Sandi Braces For 50th Appearance As He Reflects On His Emotional Journey
It has been quite the journey for DHL Stormers tighthead prop Sazi Sandi as he eyes his 50th cap for the club with the guidance and tutelage of his inspirational late father firmly in the back of his mind.
“It’s definitely special,” gleamed Sandi.
“It is something I earmarked at the start of the season. It’s big for me, and to get to 50 for this team means a lot.”
Sandi attended St Andrew’s College in Makhanda, formerly known as Grahamstown, where he then appeared at Grant Khomo Week at 16, before playing Craven Week and SA Schools. From there, he moved to Cape Town, where he has been a mainstay ever since.
As Sandi looks forward to his 50th appearance for the Stormers, he also reflected on his journey to this point, citing his late father as someone who needed convincing of his career path – a man who was adamant that his three sons – including older brothers, Melisizwe and Bunti – prioritise academics.
“My dad was a lawyer and then became a judge,” said Sandi. “He didn’t see rugby as a career opportunity.”
“He was more focused on us growing up, getting into university, getting a degree, and getting a job. He loved his job, so he was very influential to us, talking to us about that.”
Sandi’s father, the late Bonisile Sandi, passed away in 2017 at the age of 62.
Affectionately known as ‘Judge Boni’, he was an anti-apartheid lawyer – one of the first black judges appointed to the High Court of South Africa in the Eastern Cape division – before becoming a High Court judge.
“He didn’t understand the rugby landscape – my brothers were good, especially my elder brother, who was very good.”
“My dad was reluctant, perhaps because of the lack of knowledge on how it works. It is not a career you can do for forty years as opposed to what he did,” explained Sandi.
“At the end of matric we visited a few unions, and then we came down to the Stormers, got to Newlands, my dad asked the questions he wanted to ask, and he was sold.”
“He was very excited, and that is where we sat down and mapped out how to get to the top level – he broke down each level from under 19 all the way to the Springboks.”
“It was a crucial moment for me because that was my dad saying, ‘Go for it, and if you’re going to go for it, go for all of it,” Sandi said with immense pride.
There is no doubt that when Sandi runs onto the hallowed DHL pitch on Saturday, in front of the Stormers faithful, the thought of his father will be firmly etched in his heart, and not far from his mind.
“He passed away shortly after that, and coming to my 50th, it will be great to look back and say, ‘Dad, I am still on my way’.”
