If you asked any group of young white South Africans in Cape Town’s Long Street who they were supporting as Africa’s last hope Ghana played the US on Saturday, the answer was unanimous — Ghana.
“I feel much more African now than I did before the World Cup started,” 17-year-old student Storm Barry said.
“It started with wearing the Bafana shirt, but now that they are out, I’m supporting any African team,” she said.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Many South Africans say the experience of following their team’s World Cup campaign together has left them feeling more unified as a nation, but some young white South Africans also describe feeling more linked to the African Continent through the tournament.
“Ghana are the last African team, and they are representing all of us. I’d say we’ve all shifted our support to Ghana now South Africa is out,” 18-year-old student Josh Lurie said.
While young white South Africans might have been more likely to visit the US than Ghana he said, there was a new African consciousness in the young.
“It’s different with the older generation. I’ve heard older people say they will support the United States,” he said. “But here on Long Street during the World Cup, I’ve met young Ghanaians and Cameroonians and I feel much more aligned to Africa.”
Huge expectations were invested in the World Cup’s six African competitors, but only Ghana progressed from the group stage, although South Africa filled local hearts with pride by beating France.
“I think young white South Africans are definitely feeling more a part of the continent. The older generation don’t have as much trust and pride in this country as we do, but I’m really proud of South Africa hosting this World Cup and I feel African,” 20-year-old Cape Town student Cheneal Puljevic said while out looking for a place to watch the soccer.
“We are the future of this country and I think it is a really important change,” she added.
Ghanaian student Kwame Boachie-Yiadom, carrying a heavy drum as he searched for a football screen said: “I think it may be premature to say the World Cup has broken down barriers and changed things. But I do feel a new openness.”
Robinson Cano spent 17 seasons playing in the MLB in front of all kinds of baseball fans, but he said there is something special about his stint with the Mexican Baseball League’s Diablos Rojos. He is not alone. The league last week opened its 100th season, aiming to keep an impressive growth in attendance that began after the national team’s surprise run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and is already surpassing some first-division soccer clubs. After finishing third in the 2023 tournament, many casual fans, some of them soccer enthusiasts disappointed after Mexico were eliminated in the first round in the 2022
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
Arne Slot has denied that Darwin Nunez was dropped from Liverpool’s win against West Ham because of a training-ground row with a member of his coaching staff. The Liverpool head coach on Sunday last week said that Nunez was absent from the 2-1 victory at Anfield, having felt unwell during training the day before, although the striker sat behind the substitutes throughout the game. Speculation has been rife that the Uruguay international, whom Slot criticized for his work rate against Wolves and Aston Villa in February, was left out for disciplinary reasons. Asked on Friday to clarify the situation, Slot said: “He
RSS