0:00:00 > 0:00:04This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13In South Africa in the '60s, apartheid was law.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27The police. The police were extremely powerful, like an army.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32Peaceful protests were met with killing, torture and imprisonment.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Our people were denied all basic rights.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- Manu! Manu! - Come on, boys, defence!- Manu! Manu!
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Manu! Manu! Manu!.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04We risked our lives to advance the struggle for freedom and...
0:01:07 > 0:01:10many of us ended up on the notorious Robben Island,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12the Alcatraz of Africa.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27We found ourselves in a place and a time
0:01:27 > 0:01:31when it was easy to lose one's self.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36If sport was never there on Robben Island, then really,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40it would have been a very notorious place to live.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45It seems strange that with what we remember and what we've done,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48that we go and tell people that we've played soccer in prison.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51If you look at the way we had to fight and campaign
0:01:51 > 0:01:54to be allowed to play soccer, it's...
0:01:54 > 0:01:56You could equate it to the fight for freedom.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58But we did play soccer on Robben Island
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and I think we played it well.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10We were just becoming aware of a cruel and unjust system
0:03:10 > 0:03:12that was taking over most of our lives.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16My first knowledge of this system came from a primary school teacher.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19He came into the class and wrote the word "apart"
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and "hate" on the board,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24emphasising the "apart" and "hate".
0:03:24 > 0:03:26I made explosives.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37In those days, you could get the components of explosives
0:03:37 > 0:03:38almost anywhere.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Imagine today going into a shop and saying,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46"Good day, sir, can I have some ammonium nitrate
0:03:46 > 0:03:48"and ten kilograms of toluene.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50"I want to make some TNT, you see."
0:03:56 > 0:04:00I think we knew that we were getting into something dangerous
0:04:00 > 0:04:03when we were getting into the struggle.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06But I don't think we knew exactly how dangerous it was going to be.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16It seemed normal to be involved in the struggle.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18So much injustice in the land.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20There was tension.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22And we were young.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26I was in Standard nine at Hofmeyer High School in Pretoria.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32We were collecting unexploded shells from a nearby range for use at a later stage.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37In the end, they came in overnight, raided different homes,
0:04:37 > 0:04:43arrested 250 to 300 kids.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Came in again, and those of us who were simply
0:04:46 > 0:04:52trying to make sense of the chaos that were around were also taken in.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54The struggle meant a lot to me
0:04:56 > 0:04:58because I saw what was happening.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02I realised that our people were oppressed
0:05:02 > 0:05:06and therefore I felt that I should involve myself into the struggle.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Good evening, Mr Sitoto. So where do you think you're going?
0:05:15 > 0:05:19'I was arrested by the British in Northern Rhodesia.'
0:05:19 > 0:05:24And they drove us all the way back to Pretoria.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28And, of course, some of us came from a different political tradition.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30The main liberation organisation
0:05:30 > 0:05:33didn't offer what we were looking for.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37We were a group of young activists, rather intellectually inclined.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40We had decided to study Mao Tse-tung's book on guerrilla war,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Yu Chi Chan.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44And when they finally arrested us,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48the media sounded as if the whole Red Army had landed in South Africa.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51We were at the beginning stages
0:05:51 > 0:05:55and some of us were still trying to organise to leave the country.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58And then a comrade and I were arrested
0:05:58 > 0:06:00getting a lift with a famous person.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Good afternoon.- Good afternoon.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I don't carry a pass.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Never mind, Mr Solomon, we know who you are.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23You and Mr Bam.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Will you come with us, please?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Good day, Mrs Mandela.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Football was my passion. You could even say it was my obsession.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I was the Terror of Atteridgeville.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54I wanted to win.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57When I played football, I played hard.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59I played every chance I got.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Every time I got a ball or an open field, I played.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06They told me not to go to school that day.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11This girl had come to my house and told me that the police were
0:07:11 > 0:07:14looking for me and that they were going to look for me at school.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18And I had said to her, "Let them look for me at school.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21"They know where to find me. Let them come and pick me up."
0:07:21 > 0:07:25We were so brave. What was a couple of years in prison?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27What was 15 years when you're not even 20 yet?
0:07:27 > 0:07:31We didn't realise. We didn't think the system could be that cruel
0:07:31 > 0:07:34as to send schoolchildren to Robben Island.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02The island seemed to one was a very bleak place.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05You had a feeling some are forsaken.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10The waters just seemed to deepen that impression.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13We were told, in no uncertain terms,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17that you will be treated like somebody without a name
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and were reminded that here, you become a number.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26You have to be an epitome of obedience to the racially-supreme master.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38TRANSLATION FROM AFRIKAANS
0:09:01 > 0:09:03We don't understand Afrikaans.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24That's not going to happen. It will never happen.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34So it became very clear that if we were going to survive,
0:11:34 > 0:11:38we would have to fight the notion that we were passive.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40We had to show the authorities that we could
0:11:40 > 0:11:43organise ourselves efficiently and with discipline.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50But it was tough, especially in the quarry.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54During winter, sitting down, breaking stones,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57exposed to the freezing Atlantic sea spray,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00is something that is very difficult to erase from memory.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Sedick, for example, still feels cold today.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05It's an almost pathological reflex.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It was the same routine every day.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34"Kom, kom, kom." Grab clothes and shoes and out.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38The problem was you had to grab any two shoes,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42whether they were the same feet or different sizes, whatever.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I'm a size ten. What is this?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Size ten. Easy, man.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51You know what? I've got two left feet here.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Come on, man. I mean, you're the clever one. How about you organise me a right foot, eh?
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- I think Blues has got three sevens over there.- What's wrong with Blues?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05He's the only one I know that has three shoes for two feet.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Hey, gents, I'm going to find a ten.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Hey, seriously. And not a 7/10, a 10/10.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24No matter how hard they tried to crush our spirit,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27we were prepared to survive.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31We were prepared and determined to execute our struggle.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Hey, Tony,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44this could be a ten.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I'm sure if you asked Delport nicely, maybe he...
