BLOG: Transformation in sport? Get real!
Logan Green, sports journalist, writes
Something happened two weekends ago that seriously tugged at my heartstrings and reignited the flames of passion in my belly.
It wasn’t a dramatic movie moment.
It was plain and simple recognition.
Recognition from a group of men who don’t look like me.
Men who share a commonality – a passion.
Passion for sport and for a game they adore.
The said recognition occurred when I paid a visit to the gents at a golf day held at Daveyton Golf Club.
The club has been going through difficult times, with numerous problems and maintenance issues affecting the way in which they run their beloved club and the way in which they grow young golfers at the township course.
Immediately before tee-off a group of 30-plus golfers had gathered near the first tee box.
Following an explanation of the format and clarification of the rules of the day, committee member Pule Taunyane addressed the men and told them that my articles had helped to propel the municipality into action with regards to maintenance of the course, which allowed for the course to be playable.
It probably sounds like I am tooting my own horn here, but, no…
The round of applause that followed and the thank you’s and handshakes received thereafter will permanently remind me of the role that not only I can play in transforming sport in my country, but how anybody can make a difference to sports development in their own small way.
I have a duty as a sports journalist to do that, but, in fact, all of us actually have a job to do.
Sporting harmony starts with the spirited efforts of good, authentic people within our communities.
Rather than taking to social media to drop racist remarks and to generate more unnecessary anger, change the game by getting real.
Yeah, I like the sound of that… getting real!
Instead of taking your old golf clubs to the nearest Cash Crusaders for a measly R50, get real by donating them to a person who will genuinely appreciate the offering, maybe teach them how to swing the things, too.
Rather than taking to social media to drop racist remarks and to generate more unnecessary anger, change the game by getting real.
As a white man, get real by showing your face at a township soccer match.
Bring along some liquid refreshments to enjoy with fellow spectators and a bag of oranges for the players at halftime.
Kick a ball with the youngsters on the sidelines.
Why not?
As a black man, rock up at a jukskei game and give it a bash.
In both cases be friendly, polite and inquisitive.
By standing up to separation and exclusion in an amicable manner, the winds of natural transformative change in sport will gather more speed.
Our enemy in South African sport is not transformation, our enemy is Australia, England and New Zealand, among others.
Play sport together, learn from each other, build each other up, and enjoy the delight that it brings.
Sport has the power to overcome anything – politics and racial divide has tried to destroy that, but that will fall as well.
By getting real at base level we can and we will get the wheels in motion.
We cannot always control political decisions taken at the top, but we can control what happens in the sporting arenas of our communities.
Get real, South Africa!
LG
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