Untold stories of the erstwhile Nylstroom

Community activist and Modimolle resident Zunaid Mosam took The BEAT down memory lane, during a one-on-one interview in Modimolle on Friday, 30 August.

The interview was based on the two film scripts and a book that Mosam is working on, which were inspired by stories from the erstwhile Nylstroom, currently known as Modimolle.

A strong believer in the black consciousness doctrine, Mosam told The BEAT he drew a lot of inspiration from the likes of Steve Biko and Malcom X (who later changed his name to Malik el-
Shabazz).

In one of the exclusive stories he wrote, Mosam recalled how a rag-tag team from the former Nylstroom managed to go against the odds and emerged victorious at a multi-racial soccer tournament
held in the erstwhile Potgietrsrus (now known as Mokopane).

Mosam said the boys who were old enough to feature in the soccer team from his school were only seven, and the first option was to look for more players of Indian origin in the present day Bela
Bela (formerly known as Warmbaths).

“In the back of my mind I had a thought that we can recruit players from Phagameng. The reason why we did not have enough players was that our school had about 23 students, and we did not have boys who were old enough to feature in the team,” he said.

Mosam said they went to the former mayor of Modimolle Tsietsi Mohapi, who then suggested they go to the late SACP leader Teenage Monama.

Mosam said they went around with Monama, looking for youngsters to play and managed to assemble a full team.

“Some of the players had to play barefooted, and we also had to improvise and buy red T-shirts for the boys so the team can look appropriate. We went there to play, and eventually won the first match which guaranteed us a spot in the finals,” he said.

Mosam laughed when he recalled how they had to ask the organisers an advance from their semi-finals winnings, so they could be able to travel to the tournament the next day.

“Remember, we were already guaranteed some money (runners-up) for reaching the final, so the organisers did not have a problem to lend us some money,” he told The BEAT.

The team eventually went on to win the final match, beating a team from Moshate in Mokopane.

Mosam said the story was not only about a team that went against the odds, but it is mainly about breaking the barriers of Apartheid and enhancing social cohesion at a time when it was hardly
possible.

“It showed a sense of defiance against the government to say no matter how many legislations you can put in place, you are not going to stop us from engaging with other communities,” he said.

One of the books that Mosam is working on, is the one titled “Reflections of Coolie Bandit”, which also touches on his personal experience on how he was once detained for participating in the
struggle against Apartheid.

– The BEAT