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Siya Kolisi distances himself from a new book about his life

Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi has distanced himself from a new book about his life titled Siya Kolisi: Against All Odds, claiming that he had nothing to do with its release
The 28-year-old flanker from the Eastern Cape has enjoyed a tremendous rise to fame after overcoming adversity to become the first-ever black rugby player to captain the Springboks. While his story is an inspirational one, Siya was surprised to see it published in a book which he knew nothing about.

Siya Kolisi

Against All Odds will be available on bookshelves around the country from September 2019 and has been written by South African author, Jeremy Daniel. The book appears to touch on his upbringing in Zwide, a small town in the Eastern Cape, his private schooling, as well as his rise to captaincy and his marriage.

Siya Kolisi

Part of the book’s blurb claims that the book “goes deep inside the systems that identify junior talent, the characters who shaped his journey and the moments where he showed who he really was. Siya never forgot where he came from, and ultimately adopted his mother’s other two children after she died when he was in high school

Siya Kolisi

It sounds like a riveting and engaging read but there’s one very big problem: Siya never approved the release of this biography! In fact, he didn’t know anything about it! The rugby star took to his Instagram page to denounce his involvement in the publishing of Against All Odds where he wrote, “To end the confusion: The book published about me with my name on the cover wasn’t written by me or produced with my approval or even knowledge.”

Several celebrities including Anele Mdoda, Maps Maponyane, Majozi and former Springbok Bryan Habana were livid on Siya’s behalf and expressed their disappointment in comments on Instagram.

Siya has also been supported by the Springboks and many of his biggest fans for what they believe to be foul play on the author’s as well as the publisher (Jonathan Ball)’s part.
Author Jeremy Daniels has since spoken to News24 and shared his side of the story
He said; “I presume he knew about it. We just wanted to tell a really positive story in the build-up to the World Cup and celebrate his journey.

“I did my absolute level best to be as accurate as possible and speak to as many people around him to get the story straight. He also added, “I suspect that once he reads it, if he reads it, that he will see that it’s just a celebration of everything that he has done.” Do you think Siya Kolisi should give Jeremy’s book about him a chance?

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Source: ALL4Women