Pearce sees the Sun rise
organisation can play a leadership role during these “emotional and divisive” times.
“I’d like to bring it back to each individual to look at themselves to see what impact they can have, can they challenge themselves in terms of their own bias,” he said.
“How much time do we spend on giving confidence to our young boys and girls, showing them what’s right or wrong?
“The traits that we used with Dublin over the last number of years, they started with care, respect, empathy – all traits that can give to our kids. Whether we’re just non-racist or can we be anti-racist, can we actively do something to help young boys and girls who might need it because of the colour of their skin? I’ve been very lucky to have received an unbelievable career, been welcomed in every part of Ireland because of that. That’s something
I’d recom
THE impact of the cruel comments made by his childhood peers only hit Boidu Sayeh when he got older.
Taking part in The Sunday Game’s discussion last night on racism, Sayeh (above) admitted Jason Sherlock’s description of the self-doubt that was a direct result of being racially abused struck a chord.
“When I was younger I experienced, as
Jason said, the self-doubt, getting comments and taking it in,” said the
Westmeath footballer.
Born in Liberia, Sayeh was brought to Ireland by his aunt Therese and uncle Ben when he was eight years old. The abuse started soon after.
“That’s primary school, kids are going to say things and that’s why I’d have a very strong view on educating kids because kids will say what they hear at home,” Sayeh remarked. “I got comments from kids when I was only about eight or nine and it upset me a lot. It was kinda, ‘Go back to where you came from, you don’t belong here’. But the parents of those kids talked to them and told them mend to any boy and girl. Can we look at what we do in our summer camps with kids, at how inclusive our clubs are for people who wouldn’t traditionally go into GAA clubs?”
Sherlock believes referees must also be better educated on dealing with racism.
“There are experiences where they’re still not sure what’s right or wrong,” he said.
“I was empowered when I saw an Aaron Cunningham or a Lee Chin (left), they knew what was right and wrong in terms of what was said and wasn’t said.
“We all have a rewe it was wrong, they tried to help them and it was good for my mother and it was good for me as well to hear that.”
He added: “I’m pretty much Irish as well and I just left everything. I didn’t really talk about it, or didn’t express it much, I just took it in and let it slide really. But when I got older I’d remember all those comments and would be thinking, ‘Jeez, how did I take that?’. At the time I wasn’t used to it, it was something new to me. It felt normal. It felt like I’m being slagged but it didn’t feel like it was an issue until I got a bit older and you’re hearing other stories and you think, ‘Wow, it is an issue’.”
Recently Sean Og O hailpin (inset) – born in Fiji, raised in Australia and moved to Ireland when he was 10 – spoke of how joining his local GAA club in Cork opened the door to acceptance in his community.
“It was different for me because I was instantly welcomed into the school and it is a big part of the GAA in that area so all the kids play GAA,” said Sayeh. “The minute I was welcomed into the school I was automatically welcomed into the GAA club.” sponsibility there, not just the referee. It’s obviously for the moderators to give them the tools to be able to decide on what’s right or wrong.
“We know GAA is a passionate game and we don’t want to take that out. But are there comments made at matches that shouldn’t be made? Do we do anything about that?
“It’s important that we ensure that we continue to have a diverse and inclusive GAA going forward.”
PEARCE HANLEY helped the Gold Coast Suns end their 19-match Aussie Rules losing sequence with the shock result of round two.
They beat West Coast Eagles 90-46 at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Suns had not won an AFL match for 427 days but were deserved winners against West Coast, who are among the favourites for the 2020 Premiership.
Making his season debut after missing round one with a calf injury, Hanley had a quiet game in midfield but still collected 12 disposals (11 kicks & 1 handball) and 4 marks in the four quarters.
Aidan Corr was on the wrong end of a stunning upset when North Melbourne defeated Greater Western Sydney 60-80 at Giants Stadium yesterday. Corr tallied 10 disposals (7 kicks & 3 handballs) and 3 marks in the GWS defence that was overrun in the final term.
Also yesterday,
Essendon defeated Sydney Swans 73-79 in a final quarter thriller at
The Sydney Cricket
Ground.
Colin O’riordan started on the interchange bench but came on for 9 disposals (5 kicks & 4 handballs) and 3 marks in midfield.
Meanwhile, the Australian Government has announced crowds of up to 10,000 can return to sporting events at smaller stadiums from next month.
Work is also under way to allow crowds to return to the bigger venues including the MCG and SCG.
The AFL remains optimistic that the 2020 Grand Final will be played in front of a capacity 100,000 sellout crowd at the MCG in October.