By Nick Feinberg
Soccer without doubt enjoys more broad-based support than any other sporting code in South Africa today. Yet the game historically received less funding and was granted a lower status than either cricket or rugby, traditionally favoured as ‘white’ sports under the apartheid government. The legacy of the strategic marginalization of soccer has been far reaching.
The 2010 World Cup throws a spotlight onto the game of soccer in South Africa for the first time, and in doing so it presents a major opportunity to redress some of these historic imbalances between the top three ball games.
The global audience that has come to respect South Africa’s excellence in rugby may be surprised to learn that for most South Africans soccer is by far the most popular sport. Indeed, it would be fair to say soccer is to South Africa what cricket is to India: nothing less than a national obsession.
Predominantly white middle class suburbs across the country boast plush, green and meticulously maintained rugby and cricket fields, yet the lack of similar investment in soccer is still all too obvious in the less privileged black townships. Here, soccer enthusiasts take a DIY approach to the beautiful game. Any relatively level ground is seized for a makeshift pitch and, using rocks for goalposts and home-made balls – sometimes bundled together using discarded plastic shopping bags – local youth can be found pursuing their passion night and day.
In 1996, close on the heels of political change in South Africa, Bafana Bafana (the boys) lifted the African Cup of Nations on home soil, at the time ranked 72nd globally (14 in Africa), disposing of continent big shots Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia on the way. All seemed to be moving in a positive direction as the country united in celebration, compounding the joy of the Springbok 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, but as general interest in football soared following the victory, there was a failure to follow up positively. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has not been able to capitalise on the success by increasing facilities and opportunities.
On the contrary, ever since incompetent administration on both the national and local level as well as a lack of investment has plagued the football environment, while the abundance of ‘natural’ talent remains largely undeveloped. The occasional celebrated exception serves only to highlight the failure to draw on the enormous potential.
South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL) has developed in recent years to become the continents richest, and the 7th largest sponsorship earner worldwide, run independently from SAFA under the shrewd guidance of President Kirsten Nematandani and CEO Leslie Sedibe, huge corporate investment and TV revenue has helped create an increasingly professional environment which attracts quality players from all over the continent. Away from the glamour of the PSL, semi-professional and amateur football remains in constant struggle for funding to upgrade its inadequate infrastructure. As a result a 'feeder' system for top level football remains virtually nonexistent. Football in South Africa still trails a distant third to rugby and cricket, both of which have consistently excelled on the world stage. While the potential for the World Cup to contribute to transformation of soccer's fortunes clearly exists, for many people 'in the game' in South Africa, there is a prevailing feeling of frustration.
There have, however, been some truly remarkable achievements which provide hope that in future the national team may pull itself up from 81st position in the global league table. A case in point is the ’Danone Cup’ (Championed by African footballing legend Zinedine Zidane) which pits teams of 10-12 year-olds from 40 different countries against each other in their very own (FIFA-sanctioned) World Cup. South Africa has participated on a regular basis and in 2003 the ‘Tsetse Flies’ (as the team is known) won the tournament. The following year, billboards across Paris featured Zinedine Zidane and a South African player advertising the tournament. The South Africa team had earned themselves a reputation as the most entertaining side to watch. The Tsetse Flies lifted the trophy for a second time in 2007 in Lyon. They were up against the very best footballing nations in the World, including the likes of Brazil, Spain, Germany, England, Holland and Argentina. The 2010 edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place in South Africa this year.
Given the talent available there have been a number of private initiatives, albeit some controversial, to develop soccer players. A number of big name international footballers such as Ex- England and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, together with some European clubs have set up camps in South Africa in partnership with local academies, with a view to nurturing emerging talent. These efforts are under intense scrutiny from FIFA, however, who accuse football scouts and agents in Africa of perpetuating a ‘modern day slavery’ because of the huge financial rewards they receive for picking out ‘rough diamonds’ on the continent.
