Richard Michael
DeanoHarmoWorld cup final, bullying and colonization.
September 14th 2010 18:46
Category: No Category
I am a huge soccer fan. I would have blogged more about the South African World Cup but I was extremely busy over the last month. However, I think that at least the final match deserves some attention.
In short, the Dutch played a filthy, despicable game. They were the bullies on the field who decided to win the game by beating the crap out of their opponents. With a staggering ten yellow cards – two of which (Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong) should have been straight red – the Dutch made a fool of themselves and almost made soccer look like American football.
I can’t imagine many South Africans cheering for the Nederland – others than, but not necessarily, the Afrikaners. But I also think that the outright despicable play of the Orange team would be for many viewers reminiscent of a time of great sadness and pain for many South Africans: the Dutch colonization. Much of the horrors of the colonization – the fear, the aggression, the bullying, the physical altercations – were in some way or another present on the field in Johannesburg tonight.
Even the style the Dutch adopted screams “colonization.” After all, profoundly aware of the Spaniards’ superior talent, discipline and cohesiveness, the Dutch team chose to cheat and basically knock their opponents down instead of following the rules of the game. Whereas I generally believed that the English referee Howard Webb sanctioned most of the wrongdoings, thus thoroughly doing his job, I don’t think there’s one Orange player other than the goalie who did not deserve a yellow card.
Yet the game went on and justice was eventually served. And, contrary to what some of us would’ve expected it was a beautiful one – a goal that reflected both the Spanish team’s decision not to be intimidated by the Dutch and their remarkable team work.
At the end of the game, I had a deep relief. The team that deserved to win, actually got there. Despite the fact that the Spaniards’ game has also been flawed at times, they were determined, organized and passionate. And they made history.
Unfortunately for them, the Dutch also made history tonight. They were ruthless, despicable and they chose not to play fair. It was a too vivid reenactment of a historical epoch which many of us would like to leave behind. It did not honor them or their country. Luckily, they were once again on the wrong side of history.
Nigel de Jong and one of the most disgusting fouls against Xabi, a Spanish player
In short, the Dutch played a filthy, despicable game. They were the bullies on the field who decided to win the game by beating the crap out of their opponents. With a staggering ten yellow cards – two of which (Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong) should have been straight red – the Dutch made a fool of themselves and almost made soccer look like American football.
I can’t imagine many South Africans cheering for the Nederland – others than, but not necessarily, the Afrikaners. But I also think that the outright despicable play of the Orange team would be for many viewers reminiscent of a time of great sadness and pain for many South Africans: the Dutch colonization. Much of the horrors of the colonization – the fear, the aggression, the bullying, the physical altercations – were in some way or another present on the field in Johannesburg tonight.
Yet the game went on and justice was eventually served. And, contrary to what some of us would’ve expected it was a beautiful one – a goal that reflected both the Spanish team’s decision not to be intimidated by the Dutch and their remarkable team work.
Unfortunately for them, the Dutch also made history tonight. They were ruthless, despicable and they chose not to play fair. It was a too vivid reenactment of a historical epoch which many of us would like to leave behind. It did not honor them or their country. Luckily, they were once again on the wrong side of history.
Nigel de Jong and one of the most disgusting fouls against Xabi, a Spanish player
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