(CNN) — Francois Pienaar is the “big blonde child regarding apartheid,” a white South African exactly who grew up fantasizing of glory on the latest rugby profession.
He turned a star and the master away from Southern Africa’s national rugby cluster — a sport hated by many black Southern Africans due to the fact games of its oppressors.
However, into the Summer a dozen, 1994, Nelson Mandela summoned Pienaar in order to his place of work to inquire of him to help you play a dramatic role.
However the young Mandela is actually for example an effective “younger, brash Muhammad Ali” inside the youngsters whom upset, and you can spooked light Southern area Africans, Carlin produces within his book
Given that Mandela supported Pienaar java having dairy, he gave the fresh celebrity football pro snippets off his audacious package. You to definitely plan manage electrify Southern area Africa, continue Pienaar so you’re able to their bodily and you may mental limitations, and you may concrete Mandela’s character once the good transcendent chief.