A number of South Africans on social media are calling out SA-born English cricketer Kevin Pietersen for his “selective” support of the Springboks following their victory against the All Blacks.
The retired player, who was born to an Afrikaaner father and a British mother, left the country at the age of 19. After four years of residency, he qualified to play for England, where he eventually became captain of the national team.
Kevin has been vocal about his love of his “home country” despite living and working abroad.
KEVIN PIETERSEN’S SUPPORT OF SPRINGBOKS IRKS FANS
After the weekend’s game against the All Blacks at Ellis Park (now Emirates Airline Park), Kevin Pietersen, like many rugby fans, toasted the Springboks’ sweet victory.
“Bokke, bokke, bokke,” he said in a clip posted on his X account while holding two bottles of red wine.
In the comments section, many South Africans called Kevin out for his “selective” support of the country.
@C_that: “During your career, you sang ‘God save the queen.’ Please firmly keep your feet planted on that side.”
@CudmoreJock: “So, are you English or South African?”
@Lebza24: “You spelled England incorrectly
@Md_neka: “If confused was a person”
@MainEv3nt: “You’re not South African.”
@surtizo: “Nah, not you. Don’t jump on the bandwagon now, KES boy. Go back to those okes you chose over the pond.”
@fr33stylaz: “Bandwagon Bok fan from England.”
@tshepangmvshigo: “Look at this traitor claiming the Bokke, my guy, stay on that side.”
Kevin Pietersen
Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen was born in South Africa.
Images via Instagram:
@kevinpietersen
WHY DID HE LEAVE SOUTH AFRICA?
Kevin Petersen was born in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal in 1980. He attended the Maritzburg College and was later selected to play for Natal’s B team in 1997 at the age of 17
However, in his 2007 autobiography Crossing The Boundary, Kevin revealed the real reason he left SA.
An extract of the book, as published by DailyMail, reads: “I was dropped because the quota system was brought into South African cricket to positively discriminate in favour of ‘players of colour’ and to fast-track the racial integration of cricket in the country.
He continued: “To me, every single person in this world needs to be treated exactly the same. And that should have included me as a promising 20-year-old cricketer. If you do well, you should play on merit. That goes for any person of any colour. It was heartbreaking.
Despite feeling forced to leave his homeland, Kevin added that “it turned out it was the best thing that could have happened.”
Kevin Pietersen’s family—including three siblings—still lives in SA, even though he considers England “home.”
His mother, Penny, told the Mirror that she was disappointed at the “hostile reception” from South Africans toward her son in his early playing days.
She said: “That’s sad. People should be happy for someone else’s success.
“Kevin took the initiative and had the courage to go overseas and realise his dream. And that’s something you can’t take away from him.”