KAMCILLA PILLAY
“He can’t sing at all. In fact, I feel sorry for him.”
That was Ras Dumisani’s verdict on fellow anthem fumbler Ard Matthews’ rendition of the country’s national anthem at the announcement of the Springbok World Cup squad on Tuesday.
Dumisani, who himself copped plenty of flak from South Africans for his off-key performance of Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika before the 2009 Springbok Test in Toulose, France, said he had witnessed Matthews’ faux pas on Youtube from his Paris home.
“He looks like he can’t concentrate on singing and playing the guitar at the same time – he should have got someone to accompany him,” said Dumisani, formerly of Durban.
He lambasted Matthews on his pronunciation of the Afrikaans words. “He honestly looks like he didn’t even bother to rehearse – he had forgotten lyrics and was off-key.”
Dumisani, who last year released a reggae version of himself singing the anthem to redeem himself, went on to say that he thought that the organisers had neglected Matthews and had not told him what to expect.
“When I performed in France, I was all alone. Not a single South African. What’s his excuse?”
Matthews, speaking to the Daily News yesterday, said he was still devastated by his blunder – he felt he had disappointed his fans and the South Africans watching.
“What shocked me as well was that complete strangers were so, so angry with me. They have even been attacking me personally,” he said.
Social networks had been set alight by users commenting on the performance – some offered support and encouragement while others lambasted the performer.
Yesterday he posted on his Twitter page: “Thanks for the incredible outpour of forgiveness from those who know that it was a genuine mistake. For those whom I offended, I don’t expect you to just forget but I do ask you to also forgive me in time. I completely froze, No drugs, no alcohol.”
Responding to Dumisani’s comments, Matthews would only say that he was entitled to his opinion.
“I’m not here to talk about anyone else’s performance or compare what I did last night with another performance – all I can say is that I’m sorry.”
On a Radio 702 interview yesterday with John Robbie, he said that when Dumisani had sung so badly, he hadalso felt insulted, and thus could understand the public’s anger towards him.
Matthews is not as unrepentant as Dumisani, and has repeatedly apologised.
On Facebook Mark Beck wrote:
“one line messed up, still sang well, and besides, people should be more worried about what the Boks were wearing on their heads – oh my gosh, that was way more embarrassing.
Zelda van Zyl wrote: “I’ve just watched your umpteenth apology on the news – you've handled this whole unfortunate incident with humility, integrity and sincerity, there is nothing more to be said or done.”