studentcolumn: All brothers
Sander Timmermans is a third year student Cultural and Social Education. During his work placement, he works with young delinquents in a prison in Cape Town (South-Africa). The news reports of this country have been mainly about the World Cup the last months, and the next future months’ reports will be nothing different. The World Cup is held in the months of June and July this year, but that’s not the only thing happening. Until the start of the World Cup, Sander will give his personal view on the biggest sport event in the world, and what the consequences are for the local population and surroundings.
Different friends, same grimace
Within the Dutch culture, it is almost obvious and natural that male friends aren’t open about their friendship. I recognize this in my family ties as well as with my dear friends. I never had the problem to show friendship publically, and I think that this is a crucial reason why I feel so comfortable in Woodstock, the next southerly suburb of Cape Town. My local friends lovingly welcome me, every day again. (I name them ‘temporary’, as my time in South-Africa is slowly coming to its end but no friendship wears out naturally throughout a human life.) With that, I feel obliged to add that these friendships do not fit into categories of age. And the fable that frankness matures throughout the years, can be dismissed. My South-African friends as well as the Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Pakistani and the Congolese, of whom the ages differ between 9 and 66, all show the same grimace when they welcome me. The grimace I formerly received with Dutch suspicion and guard, just like how I first approached the World Cup.
Increasing enthusiasm
My motivation to ‘question anything’ is still present but I am now looking forward to the World Cup with pleasure more and more, the gigantic party I first faced distrustfully. I don’t even like soccer, but all the more the misery which I will miss after returning in Holland. Regardless of the increased racial hatred caused by the murder on the extremely right-winged politician Terre’Blanche, the join-hands life-style here is heartwarming. In Cape Town, there is very limited space for racial discrimination. There is only one way to spend the day and that is together. Therefore, the World Cup isn’t about the game only, it is about brotherhood. Look at the colours of the flag, the clothes and de Bafana Bafana supporters. The open enthusiasm for the country, and with that the enthusiasm for each other, is mounting!
Bafana Bafana is the South African national soccer club.
