The fight for unity

It is 30 years ago now that the first steps towards South Africa’s integration into the world of football began, heady days after decades of Apartheid-enforced isolation with the exciting prospect of international competition just around the corner.

It was the release of Nelson Mandela from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl in February, 1990 that signaled the change, although there were still several steps to complete before there was to be any contact with teams from beyond the country’s borders.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, the atmosphere in the country was one of anticipation. The last vestiges of Apartheid were crumbling, the stranglehold of sanctions tightening and the white minority government now fully aware it could not continue.

Sport played a significant part of the choking of the system. Kicked out of the World Cup and Olympics, and with few friendlies even in cricket and rugby, South Africa had become a pariah of the world and the people wanted that to change.

South African soccer in those days, ironically, was blossoming. Clubs were turning fully professional, sponsorship was flowing