How Does Soccer Fanship in South Africa Compare to Other Countries

There is no game like soccer – this sport captivates the imagination of people across the world and drives rabid fandom for local or national teams. South Africa is not immune to this phenomenon, and in fact has one of the liveliest and most colourful football fan scenes on the continent. Despite its relative lack of success on the international stage, South Africa is deeply in love with the game and treats its best players like royalty.

Let’s take a closer look at the unique role that soccer plays in the South African community and compare the way the game is followed to other nations in Africa and other parts of the world.

Brief History of Soccer in South Africa

South Africa has a long tradition with this sport, being exposed to it directly from Britain in the late 19th century. The colonial roots left a mark on the game, which was long the subject of strict segregation rules. The nation was among the first in Africa to become a full member of FIFA in 1953, but was promptly suspended from this organisation a few years later due to insisting on fielding all-white teams. For as long as the policy of apartheid remained in force, South African soccer teams were effectively prevented from participating in international competitions.

This changed in the 1990s, leading to a return to the global stage. Since then, South Africa appeared in 3 World Cups, including one that it hosted. It is regularly among the best teams in the African Cup of Nations and won this tournament in 1996. With teams at all levels now racially integrated, soccer has truly become a force that unites rather than divides in a country full of social tensions and long-standing issues. Rather than a source of controversy, in modern times soccer is becoming a connective tissue that an entire nation can rally around.

Universal Love for Soccer among South Africans

There is no doubt that soccer is by far the most popular sport in South Africa, and the exploits of local teams and the national team are followed by an army of fans. At the club level, there are two powerhouses that enjoy the widest support and have a huge rivalry with each other – it’s the Kaiser Chiefs and the Orlando Pirates. Their matches are known as ‘The Soweto Derby’ and are always fiercely contested and anxiously followed by the fans.

While South Africans may disagree about their favourite club, there are no debates when it comes to supporting the national team. Everyone in the country is rooting for Bafana Bafana, as the team is popularly called by its supporters. All games the national team plays have high TV viewership numbers in South Africa, while the level of online soccer gambling action spikes whenever the team is having a big match or participating in a high-level tournament.

World Cup as a Turning Point for South African Soccer

The moment when the rest of the world became aware of the South African love for soccer occurred in 2010, when the country became the first on the African continent ever to host a World Cup. Local fans were treated with a unique opportunity to watch international legends in person, and they turned out in large numbers and ready to make some noise. This tournament will be forever remembered as the time when everyone learned what a vuvuzela is and how loud it can be!

More importantly, South Africa had a chance to showcase its readiness to host a major tournament. It managed to handle the influx of international fans and the large-scale logistics fairly well. While the team was sadly eliminated in the group stage, colourful and cheerful fans continued to provide the atmosphere all the way to the finals. The event had a lasting effect on the local soccer scene, as many casual fans were drawn to start following the sport more closely while the infrastructure built for it remains in use today.

How Is a Typical Soccer Fan in South Africa Different than its Counterparts?

It could be argued that soccer fans are very similar in every country – which is why they get along well when they meet at big events. South African fans stand by their team regardless of how well it plays, but this is what real fans do everywhere. The main difference may be the level of passion they bring to every game, big or small, and that could be a by-product of the country’s turbulent history.

After waiting for decades to return to the global competition and see their heroes take on big-name opponents, soccer fans in South Africa are savouring every great match they can get. They also tend to incorporate elements of local culture like vuvuzela or makarapa (hand-made hats) into their routines, giving every match a unique flavour. This is why it is imperative to pay a visit to a local stadium if you ever happen to be in South Africa – some things can only be experienced live and soccer culture in this country is certainly one of them.