Locals in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, believe that in a few years’ time cricket might be more popular than their favourite sport — soccer.
”Cricket is growing in Soweto and will one day give soccer a run for its money,” said Nokuthula Zwane (34).
”People are beginning to be aware of cricket and to be attracted to it. Also they are gradually starting to understand it.”
She said there was strong support for the game in Soweto, especially amongst
the youngsters. Zwane who described herself as a great fan of cricket, was
speaking to Sapa while watching New Zealand play the Johannesburg-based Highveld Strikers in Soweto as a warm-up game for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
Cameron Barney (22) said: ”I think cricket will be stronger than soccer one day.” He said developmental cricket in Soweto had a strong support base and because the world cup was being held in South Africa, this would grow.
”As you can see, there are many children here today and the world cup is going to motivate them even more.” Pauline Jonas (17) who goes to school in the area said the hype around the world cup had caught her attention.
”I don’t know much about cricket, but I am now interested in it.” She agreed with the others interviewed that cricket fans in Soweto were growing greater in numbers.
”Cricket will be as popular as soccer one day, maybe even more.”
Kagiso Mangae (35) said the game could be as popular as soccer in the future because it was very popular amongst the youngsters.
”The youth go to the stadiums to watch the games — they really enjoy it.” He said that at the moment soccer was the number one sport on Soweto followed by cricket.
”In the past soccer got the greatest support and then athletics. But now it’s first soccer then cricket and then athletics, and maybe a little bit of rugby.” During the apartheid years, South African cricket was considered a white sport and did not receive much support from black people.
Since the 1994 democratic elections, and especially in recent years, money has been pumped into developmental cricket in the rural areas and townships. – Sapa
More cricket in our Cricket World Cup special report