South African national rugby team player and the Shark’s winger Makazole Mapimpi is fashion goals as May/June’s cover star of GQ magazine South Africa. The 2022 SA Sports Awards Sportsman of the Year title holder launched his magazine cover in partnership with GQ at an intimate dinner last night and on the cover, he poses in an asymmetrical suit styled by Cape Town-based fashion editor and creative director Luke Ruiters and shot using the latest Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G by celebrity fashion photographer Austin Malela under the editorship of Molife Kumona.
He is known as the “try-throwing machine,” from his ability to score a try against every international team he’s played against. Now, we get to see the 31-year-old hailing from the Eastern Cape in a completely different light, one that’s not too strange to him, fashion. The cover and fashion editorial was shot on a golf course in Steyn City, Midrand.
And in honor of local athletes making their mark on high fashion platforms and magazines, here’s a list of other sportsmen who have managed to always get it right when it comes to serving looks off the field.
The Springboks winger has, a number of times been an eye candy for ladies, and some gentlemen online in the past. It is with no doubt that he has an eye for fashion as the rugby player often pulls all stops when it comes to serving looks. His personal Instagram page is filled with dapper images of him dressed smartly and looking elegant in suits, matching sets, and some designer brands.
His sense of style is minimal, anti-trend, and classical. You are more likely to see the player in a minimal colored matching set on a good day, a pair of denim jeans, white shirts, and a biker jacket on a cool day, and very often in formal wear especially when attending evening functions.
Siya Kolisi
Captain of the national rugby team and most beloved sportsmen in the country, Siya Kolisi is no stranger to fashion. Kolisi, who’s married to wife Rachel is more than just a sportsman, in fact, he’s quickly gained his media personality title over the years and often appears at industry events that require one to bring their best-styled self and he’s gotten it right way too many times not to make it on this list.
The 30-year-old Shark’s captain, also from the Eastern Cape is a suit’s man. But on a random day, he plays around with his fashion with casual and basic t-shirt staples styled with chinos and sometimes denim. Kolisi also completes his wife’s style as the couple is often seen posing side-by-side on Instagram and at some industry events.
Teko Modise
Former Sundowns and Orlando Pirates captain and footballer Teko Modise has easily become one of the most stylish sportsmen in the country. It is his consistency in serving looks that places him top of that list and he keeps elevating style-wise. The 39-year-old retired footballer and Supersports football analyst from Meadowlands, Soweto is a sartorialist type of gentleman who is seen, on any type of day in a custom suit.
He shares most of his fashion sense on his Instagram page boasting over 223K followers and is an avid supporter of local fashion designer and suitmaker, Tshepo Mashego of Relevance For Men Tailored Suits.
Modise is often elevating his suiting games with different tailoring cuts, colors, and styling.
Thembinkosi Lorch
Thembinkosi Lorch is a 28-year-old football player for Orlando Pirates hailing from Bloemfontein. He is also no stranger to the entertainment and arts industry and has also been made popular in tabloids by his romantic relationship with actress, Natasha Thahane.
Lorch has a versatile sense of style with his looks varying from formal, trendy, simple to even color. He is also into designer brands from the likes of Gucci to Maxhosa, but he is now one of the official ambassadors of Puma South Africa.
Andile Phehlukwayo
Andile Phehlukwayo isn’t just a professional South African cricketer, but a cool kid too. His fashion sense is youthful, trendy, and flashy too. The 26-year-old national cricket team player from Kwazulu Natal enjoys his luxury brands from Gucci, Louis Vuitton to Balenciaga and makes them all work for his style.
He dressed age-appropriately and stylish enough to go unnoticeable. Even on the field, he merges athleisure wear that’s trendy with brands such as Adidas as his main favorite. It is also likely to see the Protea bowler accessorized in a pair of dark sunglasses.
