Unlike rugby, World Cup taps support from all South Africans
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By Franklin Black, 10 Jul 2010 Franklin Black is a Roar Rookie
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- 2010 World Cup, football, Rugby Union, Springboks, World Cup
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The true following of football in South Africa has been clearly reflected by the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Not only is football the biggest sport in South Africa, it is the only sport with true support among the 80 percent (40 million) black population there.
Rugby union remains a pillar of the old apartheid regime, so beloved by the likes of Danie Craven.
Contrast the thousands of black faces in the crowds and in the streets with the almost exclusively white South African union crowds. The dribble we are fed that rugby union is the main sporting code of South Africa is shown up for being a mere wish of that code in competition with the real sporting choice for Africans: football.
Unless rugby union really confronts its own past in South Africa in a meaningful and honest way, that sport will never move forward except among its Afrkiaaner-dominated following.
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JF said | July 10th 2010 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Is that you Fozzy? Typical absolutist dribble from the soccer crowd.
Make sure you watch the Springbok v All Black test that will be played at Soccer City in a couple of weeks, take a good look at the make up of the crowd.
Shahsan said | July 10th 2010 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Go back to school, Franklin. Get an education.
JF said | July 10th 2010 @ 11:58am | Report comment
How about responding to the football supporters who also thought your article was garbage?
Franklin Black said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Which one was that? lol
I am a fan of just about all sports. No one says I have to ignore union’s apalling history in South Africa like most others here. Free country.
We are starting to see some of the problems associated with the enforced poverty of apartheid coming to an end. Union had to be dragged kicking and screaming to that point.
Tom of Brisbane said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Yawn, another “my football is better than your football” article. You are allowed to like more than one code you know, it’s not against the law.
Yes, soccer is the most popular game on the planet. We know, OK. You don’t have to keep telling us.
What do you think is going to happen? Messrs Gallop, O’Neill and Demetriou have a conference call going something like “Apparently soccer has won fellas, better call off our comps straight away”
JF said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
How did this article get past the moderators? With statements like “Rugby union remains a pillar of the old apartheid regime,..” it is blatent code-war mongering, the article is of no value. No moderating on weekends?
katzilla said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
A poorly written troll piece this one.
Didn’t even manage to get some football hardcores to back you up, your claims are that rediculous.
COME ON SPAIN!
COME ON ALL BLACKS!
Shahsan said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
If you are saying that South Africa and rugby union in South Africa had a racist past in South Africa, I’m afraid that is something we all know and have acknowledged many times. There is absolutely no dispute there. And you’re at least 45 years late in making that point. Or have you just read it somewhere and think no one else knows about it?
Or are you saying apartheid — in the society and in rugby — still exists? (That is what you are implying in your article.) If so, then you are way off base.
So what are the lies rugby union is telling about South Africa?
Shahsan said | July 12th 2010 @ 5:44am | Report comment
To quote your good self: “Glad we all agree union tells lies about South Africa.”
Anyway, i really dont know where you are going with this. You’re like a born-again fundmanetalist.
The reality is that there is no apartheid in SA rugby — it’s all marketing. Of course more people play and follow soccer than any other sport, but the ‘Springbok’ is an important and succesful symbol, and not just for the white South Africans over the past 15 years, so naturally they remain prominent. All South Africans derive pride from follwing that team, as well as the succesful provinces. If the Bafana Bafana get their act together and wn a world cup or two they will get that kind of following too.
Soccer is also the most popular participation sport in the US and Australia, but they get much less airtime and coverage than other sports such as US football, basketball and baseball; and Aussie rules and rugby league., respectively. It is just history and, again, marketing.
kovana said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
FB is perverted….
He is curling fan pretending to be a Soccer nut… For shame Frank.. For shame indeed.
jeznez said | July 10th 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
If a Troll is someone who blogs something to start a fight – does that make this author an Ogre? What a stupid article.
Franklin Black said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Kovana versus the world and how it really is…
Franklin Black said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
While you are adding more comments to the list – and thanks for that – you really need to think about seeing a professional in the medical area.
Franklin Black said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Despite the pathetic attempts from kovana to derail the thread, it seems some readers are interested in the history of this subject. I do endorse the earlier comment re “The Team That Never Played” – an excellent sports documentary.
Gives a little more perspective than the rantings of a clear madman like kovana.
Moderators – is he an indication of the level of madness at The Roar? Just for future reference…
Franklin Black said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Your nonsensical and near illiterate responses are embarrassing…
The fact the mods let them through reflects very poorly on them.
Franklins Father said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Please.. Your Upper class attitude is sickening…..