One spare ticket. One unforgettable night. A simple gesture by a Springboks fan turned into a dream come true for a homeless man living under a bridge just metres from the stadium.
Western Cape, South Africa (02 July 2025) – A Springboks fan from Riebeek West is warming hearts across South Africa after what started as a simple rugby outing turned into something far more special and incredibly meaningful.
Johan Kotze, a 56-year-old supporter of the green and gold, was heading to the Springboks vs Barbarians game at Cape Town Stadium with one extra ticket in his hand. According to News24, his friend had cancelled last minute, and instead of letting the ticket go to waste, Johan made a choice that would change someone’s night. And quite possibly their life.
While walking near the stadium, Johan spotted a man huddled under a bridge near the McDonald’s underpass. Dressed in a plastic garbage bag for warmth and tattered layers of clothing, the man caught Johan’s attention.
“I walked up to him and asked his name,” Johan explained. “He introduced himself as Luigi and I told him, ‘Come, let’s go watch the game’.”
Luigi, whose real name is Alan Strydom, is a 49-year-old former maths teacher who has been living on the streets of Green Point. A passionate Springboks supporter, he had never stepped foot inside the stadium, even though he could hear the roar of the crowd from his spot under the bridge every match day.
He knew the players. The stats. The game. He had even watched through pub windows when he could. But he had never had the chance to experience a game live…until Johan invited him along.
“I told him, ‘Today is your best day. I am taking you to the rugby’,” Johan shared.
The tears came quickly. For Johan too. Side by side, the two made their way through the gates, Johan in his green and gold, Luigi wrapped in a makeshift poncho. They took selfies, laughed and soaked in every second of the atmosphere.
Inside, the Springboks delivered a dominant performance, winning 54–7. But while the crowd cheered for tries and tackles, many were moved by something else entirely, the sight of two unlikely friends, completely caught up in the joy of it all.
Luigi’s face lit up. He cheered. He cried. He prayed. And when he was mistaken for someone who wasn’t supposed to be in the stadium, Johan stood firmly by his side.
“I said, ‘Yes, he’s my partner – here’s proof,’” he told security, proudly showing their photos together.
For the first time in years, Luigi felt like he belonged.
After the final whistle, Johan walked Luigi back to the bridge. But before parting ways, he handed him R200 and suggested he treat himself to a warm meal.
“He just hugged me and cried for about ten minutes. He kept saying thank you. And I kept saying, ‘It’s okay, man. You deserve this.’”
South Africans responded with overwhelming love.
“Goosebumps.”
“This is the South Africa we all dream of.”
“Kotze is the hero of the weekend.”
What started as a spare ticket turned into an unforgettable night and a reminder of what kindness really looks like.
“I didn’t do it for social media or fame,” Johan said. “It just felt like the right thing to do.”
But this entire story is not about rugby. It’s not even about the match. It was about one man choosing to see another, not just in passing, but fully. It’s about empathy, connection and acting in the moment.
Luigi, who has lived for years just metres from the stadium, finally got to sit inside it… not as an outsider, but as part of the crowd.
And in a small way, we all did too.
Sometimes, it only takes one ticket to remind us of the good that’s still out there. The good we’re all capable of.
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