From isiXhosa to Japanese: Jesse Kriel leaves fans in awe with his remarkable language skills
MULTILINGUAL ATHLETES
Not just a star on the rugby field, Jesse Kriel has impressed many with his language skills.
Image: Instagram
In a world where sports and culture intertwine, few athletes shine as brightly as South Africa's Jesse Kriel.
This Springbok star has recently captured the hearts of many, not just for his prowess on the rugby field, but for his impressive ability to communicate in multiple languages.
In a captivating TikTok video, Kriel showcases his fluency in Japanese during an interview with teammate Faf de Klerk and a Japanese rugby commentator, leaving netizens asking, "What language doesn’t he speak?"
The dynamic duo, Kriel and De Klerk, who play for the Canon Eagles in Yokohama, Japan, found themselves in the spotlight as Kriel seamlessly conversed in Japanese while De Klerk struggled with the language.
Kriel’s fluency has garnered admiration online, with users expressing their amazement at his linguistic skills.
One user, @user121292929845, commented, “Jesse is an impressive young man; what a baller”, while another, @sgm_podcast, called him “a legend, an awesome ambassador for South Africa.”
Adding humour to the mix, user @zinzan007 remarked, “🤣 Faf is just surviving. Kriel, respect; he speaks very well, and it’s a tough language to learn so quickly.”
Meanwhile, @blacquebull chimed in, pointing out Kriel’s diverse linguistic repertoire by stating, “What language doesn't he speak? I saw a video of him speaking isiXhosa.”
Last year's viral sensation saw Kriel again winning hearts when he spoke isiXhosa in an interview conducted by Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick.
During the discussion about their team's performance, Kriel expressed his ambition in the Nguni llanguage, saying, “Ndicel’ i13 ngaphandle 13 [I wanted 13 out of 13].”
His diligent efforts to learn languages have made an impression, as he added in English: “We dropped the ball, and we’re very disappointed. It’s small margins. Next season, we want to push to go even better.”
He concluded with gratitude: “Ngiyabonga Mqeqeshi [thank you, coach].”
Kriel's background adds another layer of intrigue to his linguistic talents; born in Cape Town and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, he is fluent in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and isiZulu, proving that his passion for communication transcends the sporting realm.