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'Bafana Bafana is the biggest threat'
By Achille Mbembe
The 2010 Soccer World Cup will take place in South Africa. In theory,
Fifa can still change the venue of this monumental event in case of a
major natural disaster.
The same might apply if South Africa is suddenly embroiled in large-scale
political disorder leading to lawlessness, heavy losses of human life,
extended damage to property and a breakdown of state authority.
South Africa is not about to join the long list of African "failed
states". But repeated invocations of a revolution that never happened
and reckless calls "to kill" for the Leader - all deleterious
effects of the combination of lumpen-radicalism, para-communism and crony
capitalism - might create the conditions for a further blurring of any
distinction between politics and criminality.
It is unlikely that we will witness a dramatic decrease of the levels
of crime in the next two years. For a month, foreign visitors to our shores
will therefore have to live with the risks of assault and physical brutality
that have become an integral part of daily life in this country.
Historically, events of this nature are used by the host country to showcase
its contribution to the history of human achievements, to exhibit its
values and to signal its global ambitions.
Opening and closing ceremonies generally serve such a purpose. These ceremonies
are expressions of the cultural creativity of the nation, its intellectual
and artistic power and its capacity to represent a figure of universality.
To this day, it is not clear how South Africa intends to design the opening
ceremony. Not much thought seems to have been put into the kinds of cultural,
artistic and intellectual activities that will accompany the event.
The country is known for its lack of imagination, its anti-intellectualism
and its propensity for cultural isolationism.
It has nevertheless produced cultural works of the highest quality. The
boldness of its arts and the ongoing experiments in literature, music,
design, photography or theatre are attracting international attention
in spite of the lack of support for the disciplines of the humanities
in South African public life. It would be a disgrace if such a huge creative
potential is not brought to bear on this event.
But the biggest threat to 2010 is the anaemic state of the national football
team.
South Africa has not won any major football trophy since 1996. The country
now ranks among the weakest in the world. If the current downward spiral
persists, the nation's performance in 2010 will be an embarrassment for
Fifa and a source of shame and humiliation for the entire continent.
Hiring and firing coaches almost on a yearly basis won't do. The weakness
is structural and historical.
Contrary to the major African football powerhouses (Cameroon, Nigeria
or Ivory Coast), South Africa does not have a single player of international
calibre plying his trade for one of the major European clubs.
The truth is that South African players are simply not good enough to
make it on the world stage. There is not enough local talent available.
The lack of imagination is such that South Africa has not been able to
set up a national football academy.
It might be too late to build a relatively competitive national team.
If nothing is done, South Africa will be eliminated in the first round.
The team will concede humiliating defeats. It might not score one single
goal.
Surprisingly, the abysmal state of the national team does not seem to
worry many. In the media and in the public at large, complacency and mediocrity
are the rule. Neither in government circles, within the ruling party nor
at Fifa is there a sense of urgency.
A way out would be to consider the state of the national football team
as a national emergency. Extraordinary measures should be taken. A selection
of the most promising local players should be taken away from their respective
local clubs.
From now until 2010, they should undergo the kind of intensive training
professional players in the best European leagues are subjected to on
a daily basis.
An important part of this training should take place out of the country.
A four-month training camp before the event will not be enough.
iol.co.za,
September 14 2008
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