Backing Bafana
17 May 2010
Rugby fans must come to football’s party.
When the 1995 Rugby World Cup was held in South Africa, the sport and the Springboks deservedly took centre stage. South Africans, black and white, threw their support behind the team, which is why Francois Pienaar thanked all 42 million of his countrymen, and not just the 62 000 at Ellis Park, before lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
This year’s Fifa World Cup gives us the chance to revive that spirit of unity and goodwill, which is why SA Rugby magazine has a football-themed cover this month. The Springboks, including Pierre Spies, have pledged their support to Bafana Bafana, and we urge all rugby fans to do the same.
Click here to see what’s in the new issue
Our national football team had a disappointing build-up to the tournament, but so did Pienaar’s Boks before their World Cup campaign. They weren’t expected to progress past the quarter-final stage but a win against the Wallabies in the opening match at Newlands gave them a massive confidence boost and put them on the ‘high road’ to the final.
If Bafana beat Mexico in the opening match of the World Cup at Soccer City they could go on to reach the second round, and their encouraging performances against Spain and Brazil (ranked No 1 and 2 in the world respectively) at last year’s Confederations Cup showed they can perform on a big stage.
However, while the majority of South Africans will be suffering from football fever in June, the Springboks will still demand attention. Their Tests in June, against Wales in Cardiff, France in Cape Town, and Italy in Witbank and East London, raise several interesting questions.
Peter de Villiers is expected to select some overseas-based players for the game against Wales as it takes place a week after the Super 14 final. But will that new-look team have enough time to train together and if the overseas-based players excel, will they then be considered for future Tests?
How will the first-choice Springbok side, presumably made up entirely of home-based players, perform in their first match together this season, against Six Nations champions France? In Jake White’s third year in charge of the Boks, Les Bleus’ 36-26 win at Newlands signalled the beginning of a nightmare 2006 season that almost cost White his job. De Villiers could find himself under similar pressure in his third year if the Boks suffer another defeat to the French.
The two Tests against Italy will give De Villiers a chance to rest his stars and give his fringe players game time. But which of the Bok midweek players who toured Europe last year will get another chance to impress? And will the coach reward Super 14 form?
Four consecutive wins would erase the bad memories of last year’s European tour and ensure John Smit’s side enter the Tri-Nations as favourites to defend their title. Let’s hope the Boks, and Bafana, will rise to the challenge in June.
By Simon Borchardt
121 Comments
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17 May 2010, 12:40 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-99: Those stats actually make for some interesting reading.. Portugal are #3 and they almost didn’t qualify for the WC2010 – they had to go through the playoffs..
Italy are the World Champs and they qualified top of their group. They only lost 1 game and that was on penalties against Spain in the Euro 2008 and they are only 5th.
England have been smoking hot under Fabio Cappello in the last 2 years, but they are behind Argentina who were touch and go to automatically qualify..
If I had to put my house on it I’d have to go for Brazil who have a great coach in Dunga. He doesn’t go in for all the Brazilian “as we long we look good nonsense”. He puts structure and tactics above flair which makes Brazil extra dangerous..
17 May 2010, 12:49 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-98:
I didn’t call it a “dirty rag”, I called it yellow filth. I stand by that.
17 May 2010, 12:53 pm
We’re desperately lacking quality strikers. McCarthy is getting on a bit
Still, obviiously going to support our team and heres to hoping we get into the second round! An absolute must.
17 May 2010, 12:54 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-102: Then you must accept the hostile comments that will come your way. I get it Kobus. You hate people of colour, not just in SA but all around the world. That is your thing, and being disrespectful of the National jersey of your own country appears to be your thing to.
Strange what a hippocrate you are. You are probably one of those bloggers who gleefullt attacked LW for his comments made, that were taken out of context, but you expect a slap on the back for your disgraceful comment.
Hahahaha. But that is what you are, and I was simply telling the fellas that they ought not to waste their time with you at all. You are not worth it.
17 May 2010, 13:31 pm
@siener(kriek)-55: Greatest doesn’t only mean biggest. Greatest also means best. The soccer world cup (pffft) may be bigger, but the rugby world cup is the best.
17 May 2010, 13:44 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-104:
Yeah, that’s why the Beast and Habana are some of my favorite Boks. I understand that you were deprived of ever becoming something but that is in the past now, let’s stop pulling the race card all the time.
Bafana Bafana are losers, I wonder if the Xerox Lions would beat them in a game of soccer.
