Connect with us

Sports

2010 W/Cup: Another Ingredient For S’ African Unity

Published

on

In 1994, South Africa shed the shackles of apartheid to enter into a democracy under the leadership of struggle icon, Nelson Mandela. But this did not mean that a country,  once systematically divided along racial lines, was automatically set on a path of unity.

During the apartheid years, sport was used as a major tool for resistance against the system of racial segregation with South Africa being banned from competing on the international stage in most sporting codes, including cricket, rugby and football. These sanctions served the purpose of both highlighting the unjust system in the country at the time and of applying pressure on the National Party to end apartheid.

As the first democratic president of South Africa, Mandela sought to work toward the goal of bringing together a once divided people and to lead South Africa on a path to success. In what for many seemed an insurmountable task, the Nobel Peace Prize winner did not just look to the corridors of government for a solution but also to the playing field, a possible indication as to why South Africa has hosted numerous sporting events since.

The first of many major sporting events hosted in the country, South Africa hosted the IRB Rugby World Cup in 1995,  a tournament which saw South Africa lift the trophy at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg.

Top South African cricket administrator, Dr Ali Bacher, is himself no stranger to the importance of sport in South Africa’s history, having captained the South African cricket team in 1970 against Australia just before SA Cricket was kicked out of international participation. He also pushed for the breakdown of racial divisions in the sport and shared a poignant moment with Mandela on the issue of sport and national unity.

Bacher speaks about the mood leading up to the Rugby World Cup. This event saw calls for the removal of South Africa’s sporting emblem, the Springbok,  due to its link with the predominantly white dominated sports of the past. Mandela saw this argument as a chance to send a strong symbol to the white and Afrikaans population, many of whom feared reprisals from the apartheid years, by lending his support to their cause.

“To give an indication of his (Mandela’s) wisdom and insight, in 1995,  halfway through the Rugby World Cup, he came out publicly to support players wearing the Springbok emblem which, to many, represented a sporting code that only whites could play for in the apartheid era. A television crew came to me to ask about the response from South African cricket and I said that we wanted a neutral emblem that will satisfy both white and black. Soon after, Mandela invited me to lunch and he took me out onto the patio with two of my board members. He started to explain that he understood that amongst Afrikaans people, rugby and the [Springbok] emblem were very important. He told me he wore the rugby jersey and the emblem and went out onto the field (on the day of the Rugby World Cup final) because he wanted to thank them for their support for him as South Africa’s first ever black president,” reminisces Bacher.

He was referring to the now famous post-match celebration which saw Nelson Mandela come out onto the field wearing a South African rugby jersey with captain Francois Pienaar’s number on the back.

“In South Africa, the majority of the black population supported soccer while the majority of whites supported rugby. Mandela rallied the black people to support rugby and united a country. The man that made it all happen was our revered icon, Nelson Mandela,” continues Bacher, who also reflects on the role reversal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“I see a difference now in 2010. At the grounds, thousands of whites have been dressed in Bafana Bafana clothing going out to support the national team,  where previously it would be mainly black people. I see black families and white families talking about the national team, taking pictures with each other. These are small things for people from overseas but from a South African point of view this is very significant. We have arrived at a state of true unification in this country,” said Bacher.

Another sporting icon who has witnessed firsthand the power of sport in South Africa’s psyche is former Bafana Bafana football player, Mark Fish, who was part of the team that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 1996 at the very site where Soccer City stadium now stands.

In another successful sporting tournament hosted by South Africa, the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations was more than just a football tournament as Nelson Mandela once again came out in the captain’s jersey to handover the trophy to the victorious team.

“In 1996 we represented a nation and saw what we are seeing now (in 2010). White people came to [the then] FNB stadium to support football and the nation. It was brilliant. Before, these people would know the rugby team but after 1996, with Mandela supporting the team, they knew who we were.

It was the highlight of my football career – not winning the trophy, but seeing how people came together and united behind Bafana Bafana. That’s why I think we ended up winning the tournament. The way the country got behind us was absolutely phenomenal,” said Fish, who believes the World Cup has also had a dramatic effect on the nation.

“We have seen a nation get behind Bafana, people are talking about football. The challenge for us as a nation and a footballing nation is to keep the standard that we have now reached. We can build on this if we continue to work together as a nation”.

Continue Reading

Sports

La Liga: Atletico Bring Real Back To Earth

Published

on

Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in nearly 75 years when they fought back from behind in a pulsating derby.

It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 victory in November 1950.

Real lost for the first time this season, having won all six of their opening La Liga matches as well as their first Champions League tie, a 2-1 victory over Marseille.

The last time Real conceded as many in La Liga was a 5-1 defeat by Barcelona in October 2018.

Robin le Normand’s header had given Diego Simeone’s side an early lead that was overturned by superb goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.

But Alexander Sorloth levelled the game at 2-2 in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

And the hosts took charge after the break when Julian Alvarez, who had hit the post in the first half, converted from the penalty spot before curling home a brilliant free-kick.

Atletico went into their shell, but held their cross-city rivals at bay until Antoine Griezmann grabbed their fifth goal deep into stoppage time.

The result maintained an impressive record against Real in La Liga for Simeone’s side, who have not lost in their past six league encounters with Los Blancos.

