Playing The Enemy

• 14th Jan 2009 at 10:21:24 pm by Liam Doyle
• Item type: product

Nelson Mandela And The Game That Made A Nation

This review has been written by one of our members, DavidF. A big thanks to him.

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I was surprised that, whilst short-listed, Playing the Enemy didn't win the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. But this is not a pure sports book - instead it is a blend of history, politics, biography and sport, something that only broadens its appeal,

It is the story of the pivotal decade in South Africa history, commencing with the talks initiated by the then Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetsee, with the imprisoned Nelson Mandela in 1985 (talks that led to secret meetings with President P. W. Botha who, the author suggests, probably did more to bring about an end to the apartheid regime than his successor, F. W. de Klerk) and finishing with South Africa's incredible triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

There is an ageless tradition for leaders to use the threat of foreign enemies to bring their people together in a common purpose, but this was the first time it was done on the field of sport

It is the fascinating and often intriguing story of how the most charismatic statesman of modern times used his political genius, charm and generous vision to pull off what must be seen as a most unlikely of miracles. It was this genius that took the green Springbok jersey, so beloved by the white population and so detested by the black population, who saw it as a symbol of apartheid, and turned it into the focus of his campaign to unit his country. When Mandela famously stepped onto the field of Ellis Park on the day of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final he captured the hearts of white South Africans and for that afternoon, forged a powerful and unprecedented patriotic bond with their black compatriots.

As Carlin surmises, the final was the last act of the most improbable exercise in mass seduction ever seen.

Part of the strengths of this book is the way it deals individually with the people that Mandela personally charmed - it is a massive insight into Mandela's charisma and demonstrates just how much the relatively peaceful transfer of power in South Africa was down to just one man.

However, Mandela could never have achieved what he did on his own and this book is a tribute to those who contributed so much to the relatively peaceful end of apartheid and the birth of democracy. Particularly intriguing are Mandela's secret negotiations with General Constand Viljoen that prevented civil war (and ultimately led to the reconciliation with Constand's own brother, Braam).

Rugby, of course, is the dominant theme throughout the book and South Africa's readmission to the "rugby family" (and reaction to tours and matches before this point), the success in gaining the 1995 competition (and the risk that the IRB took) and finally the amazing World Cup campaign are all covered. Not ignored is how the Springbok's manager, Morne du Plessis worked to raise players' political consciousness.

Whilst the pivotal moment in the entire book was when Mandela stepped out onto Ellis Park wearing the number six Springboks jersey, there are a number of other moments that stand out: Kobus Wiese, Hannes Strydom and Balie Swant singing Nkosi Sikelele and the universal popularity of the song "Shosholoza".

However, the highlight has to be the "taming" of Jonah Lomu. Remember, Lomu was the star of the 1995 RWC - who can forget the way in which he almost single-handedly destroyed England in the semi-final? So was an obvious threat for the final. During the Haka, Lomu, already a "victim" of Mandela's charm, broke ranks and advanced slowly and deliberately at James Small, his opposite number. But Wiese then also broke ranks and took a few steps towards Lomu, cutting diagonally in front of Small as if to say to Lomu "to get to him, you have to get through me first."

I couldn't end this review without including that famous conversation between Mandela and Springbok captain François Pienaar after the final:

Mandela:

Francois, thank you very much for what you have done for our country

.

Pienaar:

No, Mr President. Thank you very much for what you have done for our country

.

That just about sums up what this book is about.

This is one of those "eagerly awaited" books, so did it live up to my expectations? Not only did it live up to my expectations, it exceeded them.

I, along with a number of others, felt that this was a dead cert. for this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year. That it was piped to the post by Marcus Trescothick (next in my pile to read and review - I'm now looking forward to this even more) should not detract from the fact that this is a tremendous book.

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