Siya Kolisi: Against All Odds

Siya Kolisi: Against All Odds

By Jeremy Daniel

Jonathan Ball. $26

When Siya Kolisi led the Springboks to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, it was the crowning glory of an incredible journey that began on the impoverished streets of Zwide, a township outside Port Elizabeth. As the first black South African to captain a Springbok rugby team, Kolisi’s remarkable story is unique and deserves to be heard. His mother was a teenager when he was born. She left him in the care of his grandmother who brought him up until she died (in his arms) when Siya was 12. He found love and acceptance playing junior rugby with the African Bombers club until his talent was spotted by the prestigious Grey High School which offered him a full scholarship that changed his life. His life has not been without controversy, and his marriage to a fiery young white woman was a lightning rod for racial politics. But he is a shining beacon of hope for SA, he is massively popular and there is a huge appetite from the public to know about his life and to support him as Springbok captain.