Life of a boy in the township
I once asked the question, how can you tell when you have entered the township?
I got a lot of expected responses, “the streets are packed with people”, some said “street vendors everywhere” while others said “the hooting of taxis on the road”
Soccer, Bolo, idiski has and continues to play a huge role in our sons, brothers and nephews lives. It has managed to keep a lot of them out of trouble and away from crime, drugs and dropping out of school. So to answer my own question: I know I have entered the township when I see a group of boys playing soccer every turn I take.
Growing up in a township where there is not much to look up to, and the only “role model” to aspire to is your next door neighbor who owns a pistol that he keeps at the back of his pants for everyone to see and is referred to as “iskhokho” (a champ), soccer is the only hope. Not only is it a distraction for boys that do not want to get involved in anything that will get them into trouble, it is also a dream for the next Percy Tau in the making, and a form of entertainment for a young boy that is too disadvantaged to own a play station console and the only valuable toy he owns is a soccer ball worth R150.00
A “challenz” (slang word for challenge, my spelling could be wrong, but that’s beside the point 😏) is a soccer challenge and unlike any ordinary soccer challenge. This one does not need a football field or a goal net, nor does it need 22 players to happen. It can simply happen on the street with 6 players and bricks as goal nets. There are no specific positions and anyone can be the goal keeper (however, touching the ball with your hands is still prohibited ). No soccer boots required. A simple old, ripped pair of All Star takkies is good enough to get you through the game. With the whole community gathered to see who takes the prize at the end, more often than not there is no prize, sometimes they are just playing in the blazing hot sun because they are bored and have nothing to do, while at other times it is merely because they love soccer so much that it is worth getting sunburn and going home with nothing but a salty, pale face from all the sweating, socks that were white when they left home and now brown from all the dust and a few bruises from all the falling while dribbling and being dribbled and to them it is always worth it because they are doing what they love, playing soccer. Playing iChallenz
Here:theGirlDoin'GreatThings👑
I got a lot of expected responses, “the streets are packed with people”, some said “street vendors everywhere” while others said “the hooting of taxis on the road”
Soccer, Bolo, idiski has and continues to play a huge role in our sons, brothers and nephews lives. It has managed to keep a lot of them out of trouble and away from crime, drugs and dropping out of school. So to answer my own question: I know I have entered the township when I see a group of boys playing soccer every turn I take.
Growing up in a township where there is not much to look up to, and the only “role model” to aspire to is your next door neighbor who owns a pistol that he keeps at the back of his pants for everyone to see and is referred to as “iskhokho” (a champ), soccer is the only hope. Not only is it a distraction for boys that do not want to get involved in anything that will get them into trouble, it is also a dream for the next Percy Tau in the making, and a form of entertainment for a young boy that is too disadvantaged to own a play station console and the only valuable toy he owns is a soccer ball worth R150.00
A “challenz” (slang word for challenge, my spelling could be wrong, but that’s beside the point 😏) is a soccer challenge and unlike any ordinary soccer challenge. This one does not need a football field or a goal net, nor does it need 22 players to happen. It can simply happen on the street with 6 players and bricks as goal nets. There are no specific positions and anyone can be the goal keeper (however, touching the ball with your hands is still prohibited ). No soccer boots required. A simple old, ripped pair of All Star takkies is good enough to get you through the game. With the whole community gathered to see who takes the prize at the end, more often than not there is no prize, sometimes they are just playing in the blazing hot sun because they are bored and have nothing to do, while at other times it is merely because they love soccer so much that it is worth getting sunburn and going home with nothing but a salty, pale face from all the sweating, socks that were white when they left home and now brown from all the dust and a few bruises from all the falling while dribbling and being dribbled and to them it is always worth it because they are doing what they love, playing soccer. Playing iChallenz
Here:theGirlDoin'GreatThings👑
Comments
As dusty and slippery the ground is we still maintaned proper balance with that 3'5(All Star).
That's some beautiful writing skill, keep at it girl.
P.s
Thanks again