The Long-Awaited Celebration
The highlight of South Africa’s ICC mace parade in Cape Town on Friday wasn’t one of the players or coaches; it was a young man named Craig Steyn, who had the crucial job of securing the prized mace for the event.
At 76 centimeters long and weighing five kilograms, the gleaming trophy was safely held by Steyn whenever it wasn’t in the hands of team captain Temba Bavuma or other players. He took great care of the mace, cradling it gently in its soft cloth bag.
South Africa’s victory over Australia by five wickets in the WTC final marked a significant achievement, being the first major global trophy for any South African team since 1998. However, this event took place 105 days prior, and while fans remembered the win, life had moved on.
As the players paraded through Cape Town in an open-top bus, they encountered mixed reactions from a scattered crowd. Many seemed surprised, like a construction worker who managed to salute the team as they passed.
The parade concluded in Cape Town after visiting several cities across the week. The turnout outside City Hall was significant, estimated to be the largest crowd of the tour. Notably, the atmosphere was quite different compared to the Springboks’ rugby celebration in 2019, which drew massive crowds just days after their victory.
Coach Shukri Conrad, while addressing the media, humorously mentioned timing with a joke but emphasized the importance of celebrating the team’s achievement. He noted that this event was an opportunity to show appreciation for the fans and the sports spirit in South Africa.
With the upcoming defense against Pakistan set for October 12, the players reflected on the demanding past weeks of travel and competition. While they acknowledged that a quicker celebration would have felt more vibrant, the significance of this delayed public display was not lost on them as they aimed to draw inspiration for their next challenge.