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Negotiating, you know, came out of necessity.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58You had to negotiate in order to make sense of life on Robben Island.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09The biggest mistake the authorities made
0:14:09 > 0:14:13was to put us all together in that slate quarry in prison.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16If they intended to break us in that way,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18they achieved quite the opposite
0:14:18 > 0:14:21because different people with different ideas
0:14:21 > 0:14:25cross-pollinated ideas and thinkings.
0:14:25 > 0:14:32And when I look back at it, people became much more stronger in their
0:14:32 > 0:14:36convictions and persuasions than they would otherwise have been.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16I remember one of the warders, he said there in the quarry
0:15:16 > 0:15:19we are going to be worked to death. We are going to be destroyed.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21He had a slogan for the quarry.
0:15:21 > 0:15:28He said, "Daar maak jy groot klippe klein en klein klippe fyn."
0:15:28 > 0:15:32"There you will make big stones small and small stones tiny."
0:15:32 > 0:15:36It was very hard in the quarry, breaking the slate, you know.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41When we remember the quarry, we see it as a place that unified us
0:15:41 > 0:15:46as prisoners and it also contributed in unifying us as sportsmen.
0:15:46 > 0:15:52Robben Island is remembered as some kind of university.
0:15:52 > 0:15:58And the stone quarry, we remember it as a main auditorium
0:15:58 > 0:16:00of that university.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07It was a decision we made that there we are not going to
0:16:07 > 0:16:11allow our vision of ourselves to be blurred
0:16:11 > 0:16:15by the vision the Prison Department and the authorities had of us.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19And that made us demand, not concessions,
0:16:19 > 0:16:24but privileges in terms of their own, very own regulations.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Mass murder everybody.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33We could not just spend one idle moment behind the cells,
0:16:33 > 0:16:37so we ended up organising games.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Which we played out of the sight of warders.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Chess and cards, which we made out of cardboards,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47or draughts, which was made out of pieces of soap, or even wood.
0:16:47 > 0:16:48And, of course, there was ludo.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52We'd draw the ludo board on a blanket with a piece of soap,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54which was just as well.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50And we enjoyed those games, but this was not enough.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52We needed something more physical.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Hey! Shut up!
0:18:36 > 0:18:38And suddenly, soccer was a passion.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40It was all we could think about.
0:18:40 > 0:18:41It was all we wanted to do.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46We made soccer balls with anything.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Pieces of rag, paper, anything.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10For us youngsters, it became a crusade.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Now we would organise our guys to go in delegations.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16We would go to the senior warder.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20We requested our request for soccer to be considered seriously.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28We request the right to play football on weekends.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33It's a privilege.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43We request the right to play football on weekends.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- We request the right to play football...- On weekends.- Nee.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- We request the right to play football on weekends.- Nee.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- We request...- Nee. - The right to play football...- Nee.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Play football on weekends.
0:20:01 > 0:20:02Uit!
0:20:08 > 0:20:11We request the right to better food.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17And we request the right to play football on weekends.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Nee. No. Out. Get out.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27We request the right to play...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29On weekends.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31When the hell else would you play football?
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Get out.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Naidoo, is somebody still waiting outside?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50No.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54It says here, "One-time soccer ball to be bought with..."
0:20:57 > 0:20:59What's this word here, Naidoo?
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Funds, sir. To be bought with funds.
0:21:04 > 0:21:10I'm talking to Naidoo. When I'm talking to you, then you can answer.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20"Bought with funds donated by the following players."
0:21:20 > 0:21:25For a bunch of communists, you boys are quite flush with cash, hey?
0:21:25 > 0:21:29That 20 cents a month you pay us for breaking rocks can add up.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Naidoo, are you being funny?
0:21:43 > 0:21:44The chaps simply want a ball.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48A proper kit, as soon as the guys can organise the funds.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Moseneke, if the CO lets you play,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04and he's not going to let you play...
0:22:11 > 0:22:14You people are little piccanin scarecrows already.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16- Thank you, sir.- Baas!
0:22:16 > 0:22:19If you continue to ask me for this bloody stupid thing,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22you bloody learn to call me Baas. Understand?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Yes.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Now get out.
0:22:31 > 0:22:38Well, we had to show that our approach was indeed a very, very serious one.
0:22:40 > 0:22:47Once we got going it also gave rise to what I would call a united front
0:22:47 > 0:22:53that cut across party-political lines and across all age groups.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56It was that united front that the authorities could not ignore.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05And it was a really very powerful instrument for us to get things going.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54LOCK CLICKS LOUDLY
0:25:03 > 0:25:05DOOR SLAMS
0:25:09 > 0:25:11CHEERING AND LAUGHTER
0:25:17 > 0:25:20It was amazing.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24In 1967, four years after arriving on Robben Island,
0:25:24 > 0:25:29we began to play soccer on a small, makeshift field just outside our communal cells.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Everybody wanted to play football.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37CHEERING AND WHISTLING
0:26:06 > 0:26:10As a person who came from the Eastern Cape,
0:26:10 > 0:26:15it was foreign to me, because I played rugby and cricket.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And when this soccer was introduced on the island,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24those who introduced it were willing to teach us.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Right, ke madoda, here we go. It's on the chest, it goes down. Control it and kick.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35- Good. Tony.- All right, all right, gents, Alfred, you ready?
0:26:35 > 0:26:40Anthony Suze was one of those soccer fanatics.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45He loved soccer. He was a hard kicker and we even nicknamed him...
0:26:45 > 0:26:48SPEAKS IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE
0:26:48 > 0:26:51which means, "Move, I'm going to kick!"
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Here we go.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Almost there! Nice try, Alfred, nice try.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Marcus, you ready?
0:26:57 > 0:26:58All right, let's do this.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00Oh!
0:27:00 > 0:27:02OK, we'll work on that.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05We'll have to work on that. We'll have to work on that.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Lizo? Let's go.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10HE LAUGHS
0:27:10 > 0:27:14Hey, it's rugby, Tony.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Hey, gents,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I think we found our goalkeeper.
