HANKEY – For eight-year-old Oluthando “Olu” Nkosinkulu, a dream he had been holding onto finally came true when he met his rugby hero, Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe, in person.

Oluthando, a learner at Hankey Primary School, a keen rugby player and amputee who wears a prosthetic leg, recently travelled to Cape Town with his mother, Natasha, where they watched the Springboks play live before meeting Kolbe after the match.

A dream come true

For him, meeting Kolbe was an experience he will treasure forever.

“It was amazing. When he walked out and said, ‘Hello, Olu,’ my heart stopped, and I was dumbstruck. I could only shake my head and smile,” said Oluthando.

He said seeing his hero in person left him overwhelmed. “My heart was beating fast, and my whole body was shivering,” said Oluthando.

Although he had previously said he wanted to hug Kolbe, tell him he meant the world to him and ask the Springbok to teach him how to step, nerves got the better of him when they finally met.

“He asked me how I am and whether I enjoy the game. I got to hug him, but I was so nervous I couldn’t get a word out.”

He said simply seeing Kolbe and having him speak to him was the highlight.

“It was great seeing him and him talking to me. We took a photo which I will keep forever,” said Oluthando.

Almost on the field

Watching the Springboks play live was another highlight of the trip.

“It was a lot of fun. Sitting so close, I was almost on the field myself. Seeing how big the rugby players are. I sang, I danced and joined in on the Mexican wave,” said Oluthando.

The experience became even more special when Kolbe signed Olu’s Springbok jersey.

“I told my mommy to never wash it and put it away,” said Oluthando.

He said he plans to keep the jersey forever, with his mother promising to have it framed for him.

A weekend to remember

Natasha described the Cape Town trip as “one of the most exciting and amazing experiences ever” and said she was deeply grateful for the opportunity.

The trip, live rugby match and meeting with Kolbe were arranged by activist and social media personality, Billy Claasen, who is based in the Western Cape.

“I was so grateful and will forever be grateful. The whole weekend I had to hold back my tears,” said Natasha.

She recalled the excitement that started as soon as Oluthando found out he was going to meet his hero.

Natasha said when they got off the bus after arriving in Cape Town, Claasen met them and said, “Here’s the guy who is meeting Cheslin Kolbe.”

“Olu was so excited that he struggled to eat and could not settle down before the match. He kept on asking when it was time to go,” said Natasha.

More than a rugby meeting

For Natasha, however, the significance of the meeting went beyond seeing her son meet his sporting hero.

“It meant the world to me to see not one, but two of my sons’ biggest dreams come true,” said Natasha.

“I had to fight back tears because I didn’t want to embarrass my son, but it was very gratifying and emotional for me.”

When Oluthando finally met Kolbe, Natasha deliberately stepped aside so that her son could experience the moment fully.

“I moved aside and let him embrace the moment to the fullest. I only came closer when he asked me to join for a photo, and then when he signed Olu’s jersey, we spoke a little,” said Natasha.

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