Why the South African Soccer Exodus to “Apartheid” Israel?
Detractors of Israel will be shocked to learn that another 3 Black South African soccer players could soon be playing for local Israeli teams. This week Lungisani Ndlela, the Mamelodi Sundowns’ striker, returned to South Africa after what has been described as successful trials at Israeli club Maccabi Herzelia. Ndlela’s manager Steven Kapeluschnik is reported to have said that “Lungisai was very excited when he was invited for trials and worked hard to impress the technical staff of Herzelia.”
Another South African soccer player, Thembinkosi “Terror” Fanteni joined Israeli club Maccabi Haifa at the beginning of this month. He has been offered a 3 year deal worth R10 million. He joins his Bafana (SA national team) teammate Tsepo Masilela who is already playing for Haifa.
The third in the trio is Jomo Sono’s son Bamuza Sono, who will be moving to Maccabi Netanya in Israel next season after Jomo himself completed the deal with Maccabi Netanya this week.
This story goes a long way in disproving the ugly canard that Israel is an Apartheid state. In racist South Africa, sport was a major vehicle for advancing Apartheid. Black players were legally excluded from playing in white teams, a policy dogmatically enforced even in the face of an international sports boycott. Israel on the other hand not only has no ban on the racial make-up of its sports teams but also actively recruits players of all religions and races. Even when their names are Terror ;)
Anyone who has followed Israel’s attempts to qualify for major international tournaments will no doubt know how much they rely on the key Israeli-Arab duo of Abbas Suan and Walid Badir (pictured on the left are Israeli national teamers (L to R) Abbas Suan, Arik Benado and Walid Badir celebrate a goal against Ireland.).
It should be clear to all that the Middle East conflict is not a racial one as some would have us believe. It is a dispute between 2 nations over the same tiny piece of land.
Steve adds: The real racism when it comes to Israeli football is that Israel is forced to qualify for the FIFA World Cup via difficult European groups because Arab nations refuse to accept them into their legitimate (and much easier) geographical (Arab) region.
Well them Arabs don't want to lose to a bunch of Jews now do they? And yes oh yes, they would lose!
Especially against a team with a couple of traitorous Arabs playing for the blue and white Israeli flag!
Poor Arabs - we should look past it and pretend that anti-semitism isnt the reason that they wont allow Israel into the groups!
Posted by: Mordi | January 13, 2008 at 14:14
Perhaps "La-DUMA" is a Hebrew verb after all?
Posted by: Joel Pollak | January 14, 2008 at 06:02