0:27:19 > 0:27:20Goalkeeper?!
0:27:22 > 0:27:25There was selflessness in the teaching, of course,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27but it was not always about being selfless.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32Those guys that I taught about soccer, I taught because I wanted the best players on my team.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I wanted to win.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Lizo, here.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Sorry, sorry.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Alfred, Alfred! Guys, let's keep it moving.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Un-teachable!
0:27:46 > 0:27:48I couldn't believe it.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50You know Sedick is a scientist?
0:27:50 > 0:27:54And I asked him, I said, "You, a physicist, you know all about
0:27:54 > 0:27:57"forces and velocity and stuff like that,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00"and so why can't you just kick that ball?"
0:28:00 > 0:28:02This is... No, no, no, Dick.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Pro, the ball.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- Listen to me. I want you to go and stand over there.- Over here, OK.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Lizo.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13OK. Lizo...
0:28:13 > 0:28:17'Now Lizo, he was different, even though he was a rugby player.'
0:28:17 > 0:28:20OK, now when Lizo passes me the ball, you are going to run.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25- First touch you get on the ball, you strike it into the net.- No, I don't think I can do that, hey.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Dick, don't think. Just listen to me.
0:28:26 > 0:28:33First strike you get on the ball, hit it into the net. Head down, weight going forward, kick under the ball.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Ready?
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Sorry, sorry, sorry. Sorry.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51- I'll try it again. OK, OK. Yeah. I'll try it again. - Eye on the ball. Eye on the ball.
0:28:51 > 0:28:52OK, ready, ready.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Just give the others a chance rather, I'll just sit over here.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01No, you're doing nicely there.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05Don't lie! He's not doing nicely at all. He's the worst football player in the world!
0:29:05 > 0:29:10- It's difficult when you don't come from a sports background. - I come from a sports background!
0:29:10 > 0:29:12- What sports? - Swimming is big in our family!
0:29:12 > 0:29:17Swimming, Dick, swimming?! That's one sport that's not going to get encouraged here, wena.
0:29:17 > 0:29:22The five-mile freestyle to Cape Town, huh? No, no, Dick, come on, again.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24He was helpless.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28You know, thank God for soccer.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30When I first arrived
0:29:30 > 0:29:34and saw my dear friend Bennie Ntwele looking like skin and bones
0:29:34 > 0:29:36in just a few weeks on the island,
0:29:36 > 0:29:41I thought I would die here, but soccer was our salvation.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43And it was driven by people like Pro Malepe.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46Pro was a diamond. He was fast.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48He was strong, he was fit.
0:29:48 > 0:29:49He was known as Pro
0:29:49 > 0:29:54because he was already a professional player from Pretoria
0:29:54 > 0:29:58and he was allocated the task of training the rugby players
0:29:58 > 0:30:03and the non-soccer players to prepare them with basic skills.
0:30:03 > 0:30:04He didn't know when to stop.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08When Pro trains, he just goes on and on and on and it's up, up, up,
0:30:08 > 0:30:11if it's down, it's down, down, down, but he never knows when to stop.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15I need you to be saving goals, not creating them. Keep your feet on the ground!
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Come, I'm counting.
0:30:18 > 0:30:19One!
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Two!
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Three!
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Gentlemen, this is the man you should be looking up to.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Freddie Simons is a specimen of my good work.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's passion, it's commitment, it's power. I love it.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Why is that?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02And not you, Mr Delport?
0:31:05 > 0:31:07And not bloody me.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14Passover.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19That is not right.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22No, it's not right.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24You're a good guard.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Mr Delport,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29an excellent officer,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33you're always there in the rain with us.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Very dutiful.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41But that is the problem, Mr Delport.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48Why is it you that is standing in the rain and they all get promotions and you don't?
0:31:51 > 0:31:53It's because they're using you.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55They do not respect you.
0:31:55 > 0:32:01Even though you work hard and you're an excellent officer.
0:32:01 > 0:32:02They treat you like us.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Like less than a human being.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12You must fight your case. You must write a letter.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I don't know how to write such a letter.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20Maybe we can help you.
0:32:24 > 0:32:30'Delport, who was so violent and so mean, eventually became our ally.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34'He joined our classes and we helped him with his studies.'
0:32:34 > 0:32:40'And slowly Delport become more human and Delport became a different person.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45'And finally, he passed his subjects and he was promoted.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48'Many of the warders loved to watch us play,'
0:32:48 > 0:32:51because we created great spectator sport for them.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SINGING
0:33:11 > 0:33:14Hey, hey!
0:33:14 > 0:33:15You see that aeroplane?
0:33:15 > 0:33:20That's a white man flying there, flying in the sky. And you can't even push a wheelbarrow straight!
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Hey, don't turn your back on me, boetie.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28When I'm talking to you, you pay attention, OK?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Hey, Jaco.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45So, who's in the starting XI on Saturday?
0:33:45 > 0:33:48We're playing against the Bucs, aren't we?
0:33:48 > 0:33:49We're going to crush them.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Ja, Shinners better have his boots on this weekend.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06There were warders who were very fond of us,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10there were warders who actually were our fans.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12There was a warder, Smith we called him,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15who could come and open up every time I wanted to go and play.
0:34:15 > 0:34:22But there was always a degree of tension because it took us years to break down the barriers,
0:34:22 > 0:34:27but most importantly, of course, it took years to improve the situation on the island.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31You had those who were among them who were very lonely.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36They had cases where warders committed suicide,
0:34:36 > 0:34:42where young men just put that rifle on the chest and pulled the trigger.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46GUNSHOT
0:34:54 > 0:34:59We decided to organise soccer in a much more conscious way.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04We wanted to play competitive soccer so that, if there are clubs,
0:35:04 > 0:35:09the one club can plan and the other club can then try and defend.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13We want to set up a FIFA-type of association.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15We wanted competition,
0:35:15 > 0:35:19and in that competition we are going to create interest,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21and that is why soccer, for us,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25had to be introduced very, very systematically and carefully.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27I understand, Tony,
0:35:27 > 0:35:32but what I am trying to say is that the chaps can be quite regimented.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34You know I can play with anybody,
0:35:34 > 0:35:36but other men are saying, "Mmm-mm."