PSG Regain Top Position In France (7)

Paris St-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a comfortable victory over Auxerre at the weekend.

Illia Zabarnyi scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Bournemouth when he volleyed in at the back post from Vitihna’s cross at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

The home side doubled their lead when Lucas Beraldo headed home from Senny Mayulu’s cross.

PSG moved above Marseille, who beat them on Monday, as they made it five wins from their opening six league matches.

Auxerre had their chances, with a fierce shot from Kevin Danois striking the woodwork and Sekou Mara having a header cleared off the line.

There were further opportunities for Luis Enrique’s side but Achraf Hakimi’s dink was ruled out for offside and Bradley Barcola sent a header over the bar.

Auxerre are 13th in the table with four defeats from six matches.

PSG travel to Barcelona on Wednesday in their second Champions League group stage match.

Before the PSG match, Marseille scored two late goals to move level on points with hosts Strasbourg and go top of Ligue 1 on goal difference.

Strasbourg looked on track to move four points clear at the top until the 78th minute as Abdoul Ouattara’s goal had them ahead.

But former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the equaliser, and Amir Murillo completed the turnaround as the clock ticked into added time.

Aubameyang was first to the rebound following his own shot to level the score after goalkeeper Mike Penders spilled the initial shot.

Penders, on loan from Chelsea, seemed to have done better in stoppage time when he tipped substitute Robinio Vaz’s header onto the crossbar, but the rebound landed with Murillo.

Marseille were top with five teams all on 12 points, including Strasbourg who were in fifth place.

Kane Sets Elite Scoring Record With Bayern  (5)

Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s win over Werder Bremen last Friday to become the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The England captain won and converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time, before firing home from close range in the 65th minute to reach the century mark in just 104 games.

The previous record of 105 games was set by Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Real Madrid in 2011, and matched by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland last year.

Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz had opened the scoring when he deflected in a Jonathan Tah flick from a corner, while Konrad Laimer slipped home a late fourth as leaders Bayern preserved their unbeaten start to the season.

Kane broke two other records in his side’s 4-1 victory against Hoffenheim last weekend, during which he scored a hat-trick.

He reached 70 Bundesliga goals in just his 67th game in the competition, faster than anyone else in the league’s history.

Previously, the 32-year-old broke the record for the most goals scored in 50 Bundesliga games (54 goals), and the fewest number of games needed to reach 50 goals in the competition (43 matches).

On Friday, Kane also became the first player in Bundesliga history to convert their first 18 penalties, as well as score 18 consecutive spot-kicks.

Kane was the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in both his first two seasons, and the only player to score 25 or more goals in their first two campaigns in the competition.

He has started this campaign with 15 in eight games in all competitions – including two hat-tricks in five Bundesliga games, with Vincent Kompany’s side top of the league table with a 100% record.

Kane is the highest scoring Englishman in Champions League history (42 goals), and scored against all 20 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Only Miroslav Klose has played against more sides, while scoring against all of them (28).

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in a £100m transfer in 2023, having scored 280 goals in 435 games in all competitions for the Premier League club.

He has two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Munich outfit, although he has recently been linked with former club Spurs and Manchester United.

But when asked on Friday if he was thinking of a Premier League return, Kane said: “No, not at the moment. I’m really happy here. I have two years left on my contract.

“I’m enjoying every moment. That is not in my thought process. I’m enjoying it with the team, with the coach, and hopefully we continue to be successful.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Forest Still Looking For Winning Formula 

Published

on

Ange Postecoglou’s difficult start to life as Nottingham Forest head coach continued as Omar Alderete’s first-half goal gave Sunderland victory at the City Ground.

The former Spurs boss, appointed on 9 September, has now lost three and drawn two of his first five games in charge, with Saturday’s loss coming in his first home game with Forest.

But the hosts will feel aggrieved by the manner of Sunderland’s winner, with the visitors awarded a free-kick when Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation when he clashed with Trai Hume while attempting to clear.

Grant Xhaka sent the ball in from the set-piece and Alderete was there to direct it into the net.

Dan Ndoye came close to equalising just before the break with a deflected effort before Chris Wood headed over.

Elliot Anderson curled a shot just over the bar as Forest pushed for the leveller in the second half, while Robin Roefs, who has been excellent for Sunderland so far this season – saved well from Omari Hutchinson, Wood and a long-range Anderson effort.

But despite the pressure, Forest could not find a goal as promoted Sunderland’s third win of the season moved them up to third in the table.

Forest, meanwhile, are 16th with just one win from their first six Premier League games.

 

Continue Reading

Sports

Man Utd Lose, Again 

Published

on

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes had a second-half penalty saved as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a Premier League defeat at Brentford at the weekend.

United were trying to fight their way back after Igor Thiago capitalised on some shambolic United defending inside the first 20 minutes to give the home side a two-goal cushion.

Benjamin Sesko pulled one back with his first goal since making a £74m summer move from RB Leipzig.

Fernandes was given the chance to level when Bees captain Nathan Collins dragged former Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo back inside the area.

After a delay of almost five minutes, which included a video assistant referee red card check against Collins and Brentford making two substitutions, Fernandes’ low effort was turned away by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Brentford wrapped it up deep in stoppage time when Mathias Jensen drove a high shot past United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from the edge of the area.

Continue Reading

Trending