Not happy: South Africa
The reggae singer the Springboks accused of butchering the anthem before their 20-13 defeat to France said that he thought he had "sung beautifully".
Ras Dumisani, sporting dreadlocks tucked into a huge red, green and white Rastafarian cap, was adamant that his performance - which made large parts of the Toulouse crowd burst into laughter - had been a good one.
"No one told me they were upset with the singing," the Durban native said, speaking to AFP.
"In fact, someone just came up to me and told me how beautifully I had sung."
The South African anthem was sung before France's stirring "Marseillaise" and the singer, backed by two drummers of his Afrikhaya Band, made a mess of the four-language homage to the Rainbow Nation.
At the anthem's conclusion, large parts of the crowd were left openly laughing and several Bok players looked over angrily as the singer made his muted departure from the field.
"I must convey that we are annoyed by the fact that the French disrespected our anthem," blasted South Africa coach Peter de Villiers.
"They didn't get someone who really knows the thing and show any respect for it. We expect people to show respect to the anthem of any other country."
But Dumisani was aghast that De Villiers and other Bok players were unhappy with his rendition.
"Everyone at the stadium told me I sang well, even after the match. The Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika has been my tune since a baby," he said.
"How can I not know the words? There are four languages: Zulu, Sesontho, Afrikaans, English.
"It's just four bars, always saying the same thing," said Dumisani, now based in Paris where he currently records is music and from where he is about to embark on a tour.
"I am the biggest reggae man in South Africa and the Springboks are my team.
"Everyone has their own tastes and you can't always account for that but most people find my music so beautiful."
Speaking after the match on Friday, Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield said Dumisani's rendition of the anthem had taken some of the wind out of the Springbok sails just moments before a kick-off.
"It's almost like receiving a jersey - every week's a special moment," Matfield said of lining up to sing the anthem.
"Every time you go out on the field and sing the national anthem, it's very important for us and that's something that fires you up because it really fires you up because you know you're playing for your country.
"It was a joke out there. The guys couldn't sing along to it and even the crowd were starting to laugh. It was very disappointing."
Comments
willems says...
Frenchhook,
It remains the responsibility of the French to get a proper singer of other countries anthems. Even if he was suggested by the SA embassy. If I were those Springbok players I would have left the field and refuse to play!
Stop trying to shift the blame, you are being childish! Worst is that the French did not even apologise afterwards even after the whole crowd bursted out in laughter. Shame on the French!!!
Posted 13:00 16th November 2009
Johnpw says...
It has five languages.. Someone google it for goodness sake.
Posted 11:02 15th November 2009
Frenchhook says...
Lads, how about you check the other posts in the article regarding "Anthem Fury"? Again, that singer was picked by the SA Embassy...so, how about you start blaming the SA government instead of trying to make the French pass for disrespectful people, he?... I'm pretty sure you won't hear PDV on the subject either, now that he knows who chose that ridiculous Rastaman....
Posted 09:42 15th November 2009
Joe61 says...
Sounds as if Planet Rugby is trying to justify the French adminstrative mixup or was it all part of an on the field and off the field plan? Why make a head line like this to your article but I suppose it does fit the general tone of your rugby site.
Posted 07:27 15th November 2009
andrew says...
This chap was really embarassing, he´s a bad joke and would better go out and work as a janitor.Even Madonna sings better...
Posted 23:00 14th November 2009