The best of our Boks
● From rooi rokke to the World Cupwinning Bokke at this year’s BrightRock Players Choice Awards.
What makes this special is that it’s run by the players. It was on Tuesday night at The Park event space at Joburg’s Hyde Park Corner shopping centre.
I spot Lions players Hacjivah Dayimani and Vincent Tshituka, the latter of whom is so fond of his man-bag he’s known to sleep with it. Footwear is more Hacjivah’s choice. The sneaker business he started with just 20 pairs four months ago is blossoming.
“When I ended up selling 100 pairs, I realised that this is actually a business, and I haven’t looked back.”
Someone who last year matched her dress with a pair of takkies was Rachel Kolisi.
“We have to break a few rules,” says the woman who has been by the Bok captain’s side for seven years, helping to raise Siya Kolisi’s siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, along with the couple’s son, Nicholas, and daughter, Keziah. This time she wore her shimmering gold dress with a pair of heels.
The event kicked off on a soaring note from singer Lynelle Kenned. A lump in the throat came when she performed a tribute to the late musical legend Johnny Clegg.
Uncomfortable giggles meet Dan Nicholl, who hands out the defender of the year trophy while wearing a blond wig and a Faf de Klerk Speedo.
I’m impressed by Hacjivah’s rumpshaking skills when he and a few teammates perform a dance routine.
Cheslin Kolbe, who was in Paris to pick up an award the previous evening, was named backline player of the year. Rosko Specman got the fans’ choice award and Herschel Jantjies won best off the bench and the #LoveChange awards.
Pieter-Steph du Toit was defender of the year, forward of the year and players’ player of the year.