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21ICONS - Francois Pienaar
Francois Pienaar: “The power of sport is incredible. It cuts across all colours, all religions, all creeds, all people; it’s got an amazing effect on people.”
21 ICONS shines a spotlight on the country’s most outstanding citizens and masters of society. From renowned leaders to entrepreneurs, from struggle stalwarts to sporting heroes, their determination, humanity and dedication typify what makes this country great. 21 ICONS provides a glimpse into the mind of Francois Pienaar, the former Springbok rugby captain who led South Africa to glory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
In this portrait, Pienaar is shown to be the consummate family man. He stands in a kitchen, surrounded by the detritus of domesticity: dirty coffee cups, dish cloths, a basket of ironing. The camera captures him looking up at a chalkboard featuring a lengthy ‘to do’ list. Some of the items are the everyday chores that every family man has to take care of: fetching the dogs, for example, or arranging a lift for the kids to get to rugby. In the midst of these mundane chores, two items – already crossed off – stand out: ‘win World Cup’ and ‘unite the nation’. The portrait ably depicts the two sides of Pienaar’s personality: a grounded father who cherishes his connection to his family, and a man who can claim an extraordinary, unparalleled accomplishment.