Sport unites our nation

The image of the Bulls lifting the Super Rugby (then Super 14) trophy at Orlando Stadium in 2010 will linger in our memories for many years to come.

We reminisce on this occasion because it was one of those nationbuilding events, especially when a sport perceived to be lily-white is staged in a football-crazy township that played a huge part in the struggle against apartheid.

Some two decades into our democracy, barometers on transformation in SA sport often implicate rugby among a few codes that struggle to meet the required targets on change.

We welcome the Gauteng government’s initiative to bring back international rugby to Soweto with the clash between the SA “A” side against the French Barbarians tonight.

It was heart-warming to see kids mingling with our rugby stars through coaching clinics in the build-up to the game at Orlando.

Sport changes lives and developing new talent, especially from the townships like Soweto, could go a long way in changing the face of rugby – literally and figuratively. Such initiatives are welcome but the coaching clinics should not be a once-off event where children just run around and and handed free T-shirts and hot dogs to make a perfect picture for TV and newspapers.

While the SA team toured the famous Vilakazi Street where players visited, among other iconic landmarks, the Mandela house, we hope one or two kids they coached this week will make it to the Springboks one day.

As premier David Makhura said this week: “Sport is a common denominator in our country, and in turn rugby needs to transcend all differences and serve to remind us we have a lot more in common than that which divides us.”

As we anticipate a huge crowd at Orlando tonight, we hope the festivities benefit small businesses too.