A number of us now blogging at WP, used to blog on another platform. Each Friday Side View would propose a theme for people to write about if they wanted to. This week on her blog (http://viewfromtheside.wordpress.com) she has given us a challenge to write on national pride.
It was 1995. I was in standard eight. Yes, I’m that old. I went to school long before people talked about grades. It was a chilly Saturday afternoon where we lived. Dad was away, working, in Angola. Mom and I were trying to ward off the cold by watching TV under the blankets in her room – we started watching the rugby world cup final between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks.
It was a great game. Touch and go many times, but in the end Joel Stransky kicked a drop goal which won the Springboks the match. Mom had covered her eyes, quietly praying, “please let it be over, please let it be over…” Before she could say “Amen,” I sprang out of bed yelling “Yes! We won, we won!” and found that I was actually crying. I felt proud to be a South African that day.
In 2007 I got to relive that pride as Elizabeth, Lisa and I headed off on a wine tasting weekend in Roberston, but stayed in Montague. We spent the day dying of the heat, which led us to being thirsty, which led us to tasting much more wine than we should have. Upon our return to our little bungalow, we asked one of the locals to steer us in the direction of a place where we could watch the clash between the Springboks and England. We were directed to one of the local haunts which turned out to have a fabulous atmosphere, a big screen and great food.
The three of us were kitted out proudly in our Springbok T-shirts and jeans and I even went so far as to do my eyeshadow as green and gold (now if that isn’t national pride, then I don’t know), and we cheered the Springboks on, along with an entire pub of other supporters. Elizabeth cheered so loud that at one stage she lost her voice.
We won that game too and it was Springbokkie shots all round. We piled back into the car, with the windows rolled down, playing “Shosholoza” as loud as the car’s radio would allow.
I have national pride when it comes to our sports – we try hard, and most times we conquer! I’m sure this will apply to Bafana Bafana as they play their hearts out in the upcoming FIFA 2010 Football World Cup.
Viva Rainbow Nation, Viva!
Reflections of a Misfit 
Lovely writing MTM.
(I matriculated in 1981, now that’s old!)
Thank you Cindy. And, for the record, you don’t look like you could have matriculated in 1981, I would have thought late 80’s, early 90’s even.
great post, who can forget that first rugby world cup day?
I think everybody was a proud Seffrican that day Sidey.
1994 with the election and 1995 with the World Cup made it an amazing time to be a South Africa. Thanks to Sidey for the link here.
Czar, the election didn’t have such a huge impact on me because I wasn’t really able to grasp the gravity of the concept. The rugby was something most people, from quite young to very old could identify with and appreciate.
South African, obviously, not South afriuca. D’oh.
I give up.
Great post about some great moments!
Haha – 1995 was more than a quarter-century plus a decade after I offered an unfond farewell to school!
Col! I am so glad to see you here. Unfond farewell…hmmm…if I knew then what I know now, I would have stayed at school forever.
Those days were wonderful! Pity they couldn’t last.
It looks though that the spirit is as fiery with the soccer now as it was with the rugby back then…