‘I have the courage of the Springboks’: Mpumalanga youngster Siya Dlamini, who was christened Eben Etzebeth, is also a rugby player.
When his cousin, Lwazi, shared his reaction to Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s try against France during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, young Siya Dlamini did not know that he’d be flying to Cape Town to meet his ‘Elizabedi’ weeks later.
The grade 8 learner from Volksrust in Mpumalanga said on Friday, 3 November, that his experience with the Rugby World Cup champions was “crazy”.
SIYA WAS FLOWN TO CAPE TOWN TO MEET EBEN ‘ELIZABEDI’ ETZEBETH
Siya’s viral TikTok video, which had everyone in stitches, shows him standing in front of the TV as Etzebeth approaches the French try line to score a try during the Springboks’ 28-29 smash-and-grab victory over the Rugby World Cup 2023 host nation on 15 October.
Seconds before the try, he can be heard screaming “Elizabedi” a couple of times in excitement. Because of that viral clip, Etzebeth is now known as “Elizabedi”.
That moment and that viral video also changed Siya’s life.
Siya told 702 Drive host, John Perlman, that his grandmother was contacted by the SA Rugby headquarters for a trip to Cape Town to meet the Springboks.
“It’s my first time in Cape Town, it’s my first flying in a plane.
MEETING HIS HERO
Speaking about meeting Etzebeth, Siya said: “It was a surprise for him. They told me that I have to be here but he didn’t know I was coming.”
In a heartwarming video of the Springboks’ trophy tour, Siya can be heard screaming the name “Elizabedi” once again as he runs to Etzebeth for a hug.
As the pair embrace, the 32-year-old Bok player can be heard saying, “You changed my name, hey?” to the young man.
‘I HAVE THE COURAGE OF THE SPRINGBOKS’
During his interview, Siya also spoke about his love for rugby, sharing that he started playing rugby this year and he is a flank.
Asked about his experience and his first tackle, he said: “I wasn’t scared. I have the courage of the Springboks.”
Apart from playing rugby and putting a smile on Elizabedi’s face, Siya is also a computer wizard as his favorite subject is digital technology.
