Durban - The Proteas may have looked smarter in their new navy blue with yellow trimming tracksuits at a sponsorship function at Kingsmead on Monday night in comparison to the garish mustard and green jumpsuits their Olympic compatriots are being forced to wear in Rio, but there’s no doubt they are drawing inspiration from Team South Africa’s success ahead of their looming Test series against New Zealand.
Injured Proteas Test captain AB de Villiers was particularly humbled with South African track superstar Wayde van Niekerk’s muted celebration of his world record set in the 400m sprint at the João Havelange Stadium.
“Wow … that was incredible … on behalf of the whole Proteas set up I’d like to congratulate you on your victory and the gold medal,” De Villiers said yesterday. “43.03 … I don’t think anyone in the entire globe thought that was possible.
“But what inspires me the most is the way you handled the victory. You didn’t just inspire a millions of human beings to follow their dreams, but to also become better human beings.”
South Africa’s Cricketer of the Year Kagiso Rabada was equally chuffed with Van Niekerk’s performance and hopes the confidence gained from watching his countryman defeat the world’s finest track and field athletes will spur him on to greater heights once the first Test gets underway here on Friday.
“Well done on your world record. You’ve inspired us all and made us really, really proud. Keep doing what you’re doing and celebrate,” said Rabada.
However, no one in the Proteas team wore a bigger smile about Van Niekerk’s record-breaking exploits that returning seam bowler Vernon Philander.
“He’s just a gun … an absolute gun!” beamed Philander at the announcement of Sunfoil’s extension of their Test cricket event sponsorship for another two seasons.
Philander was particularly excited due to the fact that Van Niekerk originally hails from area nearby to his home suburb of Ravensmead in Cape Town.
“A massive congratulations on a fantastic run. I think you’ve inspired all of us with your world record run. And as a homeboy from Cape Town, from Kraaifontein, peace out brother! Congrats!”
Philander is expected to make his return to the Proteas Test line-up on Friday against the Black Caps after tearing ankle ligaments while playing soccer during a warm-up ahead of last year’s second Test in Bangalore 10 months ago.
Independent Media