(CNN) — Francois Pienaar are brand new “large blonde son regarding apartheid,” a white Southern area African who was raised dreaming off glory for the the football field.

He became a star in addition to chief of Southern area Africa’s national football people — a hobby hated by many black Southern area Africans since the video game of the oppressors.

However, towards the Summer several, 1994, Nelson Mandela summoned Pienaar in order to his workplace to inquire about your in order to play a remarkable role.

Nevertheless the younger Mandela was such as a great “more youthful, brash Muhammad Ali” within his youngsters whom crazy, and you may spooked white South Africans, Carlin writes inside the publication

While the Mandela served Pienaar java which have whole milk, he gave the fresh new superstar rugby athlete snippets of their audacious bundle. One to bundle carry out electrify Southern area Africa, increase Pienaar in order to his real and you can mental restrictions, and cement Mandela’s character because an excellent transcendent chief.