Categories
Hosting

Race, Class and SA Football

Thabo Dladla (right) and Styles at Izichwe (Photo by Peter Alegi)

‘Talking Football’ by Thabo Dladla  (Echo, 5 August 2010)

The euphoria and excitement that grew around football during the recent World Cup are not likely to boost the beautiful game in South Africa. If our attitudes do not change towards this predominantly black sport, it will remain a stepchild of South African sport for many years to come.

Rugby and cricket will continue to receive support from businesses and decision makers.  The black elites’ children attend private and formerly white high schools which promote rugby and cricket . . . [codes] which enjoy the best sporting facilities, all the way up to university level. The few facilities available to football are either poorly maintained or not maintained at all.

The system continues to support the rich and politically powerful. there are many black faces leading institutions such as schools, universities, municipalities and government departments, and yet football continues to struggle.

At university level rugby enjoys huge sponsorship and coverage on television while football [does] not despite the huge number of students who play the game . . . The young men and women in this age group should be competing in U20 and U23 competitions. The Izichwe Youth programme based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal strives to address some of the challenges faced by the needy youth.[The program receives support from Ilawu B.B., National Lottery, Metropolitan, Adidas and Viking Stavanger FC in Norway.]

The rich and powerful call for more police and prisons. Yet the country requires youth programmes to empower our youngsters socially, economically and academically, to shape their future. I would like to see a change in attitude from those who make decisions in government and business.

It is not only the rugby-playing children from middle class families who have dreams. Patriotism is not only about carrying flags and singing national anthems, it is more about caring and supporting your fellow citizens.

[Click to listen to podcast with Thabo Dladla and fellow coaches.]

Categories
Video

Goal of the Week



While most other European leagues are on break, competitive football is being played in Scandinavia. Like in Norway. There, Hunter Freeman, an American defender playing at Premier League club, I.K. Start, scored a freak goal from about the halfway line in a league game earlier this week.

Categories
Video

Norway’s Struggle

2768342686

[David Patrick Lane, writing from Liverpool, is working his way through the European qualifiers for the World Cup in South Africa. Last week he reviewed Scotland‘s chances. This week it’s Norway. Next week, Macedonia]

Lurking in dead last place in Europe’s Group 9 is Norway.

Winless: Three points accumulated through three grinding draws. Toothless: Two goals scored, both at home in their opening fixture against Iceland. South Africa may seem further away than usual to supporters in Spitsbergen.