South African sport star Makazole Mapimpi shocked most fans when the news that he is expecting a child with his wife went viral.
It is reported that the Springboks star, also a fashion model, missed the recent game between New Zealand and South Africa in Ellis Park because his wife is due to give birth anytime soon.
“Mapimpi spent the week in KwaZulu-Natal for the birth of his child, and will remain in the province where he will be available for selection for the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV for their Carling Currie Cup clash against the Vodacom Bulls in Durban on Sunday,” read a statement from SA Rugby.
Mapimpi’s supporters were shocked that he had a wife and they were having a baby because he has always kept his love life private.
The conversation starter surrounding this links back to KFM present Sibongile Mafu who’s TikTok over the news helped Mapimpi fans have a safe space to discuss their feelings over the news.
@sboshmafu Very important sports news #springboks #rassie #mapimpi #sarugby ♬ original sound - Sibongile Mafu
“..So doctor uncle coach Rassie restless was the one to break the news. Mapimpi is not playing in the Boks vs All Blacks game this weekend in Cape Town because his wife is giving birth.
“This is news to all of us. The girls and the gays are devastated, but congratulations too Mapimpi. Let’s hope for a safe delivery of your baby.
On other social networks others also weighed in.
“You see why we need ‘Top Billing’ back on our screens? We wouldn't have found out that Mapimpi is married and is about to have a baby like this,” said @moesuttle.
Others expressed how happy they were for the Relevance For Men Tailored Suits ambassador, who had no family and that he’s finally having a little family of his own.
“I'm so happy over the Mapimpi news. When Rassie said he submitted his own pictures for the 2019 World Cup jerseys because he didn't have a family, my heart broke for him. Now he has a family,” said @lazola_.
Family is such a huge culture in the Springboks team because the coach, Rassie Erasmus, believes that players do better when they have a family support structure.
“If you can’t trust somebody with their family there but now you want somebody in front of 85 000 people to make the right decisions and do it for the country, but you say if his family is there he’s going to be distracted.
“If he doesn’t have the ability to handle his family and his wife or his children in such a way that he can control that and stay focused on the programme, surely you can’t trust him,” Erasmus said.
Towards the end of her TikTok, Mafu inquired about the relationship status of another rugby player that fans smaak, Lukhanyo Am.
“Now Coach Rassie, since you like to spill the beans on people's business, what's the latest on Lukhanyo Am? The nation can only deal with one piece of big news at a time.”