These good old days memories take us back to when football and boxing were regarded as the most popular sports in our communities. I still remember as a young boy, sitting in front of my parents black and white small screen television, watching world heavyweights boxing greats such as the great Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Joe Louis, Ron Lyle and Joe Fraizer to mention but few. Thanks to Dstv for taking us back or should TOUCHLINE say thanks to lockdown.
Gone are the days when Sedibeng (Vaal Triangle) boxing lovers would pack the township halls into capacity, to watch boxing or ‘fights’, to watch local former boxing greats such as Carlton Monnakgotla, Black ‘Shamba’ Mthimkhulu, Shole ‘Tiger Floor’ Mokoena, Baby Lux Khambule and Aron ‘AK 47’ Kabi, the list is endless. TOUCHLINE challenges everyone to take this lockdown opportunity to reflect back to our history when football and boxing were regarded as form of entertainment in our communities. Crime was less during those days because almost everyone was involved in sports.
The township dusty soccer grounds were the place to be on Sunday afternoons to watch legendary football clubs in our community. The Vaal had great football clubs such as A-Z FC, Transvaal Jumpers, MB Rangers, Transvaal X20, Evaton Home Sweepers, Home Defenders, Sharpville Pirates, Matlama, Zone 7 Lions, Republic Promoters, Evaton Blackpool and Evaton Ocean Stars FC .
Can we bring back those good memories in our country especially in the communities that we live in, where local soccer fans used to pack the soccer grounds to capacity. But with COVID-19 a big concern all over the world, the number of soccer fans will be restricted at soccer matches and stadium. It is sad because what used to bring people together, today makes people sick.
TOUCHLINE pleads to all the athletes to continue training at home, abide by the rules and wash their hands regularly. Together, only together we will defeat this disease. The biggest challenge is to stay together, win together and grow together.
This remains our biggest challenge!
(This is Zacharia Nale’s weekly Sport comment, look out for it again next week)
