Kolisi: Klopp knew who I was

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World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi has described how his fortuitous meeting with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp left him ‘falling off his chair’.
The Bok captain has been swamped with messages of congratulations following his team’s achievements in winning a third Rugby World Cup crown, but Kolisi was left astounded when the Champions League-winning manager approached him to commend him on the Springboks’ success.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Bok captain – who is a big fan of Liverpool football club – explained how the encounter with Klopp left him lost for words.

‘He came and greeted every single person at the table and spoke to me for over 40 minutes,’ said the awestruck Bok captain. ‘When I saw him I fell off my chair! Everyone around me didn’t understand but I’ve got huge respect for him. He said he knew who I was and that he watched the final.’

A fortnight after concluding the nationwide World Cup victory tour, following their triumph in Japan, the Bok captain admitted that it was only during the celebratory parade that he realised the significance of his team’s achievement.

‘This made us realise why we did it and who we did it for,’ added Kolisi. ‘To see people in South Africa so happy and united, that was really strong. We hope it is not just for this moment, but that it carries on for years to come.’

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Photo: Instagram/siya_kolisi_the_bear

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SA Rugby magazine