What did Nelson Mandela say to Francois Pienaar?

Pienaar was dropped from the Springbok side in 1996 and when he announced he would be leaving to join Saracens in London, Mandela summoned him to lunch and left him with a final request. “Francois you promise me you will come back one day and you’ll make a difference.”

What did Mandela suggest Pienaar and what was the outcome?

Answer: Nelson Mandela suggested Francois Pienaar that if the Springboks could capture the imagination and support of the non-white and do well in the Rugby World Cup, it would go a long way in unifying the country.

Why did Nelson Mandela invite Francois Pienaar to his office?

Around the time of the Rugby World Cup in 1995, held in South Africa, Nelson Mandela invites the Captain of the Springboks Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to come to the government palace for a tea and inspires Francois to win the championship with his team.

What happened to Francois Pienaar?

Retirement. In 2000, Pienaar retired as a player and became Saracens’ CEO. As a consequence of the club’s lack of success during the two following years, Pienaar stepped down as coach and CEO in 2002.

Is Francois Pienaar married?

Nerine Winter
Francois Pienaar/Spouse

Why did President Mandela make the Springbok rugby team a priority?

Nelson Mandela’s main priority during his five-year presidency was to reconcile the whites with the black majority despite the contempt they had for one another. He saw an opportunity with the South African (Springboks) rugby team as the way to unite one of the most divided countries towards a common goal.

What were the most notable achievements of Nelson Mandela?

Mandela received more than 260 awards over 40 years, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. From 1994 to 1999, Mandela was President of South Africa. He was the first such African to be elected in fully representative democratic polls.

Why did Mandela take risks to bring all the citizens of South Africa together?

Why did Mandela take risks to bring all citizens of South Africa together? He knew that he had to reunite the country if they wanted any success as a country in the future. He took the risks to hopefully get the people of south Africa united over rugby, and realize that they aren’t so different after all.

Is Ruan Pienaar related to Francois Pienaar?

“He (Ruan Pienaar) is just so talented. His dad (Gysie) was the backs coach at the 1995 World Cup that we won.

What does Francois Pienaar do?

Rugby Player
WriterOfficialSports commentator
Francois Pienaar/Professions

Who are called the Springboks?

The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks (colloquially the Boks or Bokke, and Amabokoboko), is the country’s national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem is the native antelope springbok.

When did Francois Pienaar become president of South Africa?

The men came together when Pienaar captained South Africa to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. When the blond Afrikaner shook hands with the black freedom fighter turned president, they instantly forged one of the country’s defining images of racial unity.

How did Mandela inspire Pienaar and the Springboks?

Their close bond, a young white Afrikaner and the famous black prisoner of Robben Island, grew out of Pienaar’s captaincy of the Springboks and Mandela’s visionary and altruistic support of a team who played in a jersey many of his followers despised. It started with a cup of tea, he told AFP.

When did Francois Pienaar win the Rugby World Cup?

Pienaar receives the 1995 rugby World Cup from Mandela: ‘During those six weeks what happened was incredible.’ Photograph: Philip Littleton/AFP/Getty Images Among certain white communities in apartheid South Africa, it was taken for granted that Nelson Mandela was a terrorist who must remain behind bars.

Why is Francois Pienaar a symbol of reconciliation?

“François here is the symbol of reconciliation,” said Ahmed Kathrada, a fellow prisoner of Mandela on Robben Island, when he shared a platform with Pienaar at the One Young World summit in Johannesburg last October. In an interview with the Observer, Pienaar recalled the hardline white attitudes that shaped his childhood.