Pirates' decision to play a friendly against an Israeli team makes one wonder if their bosses forgot the month when the people of New Zealand ensured that the tour of their country by a team from apartheid SA would be hell.
However, their bosses – including the chairperson, board and management – would surely recall the month when the people of New Zealand took action to ensure that the tour of their country by a team from an openly racist and oppressive country would be hell.
They even made the spurious claim that keeping South Africa involved in international sport would have the effect of showing whites in this country the value of multiculturalism and nonracialism and thus make a positive impact on the ending of apartheid. Speaking about the protests in a speech to the UN General Assembly in 2018, erstwhile prime minister Jacinda Ardern said that:
By the mid-1980s, apartheid South Africa was a pariah in international sport. No sportsperson or team worth their salt wanted to be associated with the leper nation. The pain was felt strongly in the ruling minority. In the build-up to the game and in the face of appeals to exercise a conscience, Pirates issued a mealy-mouthed statement extolling its own record in fighting for nonracialism in the dark days and the sacrifices it had made on behalf of the South African people.it is easy for those who have taken sides and adopted causes to make calls and demands, we do not enjoy such latitude. Solutions we seek need to be inclusive and arrived at by putting heads together rather than apart.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns top transfer target confirms R10m bid!Maritzburg United have resigned themselves to losing star player Karim Kimvuidi, amid interest from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, but a huge cost!
Read more »
Orlando Pirates beat Maccabi as controversial match goes aheadOrlando Pirates' controversial preseason friendly against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Spain went ahead despite calls for a boycott from the Soweto giants, who beat the Israeli team 1-0 on Thursday.
Read more »
Andile Jali joins Komphela at Moroka SwallowsFormer Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates midfielder Andile Jali has joined Moroka Swallows where he will link up with the Dube Birds' new coach Steve Komphela, who he worked with at Sundowns.
Read more »