By: Natasha Archary
With the Rugby World Cup 2023 just hours away from kicking off, it seems wherever you turn South Africans are letting out their inner patriot by taking a firm stance to back the Bokke.
Not only because the South African national side is the reigning champions but because this is one of those occasions that bridges unity in the country whether or not one follows the sport.
Thomas and Skhumba wanted to know whether listeners were influenced by peer pressure, the hype or just a general Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) to follow sport.
For Thomas and Skhumba the Bokke’s track record makes supporting them easy, but the same cannot be said for the country’s national football team.
The general consensus with people who were polled at Kaya 959 is that if there’s a huge sporting event, for example South Africa playing in the Quarter Final or the Final, then they will watch the game.
Most aren’t too keen on following the team’s progress throughout the entire tournament however, unless they are die-hard rugby fanatics.
In contrast, those who follow international football do so because the beautiful game has become an integrated part of their lives.
Whether it be the English Premier League or the UEFA Champions League, football lovers follow their teams, watching every game, and keeping up with club developments and news religiously
Sporting rivalry is huge when it comes to football and family, especially when children inherit their parent’s or older sibling’s football team.
South Africans will be able to relate to the biggest rivalry in the PSL between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. It’s such a prominent fixture in the country and banter around the results of the derby can cause divides in even the most solid relationships.
International football teams also receive similar devotion from supporters with two of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League, Manchester United and Liverpool consistently creating conflict between supporters for decades.
