06 Sep 2007 |
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| As from tomorrow
Friday September 7th, we are going to be pummelled with two digit
figures, being final scores of matches and other buzz words such as drops,
tries and scrums. Well that is if you are in countries where
Rugby
competes with traditional football/soccer. And if you don’t understand words
like drops and tries and hefty males of all seizes and colours holding each
other in semi conferences and colliding against their opponents like bulls in
gorging fits. Or men running at each other like medieval Armies running to
inflict mutual causalities, don’t worry, it is simply
Rugby.
And since the official separation of
Rugby
from football/soccer because of disputes on rules and promotions, there has
been a debate. Even though the divorce was confirmed in a pub called Freemason
Tavern in
London,
England in 1863, the debate has
steamed on passionately. But what was and is still the debate all about? Here is it: between
Rugby
and Football which is the most prestigious?
Francis Maud Campbell, the man who spearheaded the divorce of Rugby from Football in 1863 is the father and founded of the Rugby Union, which he created in 1863, and he must not have had any ounce of doubt that Rugby was more prestigious than Football. Hence he created the Rugby union out of which the Rugby World Cup that is in her 7th edition originated, and will kick off tomorrow in Paris. While lovers of Football will by no means claim that their own sport has pre-eminence, for the popularity of Football around the globe is playing in their favour, hence they can afford to chide Ruggers. However Rugby is making phenomenal headways in places such as Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific rim of nations and Asia. And because, Football is becoming more violent, people and sponsors are gradually turning away and seeking sports that convey positive messages. And Rugby is one of such. It will be very difficult if not impossible for Rugby player to behave like Zinedine Yazid Zidane did, at the just ended Football finals in Germany, by giving Materazzi, a Glasgow kiss thus, scuttling his country’s chances of lifting the Silverware for the second time in their history and this, for baseless reasons. As the World Rugby World Cup kicks off tomorrow at Stade de France, located in Saint Denis, a town on the outskirts of Paris, with Argentina flexing their muscles against France, it is important to recall that, there are 30 countries taking part in the competition. And amongst them, two are African: Namibia and South Africa. While I don’t want in any way to denigrate the heroic Namibians, I think that, in regard to the pedigree of the South African Rugby team the Springboks, in such competitions; they are honestly the team that will be flying high not only the South African flag in France, but that of the entire African continent. In case the Springboks lift or win the Trophy for the second time, after 1995, it will encourage more South Africans and other Africans to start practising Rugby. But while South Africans and Africans are counting on the Springboks, some professional agitators or politicians who like finding faults where it is not warranted have started destabilising the Springboks. They are claiming that, the South African Rugby team doesn’t have enough black players. But it is worth reminding those polemists that, the Springboks have six black players and also that, sports doesn’t need black empowerment. For if there were good black players fit to make the Springbok’s team, it would have been known, as it has been seen with the South African junior Springboks. Looking at things only under the prism of race will destroy the Springboks. Who questions why the South African National Football team: Bafana Bafana is overwhelming Black? It was therefore helpful and refreshing to hear President Thabo Mbeki tell the South African Rugby captain to ask his team-mates to ignore petty politics from politicians, who always want to dodge serious issues bothering South Africans to focus on futilities. We therefore wish Namibia and South Africa best of luck and to quote President Mbeki: I or we see no reason why the Springboks or the Namibians can’t bring the trophy back to Africa. Once again, Good luck to you both. Web site of the International Rugby Union: www.rugbyworldcup.com
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