0:35:36 > 0:35:40They say a lot of things, Mark, and that's the problem.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Everybody is saying something, but who's doing? Who is engaging?
0:35:44 > 0:35:49Carefully, discussion, negotiation, it's not just talk.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55Yes, but you see them, I mean, you see these chaps who always talk about a united front
0:35:55 > 0:35:58or these games serving football instead of politics,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01and what do they do the moment we start picking sides?
0:36:01 > 0:36:03ANC on this side, PAC on that side. Hey?
0:36:03 > 0:36:05'Right from the beginning,'
0:36:05 > 0:36:06I was against picking teams
0:36:06 > 0:36:09according to political organisations.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Tony, it's more complicated than that.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15- Football is never just football. - I don't know what game you've been playing,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19but when I'm playing football, that is what I'm doing and I'm doing it properly.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22But everything that we do here, we do it properly.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25- You don't have to tell me.- But I do.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27We must keep on saying it.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31We must keep repeating it. It's very easy in this place to retreat into...
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I mean, how would you put it, into "familiar things"?
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Like these safe political structures.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39We cannot discriminate along party lines.
0:36:39 > 0:36:45Do I hear it right that you've put a clause of non-discrimination in the Manong constitution?
0:36:45 > 0:36:52- Exactly right.- Today Manong, tomorrow the Makana Football Association, and next year, FIFA.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55If we're going to do this, we're going to do it right.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58And that's the FIFA way, or no way at all.
0:36:58 > 0:37:04That is why I recruited Lizo, an African National Congress member, into my team,
0:37:04 > 0:37:09Manong, which was predominantly a Pan Africanist Congress members club.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Our motto was "A lapile!"
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Which literally meant "the vultures are hungry".
0:37:15 > 0:37:18We stood for soccer and not politics.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Our team's aims were very clear.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22One, to promote and demonstrate soccer.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Two, to spread sportsmanship and comradeship.
0:37:25 > 0:37:32The third one was to ensure that every able-bodied person was taught soccer on the island.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45CROWD: Penalty! Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!
0:37:52 > 0:37:55They're not getting that tired any more.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58You know, I'm seeing a steady improvement in our play, Marcus.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02For one, better discipline from the players, and for two,
0:38:02 > 0:38:04better coaching methods are being employed.
0:38:04 > 0:38:05I'm really happy.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06WHISTLE BLOWS
0:38:11 > 0:38:12Pass the ball!
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Shoot! Shoot!
0:38:30 > 0:38:32CHEERING
0:38:33 > 0:38:37You have to admit, Sedick, the standard of play is now really good.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Absolutely. And it's also having a tremendous impact on our morale.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43CHEERING
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Through football,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54we could realise
0:38:54 > 0:38:57and make a statement
0:38:57 > 0:39:00about our humanity, about ourselves.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02It's for enjoyment, it's for relaxation.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06It is for fun, it is to give an opportunity for people
0:39:06 > 0:39:10to get away from the hardships of the present.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13We worked hard to keep football together.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46I don't think I'd be wrong if I say
0:39:46 > 0:39:50soccer saved many of us on the island.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52SCREAMING
0:39:56 > 0:39:59SHOUTING AND SCREAMING
0:40:04 > 0:40:06MUFFLED SCREAMS
0:40:24 > 0:40:27HE IMAGINES FOOTBALL CHANTING
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Indres Naidoo
0:40:43 > 0:40:45and Sedick Isaacs
0:40:45 > 0:40:49were our administrators.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52They could not play very well,
0:40:52 > 0:40:57but they were very good administrators.
0:40:57 > 0:41:04You know, when people see that reams and reams of minutes and notes we kept, they might find it strange
0:41:04 > 0:41:09that we created such a large bureaucracy of our sport and our associations there on the island.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20But that's the way we fought the struggle.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23That was the system we came out of.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26What we did, we did properly, thoroughly,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28and we applied that on our sport.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Sunday to Wednesday to do postmortem.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Wednesday, we're planning for Saturday
0:41:35 > 0:41:38and if perchance there were delays,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41if for some reason, the warder did not turn up on time,
0:41:41 > 0:41:45we would end up filled with anxiety.
0:41:52 > 0:41:58Ah, Mr Malan, you know we only have from 9 until 11 o'clock. I'm sure it's about quarter past 9 now.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04We can't run our prison according to your sporting timetables!
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Eish, Warder Malan, it's just that we don't have a lot of time.
0:42:16 > 0:42:17Did you watch?
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Are you going to watch now?
0:42:29 > 0:42:30TRANSLATED FROM XHOSA
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Warder Malan is now speaking Xhosa?
0:42:32 > 0:42:36I wonder what Warder Delport would say, Warder Malan?
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Ja, that is exactly what he would say.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40Kom! Kom, mense!
0:42:46 > 0:42:51Playing football was the only time we were out in the open,
0:42:51 > 0:42:58away from the cells and not doing any hard work of the quarry.
0:42:58 > 0:43:04It was so wonderful to feel the sun on you while you were enjoying soccer.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06It brightened us.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10# ..over all of us
0:43:10 > 0:43:12# As we play
0:43:12 > 0:43:14# Play ball
0:43:14 > 0:43:18# Running, running, running
0:43:18 > 0:43:20# Having fun... #
0:43:20 > 0:43:22Why did I get a yellow card?
0:43:22 > 0:43:23We both went for the ball!
0:43:23 > 0:43:28Mr Maseko, the Makana Football Association Disciplinary Committee
0:43:28 > 0:43:32has reviewed your case and we came to this conclusion.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35It was a 50-50 situation and you both went for the ball.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38But you, on the other hand, deliberately showed your studs
0:43:38 > 0:43:42across the face of the ball, intending to harm the other player.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44That's why you got a yellow card.
