Boks For Bafana

I love where I work. Today I was lucky enough to see the rugby world champions as they visited our radio station to wish their South African soccer counterparts well for World Cup 2010.This Springbok team are something special and to see them in person was a privilege. Less than 3 years ago this very team and their inspirational captain, John Smit, united the country in a way not seen since 1995.



And here he was today doing it again, but this time in honour of the South African soccer team. It's a measure of how important rugby is in this country, perhaps not in terms of the numbers who actually follow
it, but certainly in terms of its massive cultural and political significance. We saw it in Soweto for the Super 14 Final 2 weeks ago, and we saw it again today. Rugby may not be the number 1 choice of the majority but it wields influence far beyond its support base.

It is important to all South Africans that the Springboks should take time out to wish Bafana Bafana well. After all, this is a team who has won a world cup, and even if they were competing against 20 nations rather than 200, winning a world cup is still a major achievement.

John Smit is a class act and he would be at home in any leadership role, not just in sport. I looked at this man today, at his calm and focused demeanour, and recognised that he has a role to play in the development of South Africa, beyond the sporting domain.

But for now it was enough to hear his words of encouragement to Bafana, his advice to feed off the positive mood in the country. He's been through a few down periods as Springbok captain
so he understands the power of public opinion. Ride it while you've got it and make it work for you...........that's how I read his message to Bafana today.