A couple of weeks ago, I caught the tail
end of a story on NPR about South African filmmaker, Anant Singh and
his latest film, More than Just a Game. The film tells the story of
political activists, who while incarcerated on Robben Island from the
1960s to the mid 1970s, fought for their right to play soccer and
created their own organized league. The film will be released later
this year as South Africa prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Although I haven’t played much soccer over the
years, I took a special interest in this story as I have been playing
soccer at least weekly for a few months now. I like to call it a rag
tag league because on any given Sunday afternoon the teams are made up
of my friends, friends of friends, family members and whoever may
wander onto the field. Also setting us apart from any organized league
is the fact that many times the nets are missing from the goals and
players, who not knowing their own strength, kick the ball into the
outer perimeter of the field, have to run and retrieve the ball after
each goal.

    Players taking corner kicks also usually have to ask
who is on their team as we have yet to come up with any sort of team
uniforms and there can be nearly 25 people on the field at a time.

    Despite our large numbers, no one ever sits out and
there is no subbing. We count off to determine teams and then the game
begins. When it’s not scorching hot outside and everyone is excited to
play, the games can be pretty intense. I have the black and blue shins
to prove it. At other times the cards seemed stacked against us.

    For example, frequently sunny skies transform into
black clouds and pelting rain. We keep playing until the field becomes
a slip-and-slide and it is impossible to run without falling. During a
recent game, I recall we had to contend with rain and an erratic
irrigation system spouting water onto the field. I believe it was
during that same game that one of our talented players kicked the ball
and sent it sailing over the goal, over our cars and into the road. We
watched with mouths agape as the ball first bounced off of a police
cruiser and then hit a tractor trailer truck before landing on the
other side of the road. Thankfully, there were no accidents and we
suspended play to search for the ball in the ditch.

    The more I play soccer, the more I love it. It is a
fast paced game that can be played with minimal equipment as our group
proves time and time again. Despite not having played much soccer, I
always liked the sport and I don’t understand why it isn’t more popular
in the U.S. outside of the youth sports community. I doubt David
Beckham’s transfer from Manchester United to the Los Angeles Galaxy
will do much for the sport in the U.S. and he will likely continue to
be more of an interest to celebrity magazines.

    South Africa will be the first nation on the African
continent to host a World Cup. I look forward to hearing more stories
about South Africans’ passion for the game and the preparations for the
big event. Maybe the rest of the world’s enthusiasm will be contagious.