WATCH as Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and coach Rob Walter’s returned to an empty OR Tambo Airport on Saturday after losing their semifinal clash to Australia by three wickets in Kolkata on Thursday.
This weekend saw loads of international sports going on but here in South Africa, one can’t forget about the drama at OR Tambo International Airport this past Saturday evening.
Usually, if sports teams do well whether they win an international cup or at the very least make it as far as they possibly can, then they are serenaded by hundreds and thousands of people.
Proteas ODI coach Rob Walter and captain Temba Bavuma arrived at OR Tambo Airport last night. pic.twitter.com/Ztrj902Are
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) November 19, 2023
Moreso they would go as far as to welcome them back to SA when they arrive at the airport. Not the case on Saturday 18 November, when the Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and head coach Rob Walter had landed there was no hero’s welcome.
Yes, they didn’t win the World Cup like the Springboks did, but the cricket team got to the semi-finals and lost to the eventual winners Australia. There were no loud cheers, fanfare clapping for them and not even so much as a hero’s welcome for them.
Popular sportscaster Xoliswa Zondo expressed her disappointment at South Africans for not showing the same support to the cricket team as people did for Springboks or Banyana Banyana.
“Dear South Africa, this is NOT how our captain and coach should be welcomed back to the country! Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Coach Rob Walter are back from India after finishing in the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup”, said Zondo.
Dear South Africa this is NOT how our captain and coach should be welcomed back to the country!
— Xoli Zondo (MBA) (@XoliswaZondo) November 18, 2023
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Coach Rob Walter are back from India after finishing in the SEMI FINALS of the ICC Cricket World Cup
Here are the fans who came through pic.twitter.com/AHhmKbYUZg
