Springbok captain and icon Siya Kolisi has been named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine.
Siya Kolisi makes Springbok history and earns Time magazine recognition
Siyamthanda Kolisi etched his name into the record books last year by becoming the second man in history to captain his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.
This is what he said in an article instagram captions To live up to this honor:
“Being named to the 2024 #TIME100 list is an incredible honor and extremely humbling. It is a great responsibility to stand alongside those who dedicate their lives to enriching others. This recognition is not unique to me; it reflects the compassion in our world that has poured into me and shaped me into the person I am and am becoming. Thank you @time for highlighting the importance of service. I look forward to picking up the TIME 100 issue on sale Friday.”
Kolisi is the picture of humility
There is a palpable steel and grit to Siya Kolisi's approach to the game of rugby. However, the most distinctive aspect of his personality is the gentle humility that always appears at the end of intense contests. His first act is always to speak in glowing terms about his opponent, a clear indicator of his humility, leadership, and willingness to suffer disappointments. The Springboks almost disappointed in a tense quarter-final against France in 2023 and an excruciatingly tense semi-final against England. Margins are slim in elite sports. Having a warrior like this guy on your team tips the scales in your favor, and that's a privilege. That's a competitive advantage.
Springbok mainstay
Not everything has been plain sailing for Kolisi since he made his debut with Bok in June 2013, the day before his 22nd birthday. Like all players, he has faced criticism about his form and has lost his place in the team at various points. But what hasn't changed is Kolisi's parallel obsession with self-improvement and putting the team first. The Racing 92 flanker has won 83 caps for South Africa, but it feels like he could have had more. It's hard to imagine the Springboks before Siyamthanda Kolisi and it will be quite strange adjusting to life without him when he eventually retires.
Click to read more articles by football fanatic James Freemantle.
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