August 24, 2011. We don’t want to kick someone when he’s down, but Durban-born rocker Ard Matthews (frontman of Just Jinjer for many years) made a dog’s breakfast of the South African national anthem at the announcement of the Springbok squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup last night.
Shame, poor old Ard Matthews, nerves got the better of him. Apparently this was a huge honour for Ard, to sing the anthem for the Springboks before the showcase 2011 Rugby World Cup. So much for the land of Milk and Honies. Don’t worry Ard, this is nothing compared to the infamous Ras Dumasani.
Ard’s been consoled by his Springbok mates and all sorts this morning. In an interview with Radio 5’s Gareth Cliff, Matthews said he was distraught, while Cliff referred to Matthews and Ras Dumasani as the “Anthem death match”.
Here are Ard’s comments on Twitter this morning. “Morning peeps. Not much sleep last night, obviously. Thanks for the incredible outpour of forgiveness from those… ”
Sterkte broer, anyone can make a balls up. It’s how you bounce back that counts.
Latest news
The latest news regarding the Ard Matthews anthem shocker, is that Saru and SuperSport will be brought before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport after Bluff muso Ard Matthews bungled the national anthem on Tuesday in a live television broadcast. This is according to a report published on Independent Online.
The committee said on Thursday it did not find joy in an embarrassing event witnessed by the whole nation.
Matthews forgot some of the words to Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika before Saru named the 30-man Sprinbok squad to play in next month’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. This was during a live presentation on SuperSport.
– Ridge Correspondent
2 Comments
I watched last night. Yes, I was shocked. However, we are all human. I mean, come on. The chance to sing the anthem for our boys. That’s big. Yes, in all fairness he should not have messed up, but imagine the nerves. If Ard was nervous, then we can only imagine how hectic it must be. Like that ad on TV when that girl. can’t remember the words and then everyone helps out. I was picturing Bakkies and Victor standing up and helping Mr Matthews along with it.
No harm done brother.
All will be forgotten when our boys keep the William Web Ellis trophy in SA for another 4 years.
GO BOKKE!
I loved Ard’s comments on the radio. “I had brain freeze. I corpsed.” We’re only poking fun, anyone can make a balls up (excuse the pun).