LOOK: Roger Federer finds a ’Springbok’ roaming the streets of Zurich

Tennis legend Roger Federer and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi have become good friends. Picture: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)

Tennis legend Roger Federer and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi have become good friends. Picture: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Nov 24, 2021

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JOHANNESBURG - Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s End of Year tour might be over but his tour of Europe seems to be in full swing.

Kolisi was spotted in the street of Zurich, Switzerland, and while in that country met up with another legend of sport, tennis megastar Roger Federer. Graciously, the FedExpress stepped in as tour guide for the Springbok skipper, showing Kolisi the sights and sounds of the city, posting the visit onto his Twitter account.

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“Anyone need a tourist guide?” Federer tweeted early this morning.

“I found a Springbok roaming the streets of Zurich @SiyaKolisi. What a pleasure to see you Siya,” adding a handful of selfies of himself, Kolisi and his parents, Robert and Lynette.

Federer, of course, has strong ties to South Africa through his mother Lynette, who was born in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Kolisi’s daughter, Kiki, also celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, and “daddy’s friend” Federer also sent her a nice video for her birthday on Instagram.

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Kolisi, meanwhile, is making his way back to South Africa, and is enjoying some R&R before returning to the Sharks, where he will no doubt again be in action next year when the United Rugby Championship resumes in early 2022.

From the looks of it, the Springbok flank Kolisi will not participate in the two upcoming matches for the Durbanites in the coming weeks, when they face the Scarlets on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm) and Zebre a week later.

It has been a tough season for Kolisi and Co, who have had to endure the mental fatigue of bio-bubbles due to Covid-19 and the physical challenges of a difficult British and Irish Lions Tour; a restricted Rugby Championship; and a competitive End of Year tour against Wales, Scotland and Wales; so a sabbatical is fully deserved.

It has been a tough season for Federer as well. The Swiss master, holder of 20 Grand Slam titles, has been battling a series of injuries, culminating in knee surgery earlier this year that has ruled him out of next year’s Australian Open and probably Wimbledon as well.

IOL Sport