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National Public Radio: History of Soccer in Africa



Melissa Block of NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ interviewed me about soccer’s long history in Africa. Soccer was brought to Africa by British colonials in the mid-1800s. The first documented game on the continent was played in South Africa in 1862, a year before soccer’s official rules were codified. As I argue in African Soccerscapes, soccer has been an important sport in Africa for as long as it was played in Europe.

Click here to listen to the interview and read a transcript.

Was also interviewed by and quoted in this New York Times article: Soccer Returns to its Roots in Africa

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Cape Town Spurs



Cape Town Spurs from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
From L to R: Stan Mini, Hassien Ryclief, Arthur Botha, Yusuf Davids and Frank Adams


I was privileged to be in the company of some of the greats of Cape Town football last Saturday night.  The five footballers (pictured above) were guests at the Opening Night of “Soccer Cinema” in Cape Town.  “Maradona” by Emir Kusturica topped the bill.

A Serbian Jazz Quartet made intimate interviews almost impossible, though I did get Stan Mini to share the moment Apartheid ended football for him (see below).  I won’t be upoading the interview I conducted with the legendary Arthur Botha.  You can’t hear the man.  I had asked Arthur if had ever played with anyone as flamboyant and masterful as Maradona.  Arthur shook his head.  “No, no.  No one like that in our day”, he said.  Then one of the other players interjected, asking Arthur about Basil D’Oliveira.  The crimes and passions of football from back in the day suddenly splashed all over Arthur’s face.  “Ah, yes, Dolly“, said Arthur.  Dolly was Diego material, though he choose to take Cricket to that higher level, and did so in the teeth of apartheid and against apologists of the time.  “I played with him, you know, and against him, too”, said Arthur.  He went on, “Dolly and I grew up together.  We’re great friends.”

Hassien Ryclief shared with me his chopping methods for dealing with Albert Johansson. Yusuf Davids said he “proud” of today’s Bafana Bafana, but will miss Benni McCarthy.  Stan Mini agreed, but the twinkle in his eye suggested he was looking forward to seeing younger players get their chance.  The stalwart of the Cape Town Spurs back line, Frank Adams, believes Alberto Parreira has Bafana Bafana primed and ready.

Later I watched the men watch the younger generation dance to more of that Serbian Jazz.  It was the wee small hours, deep into injury time of Cape Town’s Indian Summer.  No substitutes were needed.

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Worldview: SA 2010 (radio)



Did an interview on the ‘Worldview’ program of Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ. Interviewers Euan Hauge and Dan Shalin asked me what’s happening in SA at the moment? What are people talking about? Is the 2010 World Cup a case of the rich getting richer? What about forced removals disguised as urban renewal and the Nelspruit stadium mess? Is this really Africa’s World Cup? How will the African teams do in the tournament?

Listen to the interview here: http://audio.wbez.org/wv/2010/06/wv_20100604.mp3

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Good Morning Cape Town

Disguised as the Duke of Edinburgh I ducked through security at Cape Town’s No. 1 Radio Station, 94.5 K-FM, for an audience with Benito. Benito is the man responsible for caffeinating Cape Town’s morning airwaves. What did Benito think of Bafana Bafana’s chances?

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Cape Town Cafe Connoisseurs React to Squad

Tauriq, a classic Cape Town coffee and football connoisseur, shares his reaction to the announcement of the Bafana Bafana squad this morning. In brief, Josephs and Walters edge out Fernandez for the goalkeeping positions. Booth is in. McCarthy is out. And no room for “The Scooter”. Take it away, Tauriq…



I found Tauriq manifesting at Java Lounge at 39 Kloof Street, home of the tightest expresso and the most compassionate and merciful cappuccino you will find anywhere in Cape Town (and the best place to get your wireless action between games).

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Bafana Team Chemistry

Everyone in Cape Town has a favourite player. But what about Bafana’s team chemistry? I posed the question to a Cape Town chemist.

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The Bull



Hopefully the World Cup will shine the light on South Africa’s rich football history. Like the story of of Simon “Bull” Lehoko, a star defender of the 1970s and 1980s with Vaal Professionals and Kaizer’s Chiefs. In this video profile by journalist Leoni Marinovich (for the Twenty Ten project), Lehoko talks about the annual “multi-racial matches”–specifically the 1981 edition–arranged between the White XI and African XI as a sign of political “reform.” It was all politically dubious and some of the white players were often openly racist, but the players enjoyed these match ups. And saw in them what could have been. So did some white football fans.