Hi Panuel
I was astounded to hear your rallying call directed at AmaXhosa from the Eastern Cape in particular. You lamented what you described as failures in several areas: firstly, a lack of representation at club level and, by extension, Transformation; secondly, a lack of developmental output or representation at club level, where players fall away; and lastly, a lack of giving back from former professional players and old boys from the main rugby schools, leading to a lack of generational continuity. You attributed all of this to AmaXhosa failure and declared that “AmaXhosa have let us down.”
Fortunately, you had the sense to establish some balance by pointing out certain achievements by AmaXhosa.
Watch the full video here.
Let me begin by responding in the most categorical terms. I denounce your comments. They are nothing short of clickbait and baseless, following your recent comments about AmaXhosa and our culture in previous posts, where you start dialogues designed to trigger people’s emotions and get them talking.
AmaXhosa Built a Unique Rugby Culture Against Structural Barriers
Firstly, AmaXhosa are the only Black people who have built a genuine culture around rugby in South Africa. This was done within a system that is structurally built, funded, and administered along racial and class lines. Rugby was the official sport of the apartheid state. The building of this culture has fostered unity between the different peoples of the Eastern Cape.
On a side note, I am fascinated that you do not seem to consider Coloured people as AmaXhosa and, by extension, do not consider them Black. Anyway, I digress.
Let me explain the different aspects, starting with the Gwijo Squad. This is one of the most important cultural initiatives in African Rugby">African Rugby">South African Rugby. It is not just a “sing-song on a Thursday night,” as you would like people to believe. In a world full of Afrikaans and English rugby customs, the Gwijo Squad is and will remain the only African custom that makes players like Siya Kolisi feel a true sense of belonging, and that connects us to them.
Secondly, Xhosa commentary is our own form of interpretation of a rugby game. It brings other Africans closer to the sport. The game feels foreign until it is done in Xhosa. We can go on to rugby analysis through Phaka and indeed Grit Sports Media, which give us a voice. There is a 360-degree cultural contribution to the game from AmaXhosa, even as we recognise the systemic barriers that hinder progress among our people.
World-Class Players Produced on Merit
Secondly, we have given World Rugby its best-ever captain, leading the best rugby team ever to play the game, along with formidable Black players who are there on merit, not to make up numbers. We are past the point of proving to white racists that inclusion and transformation are the way forward. Thanks to Rassie Erasmus, who has led the way with Siya Kolisi as his captain.
I want you to remember this: on ability and leadership on a rugby field, Kaunda Ntunja was better than Siya Kolisi comparatively in their younger developmental years, from what I watched of them. It is a pity he did not have a Rassie and the likes supporting his transition to professional rugby. For every Springbok there is another talent that was overlooked for some reason along the way. It is the noise we created shouting for transformation on social media, the individual sacrifices made by those players themselves to rise above the system, and lastly their families’ sacrifices and belief. I will not go into each player, but we have covered their stories extensively here on Grit Sports. We can only do our best. The rest is up to the system, and we cannot be blamed for leakages and players falling out within the pathways of professional rugby.
In all this you negate the fact that the natural orderof all sporting codes is that people fall off at all levels becaue only so many can be chosen. Players fall off for many reasons, sometimes personal most times environmental and systematic. Am facinated at how you managed to skip everything between the players, the profession, enviroment and system to land on amaXhosa have let us down because why else if not likes?
Development, Coaches, and Club Ownership in the Eastern Cape
Thirdly, in the Eastern Cape we are entrenched in development—not only of players, but of professional coaches coming through the ranks, and of club ownership. I will not go through the full list, but you mentioned the Lions and Sharks. Dude, they have done so much for transformation that it is an insult to simply count numbers. Look at the coaching staff and the people they have brought through their ranks.
You mention the Blue Bulls (and you may as well mention the Cheetahs), which are the centres of Afrikaans rugby and culture. You could not even count enough Englishmen in those teams, let alone Black people. On pure merit, where will you find players to make it into those teams? What you are seeing in your populist view is the mainstream. You are not seeing the coaches, local and abroad; the players contributing locally; or Black-owned rugby clubs like Olutsha Wolves in East London getting promoted through the ranks.
Fairness to Former Players and Generational Continuity
Lastly, let us be fair to our former players. They beat the system to become Springboks. Before they are even near retirement age, you are asking where their children are. Mathematically speaking, we are not there yet. It is enough that they opened doors for the next generations.
Conclusion: AmaXhosa Enhanced Rugby at Every Level
In closing, AmaXhosa did not fail local rugby. They enhanced it to a level never seen before—not only on the field, but on the coaching staff, among game officials, owners, in culture, media, commentary, and even in women’s rugby. Do you know how we built the culture, by working together and supporting each other.
The only question that remains, after the Eastern Cape gave you grounding at Rhodes University, is this: what impact are you making with your podcast? What have you stood for? What legacy will you leave behind? As a Jeppe old boy, can your privilege bring you towards leading with integrity and lifting up your brothers to greater heights?
Esse Quam Videri
Mncedi Mabona
