Welcome home, world champs

CELEBRATED: HECTIC FEW DAYS FOR PROTEAS

- Wesley Botton

South Africa's latest sporting victory had special relevance for some, while others were just there to bask in national pride, with hundreds of fans turning up in Sandton yesterday to welcome the Proteas team home.

After securing the country's first major cricket title in 27 years, beating Australia to win the World Test Championship final at Lord's last weekend, the Proteas squad returned to a lively reception at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Cricket South Africa invited fans to a meet-and-greet, which gave supporters another opportunity to interact with the Proteas, at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.

Abdul "Jack" Manack, who played 50 matches for the former Transvaal team between 1983 and 1993, including a game at Lord's, was disappointed not to return to the world-renowned ground to see the Proteas win last week.