Yesterday I covered one of the most uplifting events in the history of South African sport and race relations. It was the launch of the Lucas Radebe Sustainable Legacy Park in Protea Glen, Soweto, sponsored by Blue Label Telecoms and put together by the South African Rugby Legends Association (Sarla).

It was a wonderful occasion which I shall cover in a separate article.

The highlight of the opening was to have been the meeting of two world champions at one venue. The Springboks, who turned out in force, and the Azzurri, the World Cup 2006 winners in Germany.

At the event Sarla CEO John Allan, visibly annoyed, advised the mass turnout that at 14h30 the Italians had called to let him know that they would not be coming.

The reason that was given to Allan was that they were embarrassed by the result against Brazil.

Allan advised the packed media that he was happy to be quoted when he called them a disgrace. In addition they had insulted the Springboks and all the other people who turned up for the occasion.

This received a thunderous round of applause from the people gathered there.

As Allan correctly points out; what makes the Springboks special is their conduct both on and off the field. The Italian team needs to learn this lesson if they are going to be able to look themselves in the mirror.

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  • Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist. He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools. He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss). He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992. His passions include Derby County, Blue Bulls, Orlando Pirates, Proteas and Springboks. He takes Valium in order to cope with Bafana Bafana's results. Practice Michael Trapido Attorney (civil and criminal) 011 022 7332 Facebook

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Michael Trapido

Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist. He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools. He married Robyn...

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