JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said the country's underprivileged children should "keep dreaming and keep believing" as he carried the Rugby World Cup trophy through thousands of fans on the team's return home on Tuesday.
Kolisi led the Springboks to victory in Japan when they beat England 32-12 in the final in Yokohama on Saturday, a third title for the country after 1995 and 2007, and the first under a black captain.
His rags-to-riches tale has been inspirational for many, and the raucous welcome the side received showcased the full range of the Rainbow Nation as fans from all walks of life spent hours waiting for a glimpse of the players as they emerged in groups from different flights.
The biggest cheer was reserved for Kolisi, who grew up in an impoverished township and has written his name not only into rugby folklore but also into the history of South Africa as a beacon of hope for those who face a bleak future.
"The kids must keep dreaming and keep believing," he told reporters. "Anything can be overcome. When I was young, I was just focused on going to training each day, preparing myself for the opportunity just in case it ever came.
"I am proof it can be done. We don’t want it to be so tough for anybody else, we want to make it easier in the future."
Kolisi said the players felt the support from back home during their time in Japan, with a TV screen in their hotel constantly replaying videos from fans, or images of ordinary South Africans celebrating their victories.
STAR-STUDDED SUPPORT
He added that the team had also been inspired by messages from tennis great Roger Federer, whose mother was born in South Africa, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
"I am a huge Federer fan, so when he sent the message it was special. Tom Brady as well, that was amazing for us as a team."
The Boks' next encounter will be against an as yet unnamed opponent in the 2020 June International window, and Kolisi is hopeful that the core of the World Cup-winning side will be kept together.
"We would love to stay together as a team, but that will be down to the coach. A lot of us have committed to staying in South Africa for that," Kolisi said.
(Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
