One ticket, two lives: How a Springboks Fan’s Kindness Gave a Homeless Man the Match of a Lifetime

A Spare Seat Turns Into an Unforgettable Bond at DHL Stadium

What started as a cancelled plan turned into a moment of humanity that stole the show — even from the Springboks’ 54–7 demolition of the Barbarians in Cape Town.

Johan Kotze, a 56-year-old rugby lover from Riebeek West, had an extra ticket to the match after his friend pulled out last minute. Instead of letting the seat go to waste, he made a spontaneous decision that would touch thousands of South Africans.

A Chance Meeting in the Shadows of the Stadium

On match day, Kotze found himself alone outside DHL Stadium, near the McDonald’s underpass. That’s where he noticed a man sitting in the cold, wrapped in a black plastic bag.

That man was Alan Strydom — known by some as Luigi — a 49-year-old who has been living on the streets of Green Point. He sleeps under a nearby bridge and goes to church every Sunday, not for charity but for the sense of community. And, on that day, he was simply hoping to catch a glimpse of his beloved Boks from afar.

What struck Kotze wasn’t just Luigi’s situation, but his knowledge of the game. “He told me he’d never seen the Springboks live but rattled off the full starting XV,” Kotze later shared. “I just felt sorry for him. It hit me in the heart.”

From Underpass to Pitchside Joy

Without hesitation, Kotze handed Luigi the spare ticket.

Inside the stadium, the two strangers became unlikely friends. They sipped on brandy and Coke, took selfies like lifelong mates, and cheered as the Boks tore through the Barbarians. SuperSport cameras even caught the moment — two fans, from two very different worlds, united by the love of the game.

At one point, Luigi got up to use the restroom and returned with a security guard. The guard asked Kotze to confirm he was with Luigi.

“I said, ‘Yes, he’s my partner, here’s proof,’” Kotze recalled with a chuckle. But the moment wasn’t just funny — it was powerful. For Luigi, it meant being seen, accepted, and celebrated in a place he never imagined he’d belong.

A Match Bigger than Rugby

After the game, Kotze walked Luigi back to his spot under the bridge. He gave him money for food and promised to visit him again. “I thank God my heart was willing,” Kotze said. “It wasn’t for social media. It just felt like the right thing to do.”

South Africans who heard the story flooded social media with support. Many said it reminded them of what rugby and humanity should be about.

“Goosebumps,” one fan wrote on X. “This is the kind of country we all want to live in.”Another added: “Kotze is the hero of the weekend. The Boks were great, but this was even better.”

Why This Matters Now

In a city where inequality is impossible to ignore, this story offered a rare glimpse of what’s possible when people connect beyond their circumstances.

It’s easy to walk past someone on the street and assume their story is over. But as Kotze proved, all it takes is one moment, one conversation — or one ticket — to change everything.

As for Luigi? He may be back under that bridge, but for one night, he was front row in a green and gold dream. And that memory, like rugby itself in South Africa, will live on far beyond the final whistle.

Source:The Daily Voice

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