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The late Nelson Mandela surprised everyone when he arrived unannounced at the St John's College Easter Schools Rugby Festival in 1998, writes Patrick Gumunyu.
Madiba surprised everyone when he arrived unannounced at the St John's College Easter Schools Rugby Festival in 1998.
The president and a few security officers arrived at the field in two Astra Cadets vehicles through the school's entrance, walked through the fields greeting and chatting to the crowd.
He was quick to spot that Prince Edward School was a touring foreign team (mixture of white/black/coloured players) participating in a 'predominantly white man's' sport.
He called us over, ask who the teacher was, spoke to me and my bemused youngsters and jokingly said: "Please win your games and make my friend Bob happy ... when you go back home give him my regards."
It was such a special moment to meet, casually chat and take photographs with the "greatest leader of all time".
He sat in the crowd and watched the school boys play their match like any other parent. A situation like this would have been a security nightmare for other leaders, but not with the down-to-earth president Mandela.
It was so humbling to have a world icon at the school fields watching kids play sports during Easter, when many others would have rather been elsewhere with their families.
Regards
Patrick Gumunyu
- Fin24
*Share your memories of Nelson Mandela with Fin24 users.
Madiba surprised everyone when he arrived unannounced at the St John's College Easter Schools Rugby Festival in 1998.
The president and a few security officers arrived at the field in two Astra Cadets vehicles through the school's entrance, walked through the fields greeting and chatting to the crowd.
He was quick to spot that Prince Edward School was a touring foreign team (mixture of white/black/coloured players) participating in a 'predominantly white man's' sport.
He called us over, ask who the teacher was, spoke to me and my bemused youngsters and jokingly said: "Please win your games and make my friend Bob happy ... when you go back home give him my regards."
It was such a special moment to meet, casually chat and take photographs with the "greatest leader of all time".
He sat in the crowd and watched the school boys play their match like any other parent. A situation like this would have been a security nightmare for other leaders, but not with the down-to-earth president Mandela.
It was so humbling to have a world icon at the school fields watching kids play sports during Easter, when many others would have rather been elsewhere with their families.
Regards
Patrick Gumunyu
- Fin24
*Share your memories of Nelson Mandela with Fin24 users.
