I'm warming up to the idea of having the King Protea as the official symbol for the National Rugby team. At first it seemed preposterous - a move 14 years too late and divisive at this stage of our democracy. That was also the general view covered in the media, but many people also disagreed with me, saying the Springbok itself is a symbol of the dark days of 'apartheid'. I personally feel we've moved on from that and after two world cup victories it has done more to unify the nation than divide it.But...it's only a symbol. It represents the be! st rugby team in the world and is quite fitting in relation to the sport, but...it's only a symbol. Changing it won't, or shouldn't, change anything about the team and the way we play.
Then why change it? That was my initial question, but I've since listened to various arguments for and against keeping the Bok and have come to my own conclusion. Here it is: I think it would be better to change it than keep it.
Parliament's Sport Committee chairperson Butana Khompela yesterday read out a letter which ended with the writer claiming that the Springbok is a symbol that unifies white South Africans. This might not be the popular view, but it does represent a view non the less. The Protea on the other hand has no natural enemies.
Again, the Springbok is only an emblem, and one which clearly still reminds many South Africans of an unhappy past and a team which they couldn't relate to or maybe even despised. I know it's different! now, but the memory still lingers and that's why I think we s! hould ad opt the King Protea and scrap the Springbok. Remember, it's only a symbol and since it represents a national asset, one could say uniformity is better.
Anyway, the King Protea, as worn by the cricket and the soccer teams, looks very bold and I also like the shield shape of the emblem, but that's just me. That's also the point - everyone has their own feelings about the emblem and since no-one has anything against the Protea, let's use it and forget about the Bok.Perhaps we'll still call the national rugby team the Springboks for a while, ! before we find a new identity in the rugby world, who knows. If it was my call, I'd drop the Bok emblem, but keep the nickname on the jersey, as some form of compromise. Whatever the outcome, I know it won't negatively affect the true professionals in the team and in the long run it will be embraced by all who love rugby.
If not, then we'll have to wait about three years for another unifying event - winning the 2011 World Cup, without the Leaping Springbok over the heart.
