Adnaan Mohamed - Sport24's man on tour with the Boks

Brisbane - Never mind Elton and Jan, the “real” Player 23 is actually living in Brisbane.

While watching a Springbok practice session at the Brisbane Boys College earlier this week, I meet a local resident, Sanjay Deva. 

Although Deva, 34, is of Indian descent, he was born in New Zealand and has lived there all his life. He says he hates the All Blacks and cannot stand the Wallabies.

Just like the two popular characters In the Vodacom Player 23 advert, Deva is a big fan of the Springboks.

I find it hard to believe, until he offers me a lift back to the Bok hotel. He can only understand a few Afrikaans words, but I find it rather surprising to hear popular Afrikaans musician, Kurt Darren, blaring from his car stereo. 

“I love everything about South Africa. I have been there five times already, I married a white girl from Randfontein and I am learning to speak Afrikaans,” he says.

While chatting to Sanjay I realise that he has an in depth knowledge of South African rugby. He knows all the players and has built up an impressive collection of South African memorabilia.

All over his apartment he has pictures of all the major rugby stadiums in South Africa. When you enter his bathroom you find everything labeled with Afrikaans words. On the mirror above the wash basin he has a chart that identifies everything in English and Afrikaans you would find in a bathroom.

When he opens his cupboard he shows me his extraordinary collection of Springbok rugby clothing. Besides his SA rugby watches, flags, books, cufflinks, wallets, badges pins, pens, crockery and cutlery, he has an impressive collection of photos of him with not only rugby players, but also with members of the Proteas cricket team.

He has his own website where he writes match reports and blogs on South African rugby games. He also does live match updates and player ratings on the Springboks and Super 14 games - especially the Bulls as he's also an avid Bulls fan. 

When his cellphone rings and I hear the South African national anthem, Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika. To me this is the last straw and this convinces me that Sanjay is completely obsessed with South Africa.

Sanjay has only been living in Brisbane for three years and is planning to move to South Africa soon. 

I am sure Sanjay will give Elton and Jan a run for their money as South Africa’s real Player 23. And with South Africa’s pre-occupation with political correctness, who knows, we could soon be seeing Sanjay as a new addition to Elton and Jan in the latest version of the Player 23 ads.

*Adnaan Mohamed is on tour with the Springboks and will be writing a daily tour guide from Australia and New Zealand exclusively for Sport24.





Sanjay Deva and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers (File)