It's been a long time since Port Elizabeth had felt so strong. At the southern end of South Africa, the large port of the Eastern Cape Province is a rough, industrial city, where car assembly plants have proliferated, some of which are exported to other countries. other end of the planet. But where unemployment and poverty are as severe as in the whole country. On Sunday morning November 10, against a background of gray and wet weather, "PE" has its face of sadness: deserted streets, a drizzle that whips the face, rows of rusty warehouses overlooking the ocean.
This day is not normal, however. As the morning rolls on, crowds gather along the boulevards. A cry rises, taken up by tens of thousands of people, a call from the heart: "Siyaaaaa! " Siya Kolisi, the first black captain in the national squad for the rugby team, native son and new national hero, arrives in town with the Webb Ellis trophy, symbol of the South African victory in the final of the world in Japan, Saturday, November 2nd. In the human mass, hands hold the "one" of a newspaper, like another cry: "Welcome Home Bokkie" ("Welcome home" Bokkie "" nickname of the national team members, the Springboks).
It's been four days since the new world champions walked the cup all over the country. But in Port Elizabeth, Springboks is used for once singular: Siya Kolisi is the only one of them to really go home. He was born in the township of Zwide, north of the city. Now 28, the player has often told how, during his childhood, he sometimes did not eat enough. Born to two parents too young in this neighborhood marked by unemployment and limited hopes of wearing on the assembly lines of Ford or Volkswagen, he was raised by his paternal grandmother.
"Siya knows where he comes from"
In a video of 2017 that the inhabitants of Zwide exchange on WhatsApp, he tells how the latter enjoyed a casual coffee at a neighbor to bring him a piece of bread. Twenty years later, the one who had for the first time in his life a pair of socks when he joined a sports program thanks to a purse is back on the roof of a bus, a golden trophy at the end of arms and thousands of fans at his feet as a welcome.
In the streets, the crowd gets impatient. In the district of Helenvale, north of the city, or Uitenhage, a little further, next to the Volkswagen plant that produces 160,000 vehicles per year, the passage of "Boks" was canceled. There was anger, stone throwing, burnt tires and, finally, an official apology from the national team for this little miss. At Zwide, we can not wait any longer, but we will not be disappointed. " But where are they ? We have been waiting since 8 am, I did not go to Mass to see him! " Miriam Zilico never misses Mass. But she wanted at all costs to see Siya: " He did a lot for our country! And he comes from here you know! "
Students from the primary school where the large 1.88 m taller made their first classes hold a banner of thanks. Not far from the township where the captain of the world champions grew up, the Springbok bus has to leave the main arteries to sneak into the small streets. We can take the time to see the hero go by. A lot of player knowledge is there.
On the banner held by the children of Emsengeni school, we see the rugby player in the picture, leaning on children absorbed by tablets. "Siya knows where he came from, he gave us iPads, and now a lot of people come to us to offer help to the school. We're so lucky to have it, it's a blessing! "enthuses Deputy Director Nosipho Fillis, before making a list of needs: a security fence, a better rugby pitch, a playground, new toilets, more computers.
A Mandela of sport
Siya Kolisi also donated equipment to his childhood club, the African Bombers. An administrative manager talks about his qualities as an early leader. At the time, Siya was a thin-legged kid, but one of the team's coaches, Thobile Mhlauli, had noticed his determination: "He knew how to grab the ball and run without letting go! "
The screaming police sirens that accompany the bus of the players cover his voice. In a few seconds, the little street is filled with a human tide. Siya brandishes the trophy, radiating. It's been four days since he led this triumphant march of "Boks," but here Zwide's child seems alone on the roof of his bus. At the back, the other players have faded. This day belongs only to him.
In the wake of the winners, children run by the hundreds. A general fall in a pool of water turned into a pond by the rain is narrowly avoided. "The story of Siya is important because it shows that no matter where you come from, you can use all the means at your disposal to climb"says Mncedi Zingitwa, who has just retired from a career at Port Elizabeth University.
Through the player, Mncedi also wants to see the face of change in a still divided South Africa, twenty-five years after the end of apartheid: "Whites have not yet integrated the feeling of unity. If you are a black man and knock on a white man's door, he will not open you because he is afraid. Siya forces people to see that we live in a transformed South Africa. "
In front of the small pale pink tin-roofed house that saw the champion grow, two neighbors and childhood friends hope without believing that Siya will stop here. "It went into a breeze last night, but there, with the cup … It's not like we were carrying it like that! " fun Ayanda Gqoso, 31 years old. At his side, Phila Mali, 28, lived right in front. Jumping in their blue jackets, both are excited: "It's fabulous what he did, fabulous! "
In his childhood, Siya Kolisi often struggled to raise 50 rand annual school fees (today the equivalent of 3 euros). Phila never went to school. The course of the rugby player gives him hope: "Dreams come true, just get out of your comfort zone, focus on a goal and work. Siya had nothing, not even a TV! " explains the girl who dreams of breaking into rap. With Siya, she says that everything becomes possible: "When you are known, people ask you for money. But we do not want money, his support is enough. Imagine if he post one of your videos on his Instagram account! " Like many, she sees in Siya Kolisi a Mandela of sport: "It's as if magic Mandela had bewitched Siya. He must smile in his grave! "
