It’s a scene every schoolboy remembers. A game of football is about to begin. Who plays against who? Who picks the sides? We all wanted to be on the side as our mates. We waved to impress the nominated Captains, though we were never quite sure how they became Captains. And why did some fool suggest the teams be divided by shirt colour on the very day you choose to wear a black shirt and the Maradona of your neighbourhood is decked out in white!
Stan Mini, a former Cape Town Spurs player, shares the moment when Apartheid and the social engineering of team selection forced him to walk away from the game. (We also hear how his team mate, the legendary Frank Adams, a defender by trade, was placed into an attacking role when the Cape Town Spurs took the bus to away games. Frank was a white man and always sure to get good service.)
Category: Video
Disguised as the Duke of Edinburgh I ducked through security at Cape Town’s No. 1 Radio Station, 94.5 K-FM, for an audience with Benito. Benito is the man responsible for caffeinating Cape Town’s morning airwaves. What did Benito think of Bafana Bafana’s chances?
Tauriq, a classic Cape Town coffee and football connoisseur, shares his reaction to the announcement of the Bafana Bafana squad this morning. In brief, Josephs and Walters edge out Fernandez for the goalkeeping positions. Booth is in. McCarthy is out. And no room for “The Scooter”. Take it away, Tauriq…
I found Tauriq manifesting at Java Lounge at 39 Kloof Street, home of the tightest expresso and the most compassionate and merciful cappuccino you will find anywhere in Cape Town (and the best place to get your wireless action between games).
Everyone in Cape Town has a favourite player. But what about Bafana’s team chemistry? I posed the question to a Cape Town chemist.
The “Makarapa” was invented by Alfred “Magistrate” Boyoli. Boyoli’s mate was hit by a bottle at a Kaiser Chiefs match some years ago. It was this bit of football hooliganism that inspired Boyoli.
For the record, I remember Liverpool supporters wearing red and white hard hats emblazoned with sticky Liver Birds to away games back in the day, when bottles, sharpened coins, darts, golf balls with nails hammered in ’em, and piping hot steak and kidney pies were regularly hurled at matches throughout England.
Boyoli’s genius has been to elaborate with the addition of cut out players and patterns, with places to fly all your paraphernalia. The Makarapa promises to be one of the great fun features of the world cup.
I will leave it to Lusanda, a co-conspirator in the cyber world of football, to tell the story.
Is this the end of the Jester Hat? We can only hope!
Categories
Classic World Cup: France vs Senegal, 2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JigE4eC7XeI&w=500&h=307&rel=0
The opening match of the 2002 World Cup in May 2002 in Seoul, South Korea. Defending champions France against World Cup first timers Senegal. France had a uninspiring run to the World Cup (world champions don’t qualify). Senegal has a young team–standouts: Papa Bouba Diop, Kalilou Fadiga, El Hadji Diouf. France threatens first. David Trezeguet hits the bar. Then that goal. Watch for yourself.
* Senegal finished second and France last in their group. In the round of 16 Senegal beat Sweden 2-1, then lose 0-1 to Turkey in the quarterfinals (after extra time). Most of its players moved to the English Premier League (most notably El Hadji Diouf to Liverpool), but the team declined soon after. Oh, and France they’re in the World Cup after Thierry Henry used his hands.
These fine football folks had driven many miles from Cape provinces to get tickets for the World Cup.
They were disappointed Bafana Bafana will not be playing in Cape Town, but check out their Continental Coming Togetherness! The Bafanki Banfanki are feeling it!