Forget the Airlink flyover, how massive are the Springbok Impi Warriors? (pics)
Forget low-flying aircraft and stadium flyovers, there is another spectacle that has been getting Springbok fans on their feet before kick-off.
Black News 
Forget low-flying aircraft and stadium flyovers, there is another spectacle that has been getting Springbok fans on their feet before kick-off.
The Impi Warriors have become one of the most recognisable sights at Springbok home Tests, charging onto the field in traditional Zulu warrior attire and bringing an explosive combination of energy, intimidation and theatre to the stadium.
And if you’ve ever wondered just how big these guys actually are, the answer is: very big.
Imposing physiques
The warriors’ imposing physiques are impossible to miss as they sprint onto the pitch, shields and spears in hand, before unleashing their famous pre-match routine.
Their presence has become part of the Springbok match-day experience.
Recent attention has focused on Sibusiso Kotelo, one of the men who has become a familiar face among the Impi Warriors.
Kotelo is not simply putting on a costume for match day. Behind the traditional Zulu attire and imposing physique is an accomplished bodybuilder who has embraced the role of helping create the atmosphere before the Springboks take the field.
Kotelo has described himself as an introvert by nature and admitted that his first ever appearance at Ellis Park came with plenty of nerves.
That quickly changed.
The reaction from the crowd, combined with the responsibility of leading the world champions onto the field, turned the role into something much bigger.
“I am actually an introvert by nature, so this is a lot,” Kotelo said of performing in front of thousands of rugby supporters.
More than just muscle
While their size is undoubtedly part of the spectacle, the Impi Warriors represent something deeper than simply intimidating the opposition.
Their performances draw on traditional Zulu warrior imagery and have become intertwined with the modern Springbok identity.
They charge onto the field before the players, creating an atmosphere that immediately tells visiting teams they are in South Africa.
And the All Blacks have experienced that theatre first-hand in recent weeks.
When New Zealand arrive in South Africa, the occasion is already one of the biggest in world rugby.
Add a packed stadium, tens of thousands of Springbok supporters, the national anthem, the noise – and then a group of enormous warriors storming onto the pitch – and the message is unmistakable: Welcome to South Africa.
The men behind the spectacle
Kotelo’s story also shows that there is considerably more to the Impi Warriors than what supporters see for a few minutes before kick-off.
He is a husband and father, and says those responsibilities have helped shape him away from the rugby field.
His bodybuilding background, meanwhile, explains at least some of the formidable physiques that have made the warriors such a talking point.
The Impi Warriors have also taken their popularity beyond the stadium, with Kotelo involved in a collaboration with Pick n Pay on Impi Warrior-themed T-shirts for adults and children.
So while the Springboks prepare to face the All Blacks in the third chapter of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, 5 September, don’t overlook the men who help set the tone before the first whistle.
The Airlink flyover might grab the headlines, but when those warriors come charging onto the field, you don’t need an aircraft to make an impact.