0:43:44 > 0:43:48Your complaint is overruled, Mr Maseko. Thank you very much.
0:43:48 > 0:43:49You may leave the cell.
0:43:49 > 0:43:50Did you get that down?
0:43:50 > 0:43:52Defence! CHEERING AND SHOUTING
0:44:11 > 0:44:16And then they sent warders to the mainland to buy our soccer kit
0:44:16 > 0:44:21and we finally got colour into the game and into our lives.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26You know, the uniform of a prisoner is monotonous.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29It's the same all over and all over,
0:44:29 > 0:44:33but now putting something different would place us
0:44:33 > 0:44:36to a greater extent, you know,
0:44:36 > 0:44:41to think that we are outside, enjoying ourselves outside prison.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47Makana Football Association
0:44:47 > 0:44:50was named after the Xhosa chief,
0:44:50 > 0:44:53a warrior, who was arrested by the British.
0:44:53 > 0:44:57He was taken to the island.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01He attempted to escape. He died whilst doing that.
0:45:01 > 0:45:06And we honoured him by naming our association after him.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08This Makana Football Association,
0:45:08 > 0:45:12it was a big thing. We had over 200 guys playing.
0:45:13 > 0:45:17For example, there were three teams.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19There was the A, B and C.
0:45:19 > 0:45:25The A team was for the top players, whereas your C team
0:45:25 > 0:45:28would be for the real amateurs, guys like Sedick, for example.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33The A division had three teams.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43The B division had three teams.
0:45:50 > 0:45:53And the C division had two teams.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00The A teams needed chairmen,
0:46:00 > 0:46:02and they got the chairmen.
0:46:02 > 0:46:09The criteria we had was not the ability to speak refined English,
0:46:09 > 0:46:12or a sense of formal education,
0:46:12 > 0:46:15but what we needed was the ability to lead.
0:46:15 > 0:46:21The A chairmen were going to be led by one single chairman, the Makana Football Association chairman.
0:46:21 > 0:46:27And the guy they eventually chose, was a unifying guy, a calm guy, a guy that could debate issues.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31He had a fantastic grasp of the rules of soccer.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34Dikgang Moseneke,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37I think he was 16 years when he came to the island.
0:46:37 > 0:46:42Today, he is the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa.
0:46:45 > 0:46:53Yeah, we demanded to be given a bigger field where we were going to play our sport.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Regulation size, to FIFA requirements.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59CHEERING
0:46:59 > 0:47:03And so, in 1969, we moved to our new field.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13CHANTING
0:47:28 > 0:47:34Well, Harry Gwala was a prominent member of the Communist Party of South Africa,
0:47:34 > 0:47:37but he also had a very deep understanding of sports
0:47:37 > 0:47:42in what was known as the Socialist Bloc, especially soccer.
0:47:42 > 0:47:48He would know the names of all the great soccer players. Moscow Dynamo, which was the famous Russian team.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51He was also very strict on the field.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55It was not easy for him to change his decision.
0:47:55 > 0:48:00Welcome, gentlemen. First on our agenda is a report back from Marcus Solomon.
0:48:00 > 0:48:05But first he will take us through matters arising from Saturday's match.
0:48:05 > 0:48:12Oh, he has also advised me that he would like to tackle a very important issue before he reads the report.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14With your permission, gentlemen?
0:48:14 > 0:48:16- Yes, sure.- Marcus, please.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18Thank you, Chairman Gwala.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21No, it's just that, how can I put it,
0:48:21 > 0:48:25we are all players from time to time. We are not only referees.
0:48:25 > 0:48:29We know how it is. There are passions, healthy passions.
0:48:29 > 0:48:36But I know I've said this before, and please forgive me if I'm flogging a dead horse,
0:48:36 > 0:48:37but we cannot allow rough play.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39SHOUTING
0:49:15 > 0:49:16What?
0:49:21 > 0:49:26Makana Football Association draw for Saturday, 14th May, 1970.
0:49:26 > 0:49:31Black Eagles versus Dynaspurs, your referee is Mr Harry Gwala.
0:49:32 > 0:49:36Finally, we've got the Silver Stars versus Rangers,
0:49:36 > 0:49:37referee Mr S. Govender.
0:49:37 > 0:49:42Linesmen will be Mr Njama, Mr Kunene, Mr Singh and Mr Radebe.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44Look, can't we have Mr...
0:49:49 > 0:49:51CHEERING AND SHOUTING
0:50:11 > 0:50:13WHISTLE BLOWS
0:50:13 > 0:50:15The League log, latest points.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17SHOUTING
0:50:20 > 0:50:22I don't want to hear it, Mr Suze.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25I ruled according to what I saw in the field of play.
0:50:25 > 0:50:30Field of play, what field of play, on which field of play were you on when that happened?
0:50:30 > 0:50:33Tony, if you have any complaints, use the official channels.
0:50:33 > 0:50:38Official channels? Do you want to know what you can do with your official channels?
0:50:38 > 0:50:43I'll tell you what you can do, you can take your official channels, file them, in triplicate for all I care!
0:50:43 > 0:50:49Right is right and wrong is wrong, Mr Referee, and in this case, I am right and you are wrong!
0:50:54 > 0:50:56Yeah!
0:50:56 > 0:50:58CHEERING
0:50:59 > 0:51:04Presentation to the B Division champions!
0:51:09 > 0:51:12Well done, sir.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14Well played.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17CHEERING
0:51:17 > 0:51:18B Division champions!
0:51:23 > 0:51:29We had fans, we had banners, we had logos, we had everything.
0:51:29 > 0:51:34Spectators were fanatics, you know, they loved soccer.
0:51:34 > 0:51:39They tended now to own the sport itself.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43A chap like Blues, and there was another one like Baartman.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47For my sake, Mark, win it for me! If you can't win it for your captain,
0:51:47 > 0:51:51then think of Baartman, who cries every time when you lose!
0:51:51 > 0:51:52It hurts me.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54Please, I'm begging you.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56I don't want those other guys to win.
