Zaahier Adams and Stuart Hess
AUCKLAND: The towels in the away dressing room at Eden Park were soaked with the tears of crestfallen South African players last night.
Down the passage, the music was playing in New Zealand’s dressing room. There were smiles and hugs. “It’s probably a shambles,” said the country’s new national hero, South African-born Grant Elliott.
De Villiers, meanwhile, mustered up all the courage he could to address the media after South Africa’s heartbreaking four-wicket defeat to New Zealand in this epic World Cup semi-final. It was clear the skipper felt he had let down his nation by not fulfilling his promise of a first-ever final.
“It’s obviously painful. There are lots of people back home supporting us. It hurts to think of all of them, you know, and we so badly wanted to take that trophy back home, but I guess life moves on,” he said, before slumping into his chair.
Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula voiced his support for De VIlliers and the Proteas yesterday despite the loss.
“I speak to the entire Protea team with a deep sense of pride after their scintillating performance in the Cricket World Cup. Your performance on distant terrain is testimony of the Proteas’ ‘no surrender’ spirit and demonstration of our South African indomitable winning spirit.”