South Africa rugby captain Siya Kolisi said that the match against New Zealand at Soccer City stadium in Soweto holds special significance for the team. The third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series will take place on Saturday in the Johannesburg township, which is closely connected to the history of the struggle against apartheid.
As Channel NewsAsia reports, the score in the four-match series is 1-1 ahead of the third game. The teams’ final meeting is scheduled for September 12 in Baltimore, United States.
The historical significance of Soweto
Kolisi said that events in Soweto helped shape modern South Africa. According to him, many of the country’s heroes come from this area, while a significant part of its football history is also connected with Soweto.
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The captain stressed that the team understands the significance of the stadium and the area where the game will take place. He also noted that people who fought for the freedom South Africans enjoy today were unable to experience it, and that the team’s best performance should be a way of thanking them.
The teams’ goal in the series
Some 87,500 tickets have gone on sale for the match at Soccer City. Soweto is more associated with football, with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates particularly popular there.
South Africa played New Zealand’s All Blacks twice in Soweto and lost both matches — 22-29 in 2010 and 16-32 in 2012. Kolisi said his team’s main goal is to win the series and added that South Africans seek to defend the values they represent as a country.
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