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They Don't Know What We Know

By Koketso Mamabolo

“Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” (They don’t know what we know). The pugilist poet, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis, South Africa’s first UFC Champion, found a phrase for the underdogs. The national teams and individual competitors proudly carrying their flags compete against the best in the world despite the odds. For him, and certainly for us all, there’s a will to overcome that’s difficult to describe. It’s Banyana Banyana, The Women’s Netball Team and the Men’s Cricket side being able to hold their heads high in defeat.

It's the dozens of stories in the Springbok squad, and Bafana Bafana emerging into an era we hope returns us to the glory days. It's 34-year-old Tasneem Solomons from Bonteheweul in Cape Town clinching the title of World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) Ultimate Pool women's singles champion earlier this month.

From her first nationals in 2008, being part of SA team which won the World Blackball Championship in 2010, and her first national title in 2018, Tasneem represents that underdog spirit and offers the inspirational story of someone who made it out of difficult circumstances to chase accolades they could bring home to show the next generation what could done.

It’s wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane making tennis courts around the world her stage. South Africa’s three-time Sportswoman with a Disability of the Year winner continued her stellar run with her third Grand Slam title which she won with partner Yui Kamiji in the Wimbledon Doubles final on the 14th of July, adding to their win at the French Open.

Spread across the roof of Loftus Versfeld during the Springboks’ 27 - 20 win over second ranked Ireland in the first test match of the series was a banner with those words, which have become a slogan for South Africa’s sporting success: “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie.” Despite a disappointing one point loss in the second test in Durban, there’s a sense that this group of Springboks hasn’t hit sixth gear yet and injection of youth promises to keep their colossal run going into the game against Portugal and the Rugby Championship.

On the same day of the first test match the SA Women’s Hockey side sealed their 2 - 1 series win over France with a convincing 40 win in the final game. They’ll be hoping to take this momentum into the Summer Olympics Games kicking off in a week’s time.

Hopes are high for Team SA for this Paris Olympics following the 106 medals brought home from the 13th African Games, with only Nigeria and Egypt winning more. South Africa’s finest will continue to show the world they don’t know what they know, with plenty of sporting action over the coming two months.

SASCOC’S Initial Olympic Team

Athletics: Stephen Mokoka, Gerda Steyn, Irvette van Zyl, Cian Oldknow, Akani Simbine, Benjamin Richardson, Luxolo Adams, Wayde van Niekerk, Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Tshepo Tshite, Adriaan Wildschutt, Marione Fourie, Zeney Geldenhuys, Rogail Josephs, Jovan van Vuuren, Prudence Sekgodiso

Swimming: Pieter Coetzee, Chad Le Clos, Matthew Sates, Aimee Canny, Tatjana Smith (nee Schoenmaker), Kaylene Corbett, Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Julia Vincent (Diving)

Canoeing: Tiffany Koch, Esti Olivier, Hamish Lovemore, Andrew Birkett

Springbok Sevens: Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Quewin Nortje, Tiaan Pretorius, Shaun Williams, Selvyn Davids (captain), Tristan Leyds, Rosko Specman, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Ronald Brown * (travelling reserve), Katlego Letebele (travelling reserve)

Climbing: Aniya Holder, Joshua Bruyns, Lauren Mukheibir, Mel Janse van Rensburg

Gymnastics: Caitlin Rooskrantz

Surfing: Jordy Smith, Matthew McGillivray, Sarah Ann Baum

Surfing: Jordy Smith, Matthew McGillivray, Sarah Ann Baum

What's On In July and August

Olympics:

• Summer Olympic Games: 26 July to 11 August

• Paralympics Games: 28 August to 8 September

Cricket:

• SA Men’s Cricket vs West Indies 1st Test: 7 August to 12 August

Rugby:

• Springboks vs Portugal: 20 July

• Springboks vs Australia: 10 August

• Springboks vs Australia: 17 August

Golf

• Betway Big Easy Tour: 3 - 5 to 7 August

Sources: Daily Voice | Supersport | EWN | GSport | IOL | SABC Sport | SA Rugby