Black Players Key to USA Quest for World Cup Respect
source: http://newamericamedia.org/2010/06/black-players-key-to-usa-quest-for-world-cup-respect.php
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Washington Afro, News Report, Ayinde Waring, Posted: Jun 14, 2010
The FIFA World Cup started play in South Africa June 11-July 11, the first time in the tourney's storied history that it will take place on the African continent.
This World Cup will allow South Africa, a country dogged by its shameful Apartheid-era injustices and discrimination, to showcase its continuously shifting social landscape and technological advances. Its hope is to distance itself from its tumultuous past, and gain a strong foothold as an emerging financial power.
The United States is a lot like South Africa.
Though America enjoys a longstanding place at the top among world powers, it, too, hopes to change its global perception – on the soccer pitch – and will look to its Black team members to play a significant role in erasing the horrors of World Cups past.
In the 2006 World Cup, the United States entered the competition with high expectations, but fell catastrophically short, finishing 32nd in the 32-team field. This time the U.S. hopes to avoid becoming the laughing stock of professional soccer.
Eight members of the 23-man U.S. roster are Black. “We [Black American players] are finally gaining a position in the international leagues,” said Jamahl Green, who played Division I soccer and has played the game professionally. “There are players in Italy, Spain, Germany and England, the top leagues in the world on some of the top clubs (teams). Many young people, who are athletic and may have otherwise chosen other sports like basketball or football, are realizing that soccer is a very viable avenue to financial success. If you’re a 17-year-old and you’re good in soccer, these football clubs in other countries will invest in your future and pay you well. They will put you in a position to succeed. That’s an appealing proposition.”
read the rest at
www.NewAmericaMedia.org
The FIFA World Cup started play in South Africa June 11-July 11, the first time in the tourney's storied history that it will take place on the African continent.
This World Cup will allow South Africa, a country dogged by its shameful Apartheid-era injustices and discrimination, to showcase its continuously shifting social landscape and technological advances. Its hope is to distance itself from its tumultuous past, and gain a strong foothold as an emerging financial power.
The United States is a lot like South Africa.
Though America enjoys a longstanding place at the top among world powers, it, too, hopes to change its global perception – on the soccer pitch – and will look to its Black team members to play a significant role in erasing the horrors of World Cups past.
In the 2006 World Cup, the United States entered the competition with high expectations, but fell catastrophically short, finishing 32nd in the 32-team field. This time the U.S. hopes to avoid becoming the laughing stock of professional soccer.
Eight members of the 23-man U.S. roster are Black. “We [Black American players] are finally gaining a position in the international leagues,” said Jamahl Green, who played Division I soccer and has played the game professionally. “There are players in Italy, Spain, Germany and England, the top leagues in the world on some of the top clubs (teams). Many young people, who are athletic and may have otherwise chosen other sports like basketball or football, are realizing that soccer is a very viable avenue to financial success. If you’re a 17-year-old and you’re good in soccer, these football clubs in other countries will invest in your future and pay you well. They will put you in a position to succeed. That’s an appealing proposition.”
read the rest at
www.NewAmericaMedia.org
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- groups:
- World Cup, New America Media
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- tags:
- Soccer, 2010, South Africa, FIFA, 1 more