0:51:56 > 0:52:01You're my only hope, my heroes, my superstars!
0:52:01 > 0:52:03LAUGHTER
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Defence!
0:52:17 > 0:52:21Dick! Hey, Dick!
0:52:21 > 0:52:25They promised me they're going to win it for Baartman!
0:52:25 > 0:52:31They swore! Leave that Blues maniac alone and fight with the real man.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33A real soccer man!
0:52:34 > 0:52:35Isaacs!
0:52:35 > 0:52:37Sedick Isaacs!
0:52:37 > 0:52:39What is it, Blues, I can hear you!
0:52:39 > 0:52:41- I call you out.- What?
0:52:41 > 0:52:43Hey, Blues, you a crazy man.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46Here I am. You still support the losing team.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49Today, Dick, today is today!
0:52:49 > 0:52:53- What day, Blues? - Today's the day that you die!
0:52:54 > 0:52:57You said that three weeks ago! Is that the day or is today the day?
0:52:57 > 0:52:59You're confusing me.
0:52:59 > 0:53:03Today is the day that you die.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Ah!
0:53:14 > 0:53:18Wow! It can't be. Look at that!
0:53:18 > 0:53:19- Yes!- Look at that!- Yes, it is!
0:53:19 > 0:53:22- Hey, hey!- Mandela.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24And Walter Sisulu!
0:53:24 > 0:53:25Ahmed Kathrada!
0:53:25 > 0:53:29No, no, no, no, no, no, that's not Kathrada and that's not Mandela!
0:53:29 > 0:53:33That's... Come, you're not supposed to see that, people! Move!
0:53:33 > 0:53:35THEY CHANT IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE
0:53:41 > 0:53:47After that, we never saw the prisoners from that section again.
0:53:47 > 0:53:52They actually built a wall between us to keep them hidden away.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56When we used to have regular meetings, we had to pick sides.
0:53:56 > 0:54:02And of course, there was a motto that guided all soccer on the island.
0:54:02 > 0:54:08The motto of the Makana Football Association was "Service Before Self".
0:54:08 > 0:54:13Gentlemen, we have here the names of the team that will be playing the big match on Saturday.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16OK! Shabalala.
0:54:16 > 0:54:21When I played, it was like I was home again. It would transport you away from the island.
0:54:21 > 0:54:25Chilewane, Kekane, Zwelendawu...
0:54:25 > 0:54:30When we were told that we were not going to play in a particular weekend,
0:54:30 > 0:54:33we felt so bad.
0:54:33 > 0:54:38I'm sorry for those gentlemen that didn't make it. We'll practise hard this week with Pro.
0:54:38 > 0:54:44As far as we were concerned, a socialist society was one in which all aspects of your life
0:54:44 > 0:54:46had to be catered for.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Your mind, your body, your soul, your spirit.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52And sports,
0:54:52 > 0:54:56playing sports, playing soccer was a very important part
0:54:56 > 0:54:59of that integrated, holistic approach to life.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02For me it was difficult because I always wanted to win.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06By now, we were successfully administering and playing soccer ourselves.
0:55:06 > 0:55:11We had allowed no interference from the authorities, and this made them mad!
0:55:11 > 0:55:17It was one area on the island in which we were sovereign, and where we had control over our lives.
0:55:17 > 0:55:22Even when working in that terrible quarry, we found time to discuss soccer issues.
0:55:22 > 0:55:27Like me complaining about selecting the best teams, and Pro's complaints about training.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33I tell you, man, they're going to lose.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36They're going to lose because they have got no stamina,
0:55:36 > 0:55:40because they only went to use the bathroom for ten minutes. Ten minutes!
0:55:40 > 0:55:45- You can't do anything. - I thought it was scheduled for half an hour?- No, it's 45 minutes!
0:55:45 > 0:55:48The upper body for 15 minutes and the trunk for 15 minutes.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51- And running for 15 minutes, man.- So?
0:55:54 > 0:55:57What is Pro complaining about now?
0:55:57 > 0:56:02He's angry that Harry took most of his training time to give the guys a glimpse behind the Iron Curtain.
0:56:02 > 0:56:07Pro feels they are not going to be ready for the soccer.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10What's Pro's feeling about Mbatha playing this week?
0:56:10 > 0:56:13Eish, Marcus, it is very difficult.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15Old Boots hasn't had a game in three weeks...
0:56:15 > 0:56:20Old Boots hasn't had a game in three weeks because Old Boots plays football like a drunk.
0:56:20 > 0:56:25- And he is very unhappy about not playing.- Well, I'm very unhappy about it when he does play.
0:56:25 > 0:56:29They told me Boots wants to lodge a complaint with the committee if you play Pro again.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31Yeah, I know, I know.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34'The selection process, it was a hell of a process.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36'You want to play inclusive soccer.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38'You want to involve everybody.
0:56:38 > 0:56:39'But then you know'
0:56:39 > 0:56:43that Saturday, the other team is going to pick up their best players.
0:56:43 > 0:56:49You start wondering, to say, "Now, look, what is important this week?" you know?
0:56:49 > 0:56:53Talk to your guys, you know, they should take it easy on socialism,
0:56:53 > 0:56:58you know, until we've played our football and then they can go back to their agenda.
0:56:58 > 0:57:04There were clubs playing, and at the end of the year, in order to play within one another's clubs,
0:57:04 > 0:57:08not playing against one another, they created what was called selected sides.
0:57:08 > 0:57:12Mix the clubs up, and those who played with one another,
0:57:12 > 0:57:14now played against one another
0:57:14 > 0:57:17in their new temporary club and they called it selected sides.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20A side was picked on Robben Island,
0:57:20 > 0:57:25and they named themselves the Atlantic Raiders.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29The Raiders were, almost by accident, a very, very strong side.
0:57:29 > 0:57:33Strong soccer players like Suze, and Bitmos and Freddie Simon.
