He made the 2019 summer news. South Africa’s first black captain, he lifted the World Cup trophy in Japan. Siya Kolisi is also much involved in the global anti-racist debate.

On his Instagram account this weekend, he revealed the obstacles he had to overcome to reach the level. And now ready to take the fight against racism as his commitment.

“When I arrived at the Springboks, everything was done in Afrikaans (the language of the descendants of the white settlers). And I could not speak Afrikaans at all (…). It was very hard.”

“I had to adapt to this culture (Afrikaans) and I had to comply with it to feel accepted. And I did not feel like representing my country. I felt that I was not appreciated at my true value. And that I had to be grateful to have been there. It’s time for all of us to change and start making South Africa for which so many people fought. So many people died.”

“I have been in a leadership position in sport for a long time and I did not raise the issue (racism). Because I was afraid of being excluded or I was afraid of being seen as different.”

“The time for fear and silence is over … The next generation cannot suffer as we have suffered. Until our lives matter, no life matters, we are all important. Black people’s lives matter.”