Against all odds, football’s mass appeal has ensured its survival, and basic organisational structures not too different from those in other countries have been sustained: SAFA’s national league structure works in much the same way as FA’s across the world. Beneath the top League (PSL) is the ‘National First Division’, which is divided into two (the Inland Stream and the Coastal Stream) with each stream made up of eight clubs.
At the end of each season, the winners of the two streams meet in a final, with a place in the PSL at stake (replacing the team that finished last in the PSL). The second-placed team, however, still has a shot at making it into the PSL by playing in a mini- tournament involving the two second placed finishers from the first division as well as the team that finished second last in the PSL.
Below the top leagues are provincial/regional associations which are split into districts. The Western Cape has one of the world’s largest registered player per capita stats, with 100,000 members!
Cup/knockout competitions are hugely publicized in South Africa and create a lot of excitement amongst fans, The ‘Nedbank Cup’ (as it is currently known) which is a knockout competition modeled on England's famous FA Cup, giving lower league teams the chance to do battle with premier league clubs, has been in existence since 1978, with (Johannesburg township) Soweto side, ‘Moroka Swallows’ the current holders. The MTN 8 Knockout is contested at the beginning of each Premier Soccer League season by the top eight finishers of the previous season. The tournament boasts an R8-million winner-takes-all prize – while guaranteeing each team R800 000 simply for participating.
There are many youth tournaments in each province, the most notable being the ‘Metropolitan Cup’ (in it’s 22nd year), which attracts the cream of the country’s under-19 sides as well as foreign guest teams.
Until recently, South African football was dominated by the two ‘Soweto Giants’: Kaizer Chiefs (the Amakhosi) and Orlando Pirates (the Buccaneers). Chiefs, Founded in 1970 by football legend Kaizer Motaung (who became a household name after a successful playing career in the USA) are sometimes referred to as the ‘Glamour Boys’ .In their Gold and Black strip Chiefs are thought of as the ‘flash’ guys of football, much like Real Madrid in Spain. Pirates (owned by the hugely influential, but recently deposed SAFA boss Irvin Khoza) are the tough guys of Soweto. Both sides have huge support around the country, so much so that their fan base exceeds local support in away games. Chiefs and Pirates fans have a long tradition of animosity towards each other, although hooliganism is a rare occurrence. A Chiefs, Pirates match is by far the most colourful (and noisy) sporting event in South Africa and rivals major derby’s throughout the world. Fanatical male Fans wear an amazing array of clothing and accessories, including Doctor’s coats, Skeleton masks and shirts, giant eye glasses, Makarapa’s (plastic helmets cut, bent and decorated), traditional garments, animal skins, women’s bra’s, skirts and wigs.
The two other ‘big’ sides in the PSL are Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United. Sundowns are backed by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe who has significantly increased the depth of quality players in his squad as well as their wages, which are now often on par with second tier European Leagues. Supersport, who have recently wrapped up their third successive PSL championship, have sound backing and are guided by coach Gavin Hunt (who is tipped to take over the national squad, post-World Cup).
Stadium announcers and MC’s play a major role during South African football matches, inspiring and exciting the crowds. The now world famous ‘Vuvuzela’, a meter long painted plastic horn, (which some say originates from the ‘Kudu’ horn which was traditionally used to round up village people) is blown incessantly throughout the game, sounding not unlike a swarm of aggressive bees. Despite complaints by foreign teams and broadcasters about the ‘distracting’ nature of the sound, FIFA has decided unanimously not to ban the instrument; inevitably it will become the sound of World Cup 2010.
Fans of South African football love to see players ‘showboating’ on the field, they also have a cultured understanding of good quality football and in appreciation often give players nicknames which are shouted every time the player touches the ball: the stadium erupted in shouts of ‘Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish’ whenever ex-Bafana and ex-Charlton Athletic Defender Mark Fish touched the ball, and ex-Bafana mid-fielder Shoes Moshoeu got the same treatment with ‘Shooooooes’ echoing around the stadium.
