A stalwart of the anti-apartheid sport boycott movement, Isiah Stein, has passed away in the UK. After serving time in prison in the mid-1960s [perhaps not with Nelson Mandela, as noted by Omar Badsha’s comment to my earlier post], Stein left South Africa for Britain where he worked tirelessly for the exiled South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC).
Three of his sons became professional footballers in England; Brian had an illustrious career at Luton Town and earned an England cap in 1984. Playing for Chelsea, Mark once scored in seven consecutive matches (a record which stood until 2002); Edwin meanwhile played for Barnet.
It is little-known stories like those of the Stein family from Cape Town that remind us of the dignity, humility, hard work, and sacrifice of individuals who fought relentlessly to advance the cause of sport and human rights in South Africa and beyond. Rest in Peace Isiah.
Click here for article on Stein’s passing by Kick it Out.
P.S. I will soon post a review of the “Offside” exhibition at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, which prominently features the Stein family and football’s role in fighting racism.
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9 replies on “Sport and human rights activist Isiah Stein dies in UK”
A passing away of another anti apartheid hero. I hope some one will write up a more comprehensive biography of Isah Stein and other anti apartheid activists. It would also help us clear up the issue of him been imprisonment with Mandela. There is no way that Stein a white South Rfrican would have been imprisoned with Mandela. The first time Mandela was held in prison was during the Treason Trial and Stein was not one of the accused. When Mandela was sentenced and imprisoned in the 1960’s on Robben Island white political prisoners were segregated from their white colloquies and held at Pretoria central.
Thanks for the comment Omar. I’m looking into the facts.
Dear Peter and Omar, thank you very much for the post. Its is very important that the stories and incidences like these are reported, lest we forget! I agree with you Omar as well, I dont think it could have been possible for Isiaah to have been in Robben Island with Madiba, of course with reason that you have given, its also great that you have swiftly corrected this Peter. I think I have the right person who can assit us fully with the details of Cde Stein: Remember Chris de Broglio? He lives in France, and I am aware that he sent a statement that was read in Isiaah’s Funeral. In fact there is an interesting piece he write on SANROC, penned – The SANROC Story, of course this can never be sufficient to serve the purpose you are suggesting. I am currently working on a similar piece fr my doctoral studies, woudl you mind to assist Omar, I am aware that you Peter will not mind, what do you think my friend? I am looking forward to your post concerning a review of the “Offside” exhibition at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, which prominently features the Stein family and football’s role in fighting racism, that you are talking about above. I am aware that the folks at the Museum there have done incredible work in the past few years. I am not sure if Linda Fortune and Noors Ibrahim are still there, it was indeed a pleasure to work with them the last time I visited. Thanks folks, later.
Philani Nongogo
http://africasacountry.com/2011/01/30/a-lion-in-winter/
Video of Brian Stein’s goals in Luton Town’s comeback victory against Arsenal in the final of the 1988 Littlewoods (League) Cup here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzrhjaZnTE
(Thanks Sean Jacobs. FYI, Sean’s admiration for Brian Stein is nicely captured in his 2010 article in the academic journal Soccer and Society (2010, edited by Peter Alegi and Chris Bolsmann). Click here for details:
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a917872871~frm=titlelink
Dear Peter, Omar, Philani
Confused! I work with FURD (Football Unites, Racism Divides) based in Sheffield, UK. We were responsible for researching the material contained in the ‘Offside’ exhibition at the D6M Homecoming Centre. The item relating to Isiah being in prison with Mandela is based on an interview with Mark Stein in the London Evening Standard in June 2010 (see url link below).
Regarding Isiah’s ethnicity referred to above I have spoken today with Paul Elliott, the first black captain of Chelsea, who attended Isiah’s funeral on Friday. As a longstanding friend of the Stein family Paul was somewhat suprised – to say the least – to hear Isiah being described as ‘white’.
Paul reports that Isiah had a great send off from a very large congregation.
Finally, Noors was still selling his books at D6M when I was there (on a family holiday) last week.
Best
Howard Holmes, Director, FURD
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/worldcup/article-23845982-mark-steins-so-proud-his-father-helped-south-africa-win-its-biggest-battle.do
Dear Peter
As you already know, my knowledge of such histories is very limited so it is always a pleasure to read up on people such as Stein so thank-you. Because my knowledge of such histories is limited (partly because of my age) I find it a little difficult to comment here, but something in Philani’s comment caught my attention and I just wanted to pick up on it.
My original thoughts when I read what was being said around the question of whether Stein was imprisoned with Mandela or not was: “What does it matter if he was Black, White or Coloured? Is not the legacy he left behind more important than the colour of his skin” I have never been comfortable with looking at history in black and white. However given the importance of the history being dealt with I am obliged to reconsider my first thoughts. Philani says it is important that these stories are reported “lest we forget” yet a more pressing problem than forgetting is having nothing to remember. I have never heard of Stein, and without the reports from you, Peter and others, he would not have ever existed to me, yet his existence is so significant to the way my life, and the lives of many others of my generation, as we now live it, has unfolded. What I am trying to say is, how can we remember stories we were never told? The confusion around Stein’s race says to me what I see little by little everyday in my little corner of kwaZulu-Natal, that which (South) Africa should dread the most. I fear that many of us have already forgotten the struggles and more significantly the hopes of the past. And many my age, increaingly never get the chance to remember.
So yes indeed, it is important to know if he was black white or coloured. And now I know and can remember
Thank-you again Peter,
Mini 🙂
You can read more about Isaiah Stein and Sanroc here
http://www.sanroc-online.com
Amazing the world was like this not so long ago.
I echo Omar Badsha`s sentiment that bographies should be written about all anti-apartheid activists because history is easily lost. Omar has certainly done his bit by spearheading South African History online which does a stirling job of reminding us about our forgotten heroes. I thought I knew a lot about south African struggle history but I had not heard of Isiaih Stein until I was contacted by his son Edwin and recently had the pleasure of meeting Edwin and his brother Brian. I thought I knew a lot about soccer but I did not know that South African-born Brian played for England. IIt was fascinating to listen to them recounting the stories about their father. Ìt is important that these stories are documented for future generations. Minenhle Khumalo`s question “How can we remember stories we have never been told?” highlights the urgency of the task.
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