0:57:33 > 0:57:37And it was out of the whole discourse of inclusiveness on the one side
0:57:37 > 0:57:39and a desire to win at all costs,
0:57:39 > 0:57:42that the incident of the Atlantic Raiders arose.
0:57:45 > 0:57:49Skull and bones, gents, Atlantic Raiders.
0:57:49 > 0:57:51CHEERING AND SHOUTING
0:57:54 > 0:57:58Young guys, fast guys, hard guys.
0:57:58 > 0:58:01They've poached two players from Manong.
0:58:03 > 0:58:06The Bucs team have lost two players.
0:58:06 > 0:58:10People are saying these Raiders play only for pride, for vanity.
0:58:13 > 0:58:16CHEERING
0:58:22 > 0:58:26Suze only plays for one thing and that's to win!
0:58:26 > 0:58:30- Skull and bones forever. - Enough with that nonsense now.
0:58:30 > 0:58:32I know you gents.
0:58:32 > 0:58:35I know you, you are Silver Stars men and Manong men.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38You're not secessionist hooligans!
0:58:38 > 0:58:39Stop this nonsense now.
0:58:39 > 0:58:42Atlantic Raiders, they were the elite.
0:58:42 > 0:58:44WE were the elite.
0:58:44 > 0:58:46The best players in the best team.
0:58:46 > 0:58:50Selected from across all the cells in the island. We were the best.
0:58:50 > 0:58:53Atlantic Raiders was just a team
0:58:53 > 0:58:57that had everything to do with the status, you know.
0:58:57 > 0:59:03Yeah, yeah, there were complaints and accusations because we were the best, we were the strongest team.
0:59:03 > 0:59:06They were rocking the boat right from the start.
0:59:06 > 0:59:09The men wanted to leave their clubs in order to join the Raiders.
0:59:09 > 0:59:11We were good, man.
0:59:11 > 0:59:16The Atlantic Raiders was a top team
0:59:16 > 0:59:19and the Blue Rocks were right at the bottom.
0:59:19 > 0:59:21It was a very poor team.
0:59:21 > 0:59:24Webo, Webo!
0:59:31 > 0:59:37Old crocks, you know? But everybody had to play in the Makana Football Association. It was the ethos.
0:59:40 > 0:59:43And so that's how it came naturally that these Blue Rocks,
0:59:43 > 0:59:47these old guys, these crocks, had to play Atlantic Raiders.
0:59:47 > 0:59:50It was always going to be a massacre.
0:59:50 > 0:59:51Massacre.
0:59:51 > 0:59:55I don't know what was their preparation like before we played that November.
0:59:55 > 0:59:56But what I know,
0:59:56 > 0:59:59that our preparation, as always,
0:59:59 > 1:00:01was pretty intense.
1:00:17 > 1:00:20And then the big day came.
1:00:20 > 1:00:23I was really looking forward to that match.
1:00:23 > 1:00:29You know, although we were political prisoners, we did not want politics to consume us.
1:00:29 > 1:00:34We did seminars and political discussions. But then we also wanted some fun.
1:00:34 > 1:00:37And playing Blue Rocks was going to be great fun.
1:00:47 > 1:00:49WHISTLE BLOWS
1:00:52 > 1:00:53- Offside, ref, offside!- Play on!
1:00:53 > 1:00:56No offside! Play on!
1:00:56 > 1:00:58WHISTLE BLOWS
1:01:03 > 1:01:07He was totally offside. Totally. I think he even handled the ball!
1:01:07 > 1:01:11Really, it's a tough experience,
1:01:11 > 1:01:16going behind the net to go and collect a ball
1:01:16 > 1:01:21that has been scored against you as a goalkeeper.
1:01:21 > 1:01:24- A goal? How?- It's a goal. I am applying FIFA rules, the goal stands.
1:01:24 > 1:01:27That was clearly offside, and what about the handball?
1:01:27 > 1:01:31Two bloody yards away from the last feet! How can that possibly...
1:01:31 > 1:01:35This is unacceptable! I cannot ref under these conditions.
1:01:35 > 1:01:37Harry Gwala - stubborn.
1:01:37 > 1:01:40Where are you going? Where's he going?!
1:01:40 > 1:01:42You're walking away.
1:01:42 > 1:01:43Anthony Suze - stubborn!
1:01:43 > 1:01:45That's against FIFA rules!
1:01:47 > 1:01:52It was crazy but we said, "Let's just win this thing and get back home."
1:01:52 > 1:01:54CHEERING
1:01:55 > 1:01:57Pass the ball!
1:01:57 > 1:01:58Move!
1:01:58 > 1:02:00HE SHOUTS IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE
1:02:02 > 1:02:04Come, gents, come, gents.
1:02:07 > 1:02:09Pass the ball!
1:02:09 > 1:02:15The old crocks decided to go and block the goals, you know.
1:02:33 > 1:02:34Pass the ball, man!
1:02:44 > 1:02:46Pass the ball, Freddie!
1:03:03 > 1:03:05It went on
1:03:05 > 1:03:11until it came clear that the pros, the Raiders camp, could not score.
1:03:13 > 1:03:15CHEERING
1:03:23 > 1:03:29CHANTING: Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks!
1:03:29 > 1:03:35CHANTING: Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks!
1:03:35 > 1:03:38CHANTING: Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks! Blue Rocks!
1:03:38 > 1:03:44The record book, of course, reflected that Blue Rocks had won the match.
1:03:44 > 1:03:46- I know, Tony, I saw it. OK, I saw it.- Jesus, Dick!
1:03:46 > 1:03:48Jesus! I mean, a complaint.
1:03:48 > 1:03:49A formal appeal or something.
1:03:49 > 1:03:51That thing can't stand. It's a farce.
1:03:51 > 1:03:53We will appeal immediately.
1:03:53 > 1:03:56There are various grounds we can appeal on. For instance...
1:03:56 > 1:03:58The refereeing is a bloody joke.
1:03:58 > 1:04:01- Yes.- That's what. Dick, you can't do that.
1:04:01 > 1:04:03You saw what he did, he just went off the field like that.
