The DHL Stormers, along with various artists and local celebrities, have teamed up to produce a tribute performance to iconic South African musician Johnny Clegg.
In the video, which was filmed at the beginning of March, the Stormers can be seen singing Clegg’s popular song, “The Crossing”. The video also features artists like Francois van Coke, Amy Tjasink, Paxton Fielies, Marc Lottering, Zolani Mohali, James Stewart, Chantal Stanfield, Amy Jones, Chad Saaiman, RJ Benjamin and Heinrich Frans.
The song is especially meaningful for the Stormers. “The Crossing” was their team song for the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby competition and they would sing it in the changeroom after games, before the current season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Management selected the song because Clegg represented unity, and they wanted to build on that concept and envoke the spirit of moving forward.
DHL Stormers captain Siya Kolisi says performing the song had a profound impact on the team.
“Johnny Clegg is an icon of South African music and ‘The Crossing’ is such a powerful song, so it was perfectly suited to our team’s 2020 campaign and even though we only managed to play six games so far this season, we have sung it together after every match.
To get the chance to collaborate with well-known South African artists and experience the teamwork that goes into producing a piece of music professionally, was something that we will all remember and cherish for a long time,” says Kolisi.
Kolisi hopes the song will have renewed meaning in the current climate, and will inspire people to stay positive.
“We hope that this song will help deliver some hope at what is a difficult time for all South Africans and if it does lift the spirits in any way, then the whole project can be considered a major success,” he said.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson agreed, saying: “The current uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic means that this is a daunting time for all of us, but if this song is able to bring us closer together – figuratively of course – then that would be one of our biggest wins this year,” he said.
Picture: Screenshot from video