Thando Manana shares what it’s like to be a black Springbok
KILLARNEY – Former Springbok rugby player, Thando Manana, and first-time author, Sibusiso Mjikeliso, share tales from Being a Black Springbok.
Former Springbok rugby player, Thando Manana, and first-time author, Sibusiso Mjikeliso, launched their new book Being a Black Springbok at Exclusive Books in Killarney Mall on 20 July.
The book recalls tales of Manana’s childhood as well as his struggles and successes as a Springbok rugby player. At the launch of the book, Manana had the audience in stitches while recalling many stories from his childhood. Manana, however, does not shy away from discussing some difficult experiences in his life.
Mjikeliso, who is the editor of Kick Off magazine, approached Pan Macmillan publishers just over a year ago with a proposal to write a book about Manana.
Manana and Mjikeliso had been friends before they began working on the book. “Thando and I formed a friendship and it wasn’t the book that brought us together. He told me gradually story by story and the more he kept telling me, the more intrigued I became,” said Mjkeliso.
Manana, who proves to have been a multi-talented child, gave up cricket and drama to pursue his career in rugby. Manana, who was the third black African to become a springbok, is famously remembered for refusing to undergo initiation, stating that he had already passed through his Xhosa initiation.
During a question and answer session at the book launch, Manana shared hilarious anecdotes from his childhood including the time he tracked down former Proteas wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson to spend an afternoon learning from Richardson. “I was a wicketkeeper, but not a good one. So when I got to his house I introduced myself as an aspiring cricketer and I said to him, ‘I love you’,” said Manana.
Sibusiso Mjikeliso and Thando Manana speak about their book Being a Black Springbok at Exclusive Books in Killarney Mall.
Manana shares tales of his various passions throughout the book, however, Manana goes on to say that rugby has always been his true love. “It’s different when you fall in love with a sport. For me, I fell in love when I was first introduced to this sport [rugby]. I will forever love the game and I will forever stand for the game.”
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