Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa during the 2019 Springbok Squad Announcement at Ulwazi Centre MultiChoice City, Johannesburg, on 26 August 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Watch: Makazole Mapimpi sheds light on Springbok huddle controversy [video]
Makazole Mapimpi took it upon himself to provide context behind a controversial video, where he was shunned by a group of Springboks teammates on Friday.
Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa during the 2019 Springbok Squad Announcement at Ulwazi Centre MultiChoice City, Johannesburg, on 26 August 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi has found himself in the midst of a social media storm after a video of him being shut out of a huddle by some of his teammates went viral on Saturday morning.
The Sharks flyer started in the Boks’ 49-3 win over Italy on Friday, and notched his 11th try in as many matches in national colours.
An incident after the game thrust him firmly into the spotlight, with allegations of racism in the Bok setup gaining wheels.
Makazole Mapimpi shut out of Bok huddle
In the footage Mapimpi is seen approaching a group of teammates, who all happened to be white, gathering for a huddle.
The group quickly close up as he makes his way towards them, and he turns – gesturing in the process.
Frans Steyn, who appears to the leader of the huddle, gestures back towards Mapimpi, who’s now off shot after the release.
The scenes sparked outrage on social media, with Steyn, in particular, being accused of racism for turning his black teammate away.
Watch: Makazole Mapimpi turned away from Springbok huddle
Bomb squad explained: Winger sheds light on controversial video
Following the outrage, the Springbok winger has taken it upon himself to explain what really went down.
The players in the huddle – Steyn, RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, and Steven Kitshoff – all started from the bench, with Herschel Jantjies and Malcolm Marx the only two replacements missing from the group.
According to Mapimpi, the Springbok setup has an exclusive club called the “bomb squad”, made up of the players who do not start the game, but are in the matchday squad.
He revealed that he turned away from the huddle after realising it was just the players who had come on in the second half who were in that huddle.
Translated from Xhosa.
“In the team we have what we call the ‘bomb squad’, made up of players who start from the bench,” Mapimpi said in the video.
“They have their own chants and calls.
“As you see what happened yesterday… normally after a game, we shake hands with the opposition. So, at the time where you see the bomb squad meet up, they were about to call out their chant.
“As I was walking after the handshakes, I saw the bomb squad in a huddle and realised it’s just them, and I retreated. Otherwise there’s nothing to it, we’re united.”
Makazole Mapimpi
