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.