being a world boxing champion A
CCORDING to the Madiba, Nelson Mandela: “There is one regret that I have had all my life - that I never become the heavy weight boxing champion of the world.” Nelson Mandela grew up with a love for sport. He was an ardent boxer in his younger days and used it to keep fit. Look, it is the nature of sport generally - and boxing in particular - that you will have trials and reversals.” After Madiba’s release from Robben Island, he set out, in his own unique way, to unite a nation through sport. Ali Bacher (Former Cricket Administrator): “He was the first person to realise the importance of sport, particularly in our divided country, of bringing black and white people togethe r . ” 1995 found the new South Africa struggling to find a way to cross the racial divide. In Sport, Rugby was predominantly supported by whites, with black South Africans rallying behind soccer. When the Springboks played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Madiba saw a golden oppor-
tunity to reach out to the Afrikaner, and took it, says Ali Bacher, a former cricketer and sports administrator, “You remember 1995, the Rugby World Cup? Three weeks before the final he went public to support our rugby team wearing the Springbok jersey, to support the Springbok emblem.” But this was not an easy road to walk for Madiba. Even in the ANC, not everyone supported the idea. Undeterred, Madiba went for a try and scored, says football administrator Danny Jordaan, CEO WC 2010 FIFA Local Organising Committee: “We sat in his house in Houghton at that time and he said, ‘Listen, first of all, tell me why you don’t want the Springbok emblem, but I think you will all agree with me that when it comes to apartheid, there is not a single one here in the room who could tell me about apartheid and the horrors of apartheid.’ And then he paused a moment, and, of course, we said nothing. And then he said, ‘Okay, fine, you agree with me, now tell me why you don’t want the Springbok, without referring to apartheid.’ Of course we had no argument.”
•Mandela flanked by boxing greats, Mike Tyson (l) Sugar Ray Leonard (r) with renowned boxing promoter Don King (2nd left) at a ceremony.
Durbach emerges Squash Classics champion
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OUTH Africa born Rodney Durbach has emerged champion of the first Lagos International Squash Classics which ended at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium yesterday. Durbach defeated Tunde Ajagbe of Nigeria 3-1 in an electrifying final witnessed by a capacity crowd.
The champion was awarded a cashmprize of $4,500 US Dollars while the runner up got $3,150. In the ladies final, Heba Alaa Ahmed Mohammed of Egypt whitewashed Nigeria’s Ebifemi Taiwo 3-0 to clinch the Ladies title. The Egyptian champion got $3 ,125 US Dollars while Ebifemi got $2,250 for her efforts.