The Japanese are loving the Springboks so much they’re learning everything about South African culture.
And one of the people we have to thank for this is none other than provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk.
A video of Japanese fans singing Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika went viral, while all over the country, where the Rugby World Cup is currently under way, locals have been spotted wearing the green and gold, and even their pubs and bars are decorated in Bok colours.
Van Wyk, who is in Japan, went viral on Facebook after his wife posted pictures of him manning the South African ambassadorial tent at the fan walk in Yokohama, after finding it deserted.
Van Wyk says they were actually in Japan for his son Matthew, 19.
“Matthew was promised in Grade 6 that if he stays focused in school, he will be rewarded with an international trip,” the cop says.
“My wife Natasha and I saved up to make this a reality for him. It worked amazingly well to have coincided with the World Cup
JOY: SAPS FC van Wyk and son Matthew
On their way to watch SA’s first match against New Zealand, the pair went to check out the fan walk to compare it to the one hosted in Cape Town during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“While down there, we saw some of the tents marked as countries and I saw that the South African tent was empty,” says Van Wyk.
“We heard some people make remarks which didn’t gel with me, things like ‘what would you expect from South Africa’, laughing about it.”
The policeman says he was very disappointed and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Go BOKKE: FC van Wyk and son Matthew. Picture: Facebook
“Something just came up in me that said, ‘this is not South Africa’. So I went to the tent and made it my own. If the people had to pitch, I would have just said sorry, ‘you weren’t here’.
“There were already pamphlets and pop-ups. I then encouraged people to come to Cape Town, to look at the beaches, mountains, and beautiful wineries.
“I even told them about Johannesburg, going to the Kruger National Park and seeing the Big Five.
“I told them about the springbok itself and what a beautiful animal it is.
“It was just me being me, speaking about a land I love,” Van Wyk says.
COUNTRY DUTY: FC at the South African tent
And being from Cape Town, naturally he had to school mense in Cape culture.
“I told them to come experience the people, the klopse, the food, Malay curries, boboties.
“We were there for about 30 minutes before we had to meet up with the rest of the tour group.
“No one pitched to take over. I just did my best. I am a proud South African and proud Springbok supporter,” the Bok fan adds.