South Africa has dozens of football legends, amongst them: Trott Moloto, Shakes Mashaba, Tebogo Moloi, Zero Johnson, Chris Ncgobo, Doc Khumalo, Neil Tovey, Lucas Radebe, Jomo Sono, and Gary Bailey. Many legends have recently been officially recognized and appointed as ‘2010 Ambassadors’, to canvass support for football, lecture kids at schools, give training sessions and attend football events all over the country.
When President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter announced the awarding of the 2010 World Cup to South Africa in 2004 the whole nation was glued to their TV’s and radio’s before taking to the streets in celebration. The excitement naturally cooled off after a few weeks and it was only in mid-November 2009, in anticipation of the draw for the Cup, that the reality and enthusiasm for the extraordinary tournament coming to South Africa started developing again. Meanwhile, the LOC in partnership with government, provinces and host cities had been working tirelessly in preparation; huge sums of money were allocated to the building of new and upgraded stadiums and transport systems. Despite a few hiccups along the way, everything was on track.
On December 4th 2009, the FIFA road show hit Cape Town for the draw. Away from the glitz and glamour at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which hosted the event, huge screens were erected in central Cape Town, where an estimated 100 000 people filled the streets to witness (along with millions around the world) which nations would be grouped together at the World Cup. Again the excitement died away after a few weeks but was reignited with the ‘100 days to go’ celebrations. It appears that levels of anticipation have been varied across the country, with Gauteng residents the most enthusiastic; Capetonians at the other end of the country a little more apathetic. As has been the case with outbursts of patriotism associated with sporting events in the past, the closer we get to kick off the more the country as a whole pulls together as a united front. A nationwide campaign ‘Football Friday’s’ which encourages the country’s workforce to sport Bafana shirts every Friday in support of the national team is gaining momentum.
Many South Africa’s are skeptical about Bafana’s chances of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup. Drawn in a tough Group with France, Mexico and Uruguay, pundits generally predict an early exit. It should be remembered, however, that at last year’s Confederation Cup, Bafana matched Brazil and Spain for much of their encounters with them only to lose by the narrowest of margins in each case. Their heightened performances were clearly an inspired response to the challenge posed by their illustrious opponents, but it is equally certain that the encouragement of 90 000 screaming, vuvuzela blowing fans at Ellis Park in Johannesburg helped to galvanize the team. Hopefully this will be the case come June 11th when similar conditions will prevail.
Despite persisting skepticism regarding the upgrade of football in South Africa post- World Cup, ‘Legacy’ projects sponsored by FIFA in conjunction with Government, the LOC and National Lottery, plan for the provision to each of the 52 South African Football Associations, across the country, one football pitch together with a clubhouse, ablution facilities, training lights and a security fence. There is also a plan for the ‘Greening’ of grounds countrywide. In Gauteng alone 230 pitches will be leveled and resurfaced. Scores of all-weather Astroturf pitches will be set up including 9 in the Western Cape alone.
’20 Centres for 2010’ is the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Its goal is to build 20 centres of education, public health and football across Africa. Five of these centres will be constructed in South Africa and the first of the 20 has been launched in the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
On March 3rd of this year, a little over three months before the World Cup kicks off in Johannesburg,The SAFA’s 52 Regional Presidents met with the National Executive Committee members led by newly elected President, Kirsten Nematandani, at Durban’s impressive new Moses Mabhida stadium.
Implementing a radical football transformation programme was at the center of their concern, with particular emphasis on youth development. In a statement, which has been positively received in football circles, Nematandani had this to say;
“We are powering ahead with our transformation agenda that is mainly focused on repositioning our approach to football development, and grass roots football in particular.
“Our Long Term Development strategy is based on a simple notion of ‘going back to basics’. In football terms, going back to basics is about supporting, encouraging, and capacitating School football countrywide”.