Last week I promised an analysis on the 2014 Fifa World Cup draw but I’m sure you won’t hold it against me for putting that on ice for another week in honour of President Nelson Mandela. South Africa’s first democratically elected president passed away on Thursday 5 December at 20:50 at his Houghton home in Johannesburg. Madiba could relate to anyone from eight to eighty. Whether you were a politician, businessman, celebrity or athlete, Mandela had the ability to communicate with you.
Madiba famously once said that sport has the power to unite people and he so aptly demonstrated this after his release from prison in February 1990. One of Mandela’s first tasks was encouraging South Africa’s inclusion at the 1992 Cricket World Cup. The country’s cricketers were the first mainstream sports team from this country to re-enter the international fray.
Shortly after this the country’s athletes were in Barcelona for the Olympic Games. South Africa had not been present at the Olympics since 1960. In and around the Games, Bafana Bafana played for the first time and the Springboks were back too.
Mandela was very active in his support of the various sports teams and athletes. His presence at matches often resulted in the players performing above themselves and winning the day. This influence would come to be known as the Madiba Magic.
The first instance of the Madiba Magic at play was in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Challenge at the FNB Stadium in 1994 when Bafana Bafana met Zambia. At half-time the score was 0-0 but the president decided to pay the hosts a dressing room visit during the break. South Africa went on to take a 2-0 lead early in the second period and went on to win 2-1.
Mandela’s fervent support of the rugby team inspired Francois Pienaar’s men to 1995 Rugby World Cup glory. Who could ever forget Madiba appearing at the Ellis Park final sporting his Bok jersey with the number 6 at the back?
The president repeated this act some six months later but this time he donned a Bafana Bafana jersey with the number 9 on it, as worn by captain Neil Tovey. South Africa went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations by beating Tunisia in that final.
Over the years it became common to see Madiba in national colours supporting the nation’s teams and athletes with regular phone calls and match attendances. And frankly, no other head of state could have pulled that off. Could you imagine seeing Tony Blair in an England jersey or Bill Clinton in a basketball vest at the time?
One of my favourite Mandela stories involves Formula One. In the late 1980s a South African delegation headed by Dave McGregor went to see Bernie Ecclestone about the possibility of bringing F1 to this country. Ecclestone laughed it off and suggested South Africa were the pariahs of the international community. The Formula One boss told McGregor if Madiba was released, South Africa could have its grand prix.
A few months later, Mandela was out of jail and McGregor faxed Ecclestone who would make good on his promise. However funding was an issue. Formula One nut Cyril Ramaphosa was heading the ANC’s side of the CODESA negotiations and Madiba simply said it would be good for the country and that Ramaphosa should make it happen. As we now know, in 1992 the South African Grand Prix took place at Kyalami.
To the country’s biggest sports fan I say, thank you Tata. We will never forget you.