South Africans will be hoping that Siya Kolisi becomes the first black Springboks captain to lift the 2019 Rugby World Cup title.
Kolisi once again made history by becoming the first black player to lead the Springboks at a world showpiece in the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, when the Springboks battled it out with the world champions New Zealand.
With the Springboks hunting their third Ellis Webb trophy, Kolisi and his troops will be looking to end the dominance of the All Blacks and register their names in the rugby history books.
Kolisi’s story is one that continues to unfold at each and every turn.
By the time he calls it a day on the rugby field, he will have made his indelible mark on South African rugby.
He has broken every record in as far as South African rugby history is concerned.
A lot of stories will be written about this native of Zwide township by the time he ends his rugby career.
However, that project has already started with the latest autobiography written by Jeremy Daniel.
In this short biography simply titled Siya Kolisi- Against All Odds, Daniel treks the story of Kolisi from where it all started and to where it is now.
Kolisi’s story is well documented.
He grew up in a poor family in Zwide township with his grandmother and went to the prestigious Grey High.
He eventually signed for Western Province Rugby, captaining the Stormers in the Super Rugby.
The loose forward finally made history by becoming the first black Springbok captain in 2018 in the England series.
While Daniel provides more in-depth detail about that journey in this book, he, however, tells the story in a way that will make a reader see the odds which were heavily stacked against Kolisi in his career path.
Perusing through the pages of this book, the reader will be heavily inspired, motivated, encouraged, but most importantly appreciate how a God-given talent saved Kolisi.
It took him out of obscure poverty to rubbing shoulders with the world’s most celebrated athletes.
While Kolisi played no part in the writing of this book, the authenticity of the story being told derives from the fact that the scribe spoke to the people who were involved in the early days of Kolisi’s life and career.
This book celebrates Kolisi’s career achievements thus far and Daniel will one day have to fight it off with other scribes to finally record Kolisi’s full biographical history once he hangs his boots.
While the focus is on Kolisi’s career trajectory, a more detailed chapter about Kolisi and his relationship with his father could have given the reader a clearer picture of what kind of a man is Siya Kolisi outside the playing field.
Get a copy of this book from Raru (link)