During the media briefing, the Springbok coach addressed Mapimpi's lack of recent appearances.
South Africa's beloved Springbok Makazole Mapimpi has become a father, following in the footsteps of several of his teammates, to the delight of fans.
Speculation surrounding the rugby player's love life was put to an end by Rassie Erasmus. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Springbok coach commented on Mapimpi's recent absence from matches.
“Mapimpi's wife is giving birth and we don't want to deprive him of this opportunity,” Erasmus said.
The revelation came as a surprise to fans who had no idea the rugby star was married, with many supporters taking to social media to show their support at this important time in Mapimpi's life, especially given the player's unfortunate history of tragedy and loss.
Tears of Lassie and the Mourning of Mapimpi
Super Sports Documentary Chasing the SunErasmus broke down in tears as he recounted an emotional moment from the 2019 World Cup, explaining that players had to have pictures of their families superimposed on their jersey numbers, but Mapimpi only had a picture of himself because he had lost a family member.
His mother died in a car accident and he was placed in the care of his grandmother when he was 14. Five years after his mother's death, his sister developed a brain disease and his brother later died of an electrocution.
In an interview with Daniel Galan in 2021, Mapimpi spoke about the resilience that many associate with him. He said: “Coming from a rural village, it's hard to imagine yourself achieving big things… Everyone has dreams, but believing wholeheartedly that you can achieve them doesn't come naturally. Sometimes you have to lie to yourself.”
Mapimpi may have missed the games that brought South Africa the Freedom Cup but the birth of his child brought him more than a trophy, it was an immeasurable blessing.
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