The beautiful game, the art of symbolism: Louis Pienaar explains the metaphor of sport as he sees it

Victory in sport always signifies more than an imbalanced score-board. Clearly, the mindset behind a battle on the sports field echoes that of the battlefield (YouTube “Haka” if you don’t believe me). Yet the value attached to sport goes beyond it being a PG13 version of the battle at Waterloo, sans bloodshed, avec biltong. Something must be going on if slightly derogatory statements about Boca will leave you with a broken nose in parts of Argentina. The British wear their flags of patriotism as tattoos on the most visible of body parts (despite the fact that Leeds United is in the Second League, LUFC tattoos on necks and arms are as common in the UK as fish and chips); many a South African will vouch, against all medical knowledge, that their blood is, in fact, blue. Sport reaches deep into the personal psyche. This warfare is not about resources or power – it is metaphoric, and the spectacle of sport is the art of symbolism.

This power of symbolism has played a significant role in affecting the South African national psyche. This year we will again be reminded of the symbolism of the 1995 World Cup with Clint Eastwood’s film Invictus (and yes, the rumours are true. Matt Damon is playing Francois Pienaar. I cannot but chuckle). Against the backdrop of a history of oppression, Joel Stransky drop-kicked a nation to jubilation. Nor was the victory over England in 2007 without some ‘take that, Empire’.Many an expat, I’m sure, cheered for the national team with braaivleis, Amstels, and Olé’s, however reluctantly.

That sport and politics cannot be separated seems a truism. The issue of quotas in sport is more hotly debated in living-rooms than it is in the judicial bench. Participation in sport can have a political influence, without having anything at all to do with politics. A pity, though, that sport seems to lose its power of symbolism when not accompanied by a gold medal. I doubt that Clint Eastwood would have directed “Insecondbestus” had the ‘Boks not won, whether or not Mandela had donned a Springbok jersey after the match. You’d imagine it needn’t take victory in sport to signify layers of meaning and shape perceptions within and between countries, but it does. How many people, for example, consider that Iraq is not only a country ridden with warfare over oil, or the subject of Michael Moore films, but also a country of football-idolatry? In and of itself, a game between South Africa and Iraq holds the potential to depoliticise general perceptions of Iraq. Symbolism, yet again, but not necessarily the symbolism of the victorious so often sought after. And, so, (yes, you knew it was coming) on to South Africa hosting the 2010 Football World Cup. A developing country, and the first in Africa, holding the biggest international sports event is a grand opportunity for symbolism to show its dentures for more reasons than one.

Undoubtedly, the tournament is important for South Africa from an economic perspective, with jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities unfolding like a squad of Babushka-dolls painted in the colours of the national flag. Art will flourish – it won’t be long before you will be able to buy Ronaldo’s bust weaved in wire on the streets – and, of course, regardless of what the pundits predict the score line to be, Bafana Bafana’s performances will be close to the country’s heart. A Bafana victory is as likely as is the possibility of Jacob Zuma mediating a resolution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, leading, finally, to a colonisation of the rest of the world (out with tea and scones, in with Ouma rusks and Nescafe!). Nevertheless, the symbolism the tournament holds needn’t be lost if the cup leaves the country again after the final whistle has blown. Above all else is the importance of a tournament that runs smoothly, with the love of soccer permeating South African society performing at its Vuvuzelean best. This means no matches in the dark, and no accusations of Helen Zille’s non-platonic relationship with Fifa President Sepp Blatter. Perhaps some precautionary measures could be taken, too. I suggest signs be pegged throughout Green Point reading, ‘Attention Tourists: Do Not Film The Pavement At 2AM With Your Sony Handycam.’ If soccer takes the front seat and fans can enjoy cheering, waving, partying, swearing at referees, laughing and crying with their teams, the tournament will be a historical symbol of success. The Last Post bugle call pre-emptively blown by pessimists might be silenced yet. Sound the Vuvuzelas!

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Louis Pienaar is a second-year student majoring in English Literature, Philosophy and History