17 May 2010, 13:52 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-106: Hahahahaha.
Are you seriously pulling on that old “I am a white man and I love Habana” story? Hahahahaha. How cliche.
You have already exposed yourself, no, “But I like Habana” is going to clean the slate for you. (Can’t believe you even went there.)
As for who I am. I am clearly more educated and vastly more enlightened than you. That is all you need to know about me.
Kobus. You are what you are. Like I said. No need for insults. Just wanted the fellas to know they ought not to waste their breath with you. You are proudly racist.
17 May 2010, 14:05 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-107:
Please enlighten me, why do you support the All Blacks and Crusaders instead of the Springboks? I believe it’s due to spite. I’m wondering if you support the Bok 7s side seeing as it has a far greater representation of color?
It works both ways, you don’t support the World Champion Springboks, why should I support the hopeless Bafana Bafana?
17 May 2010, 14:08 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-108: Go easy on her… Different people have different tastes. Not for Rossi some big Saffer boerewors, rather some tender lambchops…
17 May 2010, 14:17 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-108: I support them, because I always have. I don’t switch sides. BUT, and here is the important part Kobus, I have and never will call the national jersey, and I quote you “102. Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty) :
May 17th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-98:
I didn’t call it a “dirty rag”, I called it yellow filth. I stand by that.”
I am still South African and believe in the country and that it’s people have choices and opinions. I never said you MUST support Bafana, but I object to you caling the jersey filth. The same way you would object to me calling the Bulls jersey or the Bok jersey filth.
My support has nothing to do with colour. Simply the team whose brand of game I enjoy more. ie Like Spain and Brazilian football.
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-109:
Silly man.
17 May 2010, 14:36 pm
As much as i Despise Kobus’s standing on Bafana and their jersey. I do agree with him to some extent! Dont Support New Zealand and then come and question some1 elses patriotism! I Was at the George 7′s last year and had to be restrain from klapping some All Black supporters who were swearing at springbok supporters and standing on the SA flag! So dont come with “we respect SA but support New Zealand’
17 May 2010, 14:44 pm
@False_Bay_Boy(False_Bay_Boy)-111: I said to Kobus I have no drama with the fact that he refuses to support Bafana Bafana, just don’t insult people who do and call their jersey filth.
My first footie team of choice is NOT bafana bafana, NOT! It’s Spain and then Brazil. My first choice rugby team, is NOT the boks.
There is no quit pro quo. You can’t say me as a person of colour MUST SUPPORT THE BOKS AND IN EXCHANGE, YOU’D BE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT BAFANA.
What utter rubbish. If you do not feel it in your heart, THEN DON’T SUPPORT THEM.
I do not feel passionate for the Boks in my heart. I DO NOT! You cannot make a deal for my support, just like I cannot cut a deal for you to love Spain during this SWC.
17 May 2010, 15:06 pm
@False_Bay_Boy(False_Bay_Boy)-111: Who restrained you? They are entitled to support whom they like but verbally attacking other supporters? They deserved a “snotklap” or 10.
17 May 2010, 15:20 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-113: I agree. Verbally attacking someone for cheering is rubbish.
17 May 2010, 15:54 pm
if you support say france at a bafana game you’ll end up in hospital (if you’re lucky)
17 May 2010, 15:58 pm
@quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-115: Have you ever been to a Bafana soccer match? Ever? Because you appear to be talking out of your arse.
17 May 2010, 16:03 pm
my friends have ros .. and they were “klap’ed” hard .. was the last time they went
17 May 2010, 16:08 pm
@quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-117: Sorry if that happend.
But my experiences of matches are very peaceful and great atmosphere, no matter who you are cheering for. If what you say is so, then it must have been a strangely out of place incident.
17 May 2010, 16:09 pm
@quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-117: Were they spewing verbal abuse at other fans by any chance?
17 May 2010, 16:31 pm
Eish the comments getting a bit unpleasant here at the end… I’m damn sorry I’m gonna miss the world cup at home. Definately cheering like a banshee for the boys – even though realistically their chances are small.
17 May 2010, 18:25 pm
@Simon(Simon)-46: Like the cover a lot Simon. Not exactly Madiba wearing the Bok number 6 jersey, but close enough. It is time the Afrikaners especially show that they are truley part of this diverse nation, by supporting Bafana. The Bulls have gone a long way towards this gesture by wearing the Bafana jerseys on tour. I have my Bafana jersey and will wear it with pride here in Yorkshire during the tournament. My Bulls jersey will need a rest after celebrating in it when the Bulls defebd their S14 title
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