Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman reflected on their journey with the words, ‘Five weeks ago, we didn’t even know if we were going to the Olympics,’ as the team arrived back at Cape Town International on Tuesday, draped in their Olympic bronze medals.
Also read: Jason Derulo’s heartwarming gift: Soccer balls for Cape Town schoolkids
A modest yet enthusiastic crowd of family, friends, and fans—some waiting up to three hours—welcomed the team in their pristine white tracksuits with cheers and applause.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these amazing offers inspire you. Get them here.
For Snyman and star player Rosko Specman, this was their second Olympic bronze, following the Rio Games in 2016.
However, the paths to their medals were starkly different. In 2016, South Africa was a top contender but ended up third, while this time, their achievement came after a challenging qualification process.
After initial losses to Ireland and New Zealand in Paris, the Blitzboks faced elimination risks and needed a decisive win over Japan to progress.
‘Everybody was really down after day one,’ Snyman recalled.
‘We had a tough team talk and I don’t think I can repeat the exact words I used in that team meeting. We looked each other in the eye, and there were some hard words and honest conversations. We all agreed that this wasn’t us and that we were a better team than that.’
He continued, ‘You can’t fault the players’ effort and how they defended. At one stage of that quarter-final, it felt like we had 10 guys on the field defending their try line. There was no way through. I’m so proud of them.’
Despite a semi-final defeat to France, the Blitzboks secured bronze with a win over Australia, a result that brought immense satisfaction.
‘We proved what we can do,’ Specman said. ‘This medal is going to my wife, Amber. The first one [from 2016] was for my mother, and this one is for my wife. This was more about the fight because we knew we didn’t have a great season.’
Skipper Selvyn Davids, a fan favorite, shared his appreciation for the support. ‘It’s special to know how many supporters we have back home. It didn’t look like it at some stages during the season, but there were a lot of people who stood behind us,’ he told said.
‘This one is for them. Going into the tournament as underdogs is something you don’t always want, but it can help you if other teams write you off.’
Mogamat Davids, father of player Zain, who scored two tries in Paris, described the emotional experience. ‘It was so nerve-wracking. Words can’t describe it,’ he said.
‘His attitude was always right, on and off the field, and that’s what we teach our kids. Family is very important to us.’
Helena and Christo Grobbelaar, parents of Christie Grobbelaar, found the medal ceremony overwhelming. ‘We’re very proud. It was a hectic couple of months, and this week was the pinnacle,’ Helena said. ‘There were tears; we were all crying—men and women. If you know the inside stories, the struggles with finances, and how difficult it’s all been, then it’s amazing.’
The Blitzboks’ journey from near elimination to Olympic medallists once again highlighted their resilience.
‘We want to inspire hope, do the best we can, and always play our hearts out for that jersey,’ Snyman said. ‘If you look at the quarter-final against New Zealand, they played for South Africa and for everyone back home. Hopefully, we will inspire a lot of youngsters out there, and hopefully, Springbok Sevens will go from strength to strength.’
Snyman concluded, ‘You can coach game plan and skills, but the effort and the character, you can’t coach. I think the guys showed that they do have those qualities, and you can go a long way with that.’
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Bascule Bar & Lounge: Where the spirit of Cape Town comes alive
Picture: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images