Dearth of Indian players lamented
At one time they were stars in top SA soccer sides
THE paucity of Indian players in South Africa’s biggest sports, apart from cricket, has drawn criticism from some soccer legends.
Racial identity should not matter in 2013 — nearly two decades into the democratic South Africa.
But it is a fact that Indian players remain conspicuous by their absence at the highest levels of soccer and rugby.
It may be that rugby does not draw much interest from the Indian population owing to — as former National Soccer League chairman Ashwin Trikamjee pointed out — its brutal, contact nature.
“Rugby has never really appealed to the Indian community. We never played rugby in those days, and even with the advent of democracy I don’t see Indians playing rugby,” said Trikamjee, a former Federation Professional League (FPL) administrator.
“I can’t give a definitive reason why, but I think it is because rugby is such an aggressive sport. And there is much physical collision, so Indians keep away from it.”
South African soccer’s history
“There is a perception among Indians that soccer has become a ‘black people’ sport, which is not true. That perception is something that needs to be eradicated
books, on the other hand, glittered with Indians who played for some of the biggest clubs in the land. But the same cannot be said about the Premier Soccer League or the national team today.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, crowds were dazzled by, among others, Moroka Swallows dribbling wizard Sullie “Bumpjive” Bhamjee, Manning Rangers’ Super Naidoo and the late Avalon Athletic enforcer Dharam Mohan.
Mike Moodley, Buddy Govender and Links Padayachee also entertained fans.
The marvellous Orlando Pirates and Leeds United (England) attacker Rashid Khan was given a glowing tribute by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe after his passing in May this year.
However, only three of the 524 players registered at the beginning of the Absa Premiership last season were Indian.
It is a subject often danced around because of the sensitivity surrounding race relations. But Super Naidoo believes it is worth raising.
“There is a perception among Indians that soccer has become a ‘black people’ sport, which is not true. That perception is something that needs to be eradicated,” said Naidoo.
“When we were playing in the FPL it was a mixture of whites, Indians, coloureds and Africans — it was great. I always believe when you have a nice mix different strengths are brought to a team.
“Parents play a big part in this. Education is a priority for Indian parents and they try to dissuade their children from participating in extracurricular activities. They’d rather give them a cellphone than take them to sports practice.”
South African Football Association (Safa) districts Chatsworth and Phoenix, located in the townships with the highest population of Indians in South Africa, have 58 and 52 senior teams respectively.
But Chatsworth district administrator Daya Govender said club talent scouts seldom made appearances in these parts.
“There are lots of Indian players participating in our soccer leagues, but, to be honest, there are hardly any guys that have gone on to the National First Division and Premier League,” said Govender.
“The problem is the scouts from the clubs in higher divisions don’t come to Chatsworth to look at these guys. We do have players with the potential to make it to the highest level.”
The demise of Manning Rangers, 1997 inaugural PSL champions, in 2005 was cited as a major contributor to the dearth of elite Indian soccer players.
Rangers, when coached by current Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund, used to draw passionate capacity crowds almost every week, because fans knew that visiting teams would probably leave Chatsworth empty-handed.
“I started noticing a decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” said Trikamjee. “Manning Rangers’ downfall partly contributed to that decline because they came from an Indian township, where they had a huge Indian following.”
Naidoo agreed with Trikamjee, saying more could have been done to encourage not only Indian children, but Chatsworth children of other races to get involved. “But that didn’t happen.” Bhamjee, who now works in fastmoving consumer goods, painted a
“It’s sad because soccer is a career today. It pays so well and players get to see the world, which wasn’t the case during our time
grim picture of Indian participation in the sport in Gauteng.
“It’s dead,” he said. “I understand that people are no longer confined to certain living areas, but if you go to any of the old Indian townships [in Gauteng] soccer is nonexistent.
“It’s sad because soccer is a career today. It pays so well and players get to see the world, which wasn’t the case during our time.”