News From HQ

UConn Honors students in Cape Town continue their semester abroad with a week long journey to Johannesburg and a safari until the end of March.  In the weeks preceding this some of the college students have firmly entrenched themselves in the area schools where they are interning.  An after-school book club at Thanokhulu High School, outside the city, has taken off with hundreds of students showing enthusiasm for reading.  It is great to hear that the South African students know where  priorities lie and that some home grown Nutmeggers are helping in their education.


The same sort of fervor, however, is admittedly shown for sport, most notably soccer.  Through discussion with Cape Town citizens and students that follow the game within the country, Sarah Schneider, a UConn junior, says, "The national team is beloved for all South Africans, because of the work Mandela was able to do in bringing the country together."  Her students at THS point at that the South African Premier Soccer League (National Soccer League) produces some quality top flight soccer and is a top destination for African continental players with its sustained financial backing.  Further investigation into the PSL shows that an influx of European coaching has helped progress top flight football in the country since the league's inception in 1996.  The league is three years younger than MLS and is still seen as a minnow on the world stage.  However, there is an obvious historical Dutch link that has attracted financing of brother clubs from Europe such as Ajax Cape Town.  Ajax Cape Town is part of a growing attempt of major European clubs to find talent from all corners of the world.  Ajax CT was the starting ground for Steven Pienaar, current national team superstar who plays professionally in England with the Premiership side, Everton.
A look at the some of the 16 club names from the PSL give an indication of outward thinking from elsewhere in the globe.  Vasco Da Gama and Santos pay homage to famed Brazilian teams of the same name (Pele started with Santos) and Bloemfontein Celtic tips their cap to the 42 times Scottish champions out of Glasgow. 
Notable former players from the PSL include:
              -Doctor Khumalo (played for MLS Columbus Crew 1996-1997)
              -Benni McCarthy (currently with English Premiership side, West Ham United)
              -Aaron Mokoena (captain of South African national team, currently plays with embattled English Prem side Portsmouth)
              -Benjani Mwaruwari (currently with English Prem side Manchester City on-loan to fellow
top flight club, Sunderland)
              -Lucas Radebe (former Leeds United player in England, retired 2005)
              -Steven Pienaar (currently with English Prem side Everton)

...and the list goes on.  The PSL is a success and a positive feeder program to the national team.  The depth of the league is of concern as organized talent pools all over the continent are tough to tap.  Lack of money and resources prevents athletes from reaching their full potential as many places in Africa outside of the cities have more pressing concerns besides their beloved "football."
The PSL looks like it is as firmly entrenched as the MLS in America (pre-potential-player strike).  When Sarah grilled some of her students on who their favorite team was, most students unsurprisingly opted with the Orlando Pirates over home team Ajax Cape Town.  The Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the two biggest clubs in the PSL and mark the best rivalry game in the annual fixtures.  The scene isn't the Old Firm (Rangers v. Celtic in Scotland; don't wear the wrong colors), but there are enough Vuvuzelas and drums in the stands to equal the energy of the game... see for yourself (excuse the Dutch, and the vuvuzelas, (ha))