Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

38  INTRODUCING SOUTH AFRIC A

Sport in South Africa South Africa’s national team, the
Springboks, rank as one of the
Given the country’s favourable climate, sport plays a major world’s best, and consistently do
role in the lives of many South Africans. In recent years, well in tournaments against the
generous government funding and cor porate sponsorship various rugby-playing nations.
have resulted in the development of sporting facilities in In 1995 and 2007, South Africa
won the Rugby World Cup
the previously disadvantaged communities, encouraging (contested every four years).
much as yet unexplored talent. Sports events that are held The local rugby season begins
in the major centres take place in world-class stadiums with in early February, continuing
superb facil ities. Seats for the important matches are offered through the winter months and
through Computicket (see p415), while those for lesser ending in late October with
events are obtainable directly at the respective venues. the Currie Cup Finals (see p40).
Cricket
South Africa has long been
a major force in the world of
cricket. Played during the
summer months, cricket is a
sport enjoyed by thousands
of players and spectators at
various levels, from club and
provincial competitions to
international test matches.
Development programmes
have discovered great talent
among the youth of once-
disadvantaged communities.
Football attracts spectators from all sectors of South African society Four-day provincial games
and the more popular one-
day matches are held, while
Football Rugby Union
five-day tests are contested
Football is played all over South Rugby is played at all levels – between South Africa and
Africa, in dusty town ship streets from school to regional visiting national teams.
and in the elite professional club, and from provincial One-day and day/night
clubs. Except for the hottest to national stage. limited-overs international
summer months (Dec–Feb), it is Teams from the 14 provin cial and provincial matches are
played year-round. The most unions contest the Currie Cup particularly popular, usually
popular clubs attract huge every season. These 14 unions playing to packed stands.
spectator and fan followings, supply players to the five The demand for tickets
and can easily fill 80,000-seat regional teams that fight for to these games is high, and
stadiums for top matches. The victory in the Super 15, an advance booking is available
Premier Football League, made international and regional through Computicket outlets
up of 16 clubs, is the top level tournament involving South countrywide, or from the cricket
football league in South Africa. Africa, as well as Australia union hosting the match.
The national football team, and New Zealand.
known as Bafana Bafana,
returned to the world stage in
1992 after years of being
banned from FIFA during
apartheid. Initially it did well in
the African Cup of Nations,
winning the contest in 1995 and
reaching the finals in 1998. In
2010, South Africa became the
first African nation to host the
FIFA World Cup. However,
despite the tournament being a
great success for South Africa,
Bafana Bafana failed to progress
beyond the first round. Rugby games attract crowds of up to 50,000 to the provincial stadiums

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