United in song: Keabetswe Motsilanyane and Bok fans’ rendition combo of the national anthem at the Springbok-Ireland game moved the nation.
Singer and 7de Laan actress Keabetswe (KB) Motsilanyane marked the much-anticipated return of the World Cup-winning Springbok team with a powerful rendition of the national anthem ahead of their game against the Irish at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria, on Saturday.
Ahead of the historic game which the Springboks won 27-20, the packed stadium was also graced by the award-winning Team SA sheep shearers, the country’s Beekeeping team, world-famous Ndebele artist Dr Esther Mahlangu and UFC mixed martial arts (MMA) middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis.
ALSO READ: Springbok player ratings in 27-20 win against Ireland
Springbok-Ireland game: National pride, anthem at full-throttle
As they took to the field, a massive banner with Dricus’s famous saying – “Hulle Weet Nie Wat Ons Weet Nie” (“They Don’t Know What We Know”) – unfurled to the delight of the Loftus crowd.
During the last stanza of the anthem, KB opened her arms, sharing her microphone with the stadium, inviting everyone to join in.
National pride was what it was all about as Springbok fans at Loftus gave it stick, singing along to:
“Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.”
WATCH: KB and Bok fans sing national anthem
SA reacts
Emotions ran high following the singing of the national anthem, with KB getting high praise for letting the crowd take over the final stanza.
Former Springboks winger Breyton Paulse wrote: “Man I love our anthem, it always makes me emotional, we’ve come such a long way Mzanzi. Lets embrace that!”
@HaynieCecil: WOOOOW!!!!! Goosebumps!! Crying!! What just happened?!? It felt like I was there in the stadium singing along. Great job KB and the Whole of South Africa.
- The next Springboks vs Ireland nailbiter is due to take place at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, in Durban, on Saturday, 13 July.
ALSO READ: ‘Lekker, Rassie’: Springbok coach goes viral with ‘Irish fans are a bit windgat’ video