1:04:03 > 1:04:07You can't do that. That is against FIFA regulations, right?
1:04:07 > 1:04:09I'm almost certain it is, yeah.
1:04:09 > 1:04:14How then? Jesus, Dick, I mean this thing is a knockout competition.
1:04:14 > 1:04:16'But now, they couldn't take it.
1:04:16 > 1:04:17'Blame the referee,'
1:04:17 > 1:04:20blame the linesmen, blame everything in the world, you know.
1:04:20 > 1:04:23We appealed almost immediately.
1:04:23 > 1:04:25We threw the book at the MFA.
1:04:25 > 1:04:27It was serious stuff.
1:04:27 > 1:04:30We went there with our captain, Freddie Simon,
1:04:30 > 1:04:37our vice-captain, Lucas Mahlangu, and we became very, very technical.
1:04:37 > 1:04:38But Mr Isaacs,
1:04:38 > 1:04:41the executive committee of the Makana Football Association
1:04:41 > 1:04:44believes that you have covered this territory already.
1:04:44 > 1:04:48If you had a complaint, it behoves you to make your protest
1:04:48 > 1:04:51immediately after the irregularity had been observed.
1:04:51 > 1:04:58Once again, I'd like to refer you to the constitution of the Makana Football Association,
1:04:58 > 1:05:02section 7(c), page nine, where it clearly states that...
1:05:02 > 1:05:05With all due respect, Mr Secretary,
1:05:05 > 1:05:08what we are saying, and not for the first time in this meeting,
1:05:08 > 1:05:10is that we are aware of section 7(c).
1:05:10 > 1:05:14But we find it problematic.
1:05:14 > 1:05:18The Oxford English Dictionary defines "observe"
1:05:18 > 1:05:20as "become conscious of".
1:05:22 > 1:05:24The events leading to our protest...
1:05:24 > 1:05:25Mr Isaacs!
1:05:25 > 1:05:30Please do not try to divert this hearing with sophistry.
1:05:30 > 1:05:32It will not be tolerated.
1:05:32 > 1:05:33Mr Secretary,
1:05:33 > 1:05:34I'm simply pointing out
1:05:34 > 1:05:37that the events leading to our protest
1:05:37 > 1:05:39are complex and require checking.
1:05:39 > 1:05:41Will you concede that?
1:05:43 > 1:05:45- Go on. - And because they require checking,
1:05:45 > 1:05:50the process of becoming conscious of these events - that is,
1:05:50 > 1:05:53observing them - has taken some time,
1:05:53 > 1:05:56which is why we are presenting our petition of appeal
1:05:56 > 1:05:58through the correct channels now.
1:05:59 > 1:06:03He allowed that rubbish handball of a goal
1:06:03 > 1:06:07and he just walks off the field, like a bloody chicken!
1:06:07 > 1:06:14And he unceremoniously deserted the field after allowing a goal which had a telling effect on our morale.
1:06:14 > 1:06:19And which arose from a malicious application of the contents of the Referees' Charter.
1:06:19 > 1:06:20In light of these...
1:06:20 > 1:06:23..horrible mistakes, I kept on shouting,
1:06:23 > 1:06:25Dick, I kept on shouting, "Come on!
1:06:25 > 1:06:27"I mean, come on, are you blind?
1:06:27 > 1:06:30"Can't you see? Don't you know what a handball is?
1:06:30 > 1:06:34"Don't you know what an offside is?" Then, you know what?
1:06:34 > 1:06:36He then reacted to the infringement
1:06:36 > 1:06:39of the association football rules with mirth,
1:06:39 > 1:06:41as if it was a joke.
1:06:43 > 1:06:46This is fully counter
1:06:46 > 1:06:50to the spirit and history of association football.
1:06:50 > 1:06:53And it is also proof...
1:06:53 > 1:06:56..that all referees are bloody nincompoops, yeah!
1:06:56 > 1:06:58You tell them, Dick, you tell them.
1:06:58 > 1:06:59Nincompoops.
1:06:59 > 1:07:01'We asked for a replay.'
1:07:01 > 1:07:02We asked for a change
1:07:02 > 1:07:06of the status of the game, anything! We fought very hard.
1:07:06 > 1:07:10But sometimes I think we fought too hard.
1:07:10 > 1:07:16It took five months to resolve the Atlantic Raiders-Blue Rocks demonstration.
1:07:16 > 1:07:24We allowed due process to take place, no matter how frustrating the whole affair was.
1:07:24 > 1:07:28And we would never have become violent about it.
1:07:28 > 1:07:35One of the cardinal rules was never to lay hands on another political prisoner
1:07:35 > 1:07:39and never give warders or guards an excuse to intervene.
1:07:39 > 1:07:41Duress.
1:07:41 > 1:07:46We'd make our case in such a way that they had to listen.
1:07:46 > 1:07:48Was it the right thing to do?
1:07:48 > 1:07:51It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
1:07:51 > 1:07:53It seemed like the only thing to do.
1:07:59 > 1:08:03'When Makana Football Association stages a match,'
1:08:03 > 1:08:08we'll not allow them to play. We went and squatted on the soccer field.
1:08:08 > 1:08:11It's duress, Warder Delport.
1:08:11 > 1:08:14Protest, Warder Delport.
1:08:14 > 1:08:18You know about protesting and what you believe in is due to you, not so?
1:08:19 > 1:08:22You can't do that here!
1:08:22 > 1:08:26Freddie, Anthony, how long are you going to lie there?
1:08:26 > 1:08:30For as long as it takes to get justice.
1:08:30 > 1:08:34This man belongs to your club. Please, talk to him.
1:08:34 > 1:08:36TRANSLATED FROM HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE
1:08:41 > 1:08:43And now, gents,
1:08:43 > 1:08:46why such long faces? Huh?
1:08:46 > 1:08:50A vulture must fly high from time to time. That is a point of principle.
1:08:50 > 1:08:53No, I do not see any vulture,
1:08:53 > 1:09:00but I see something that's lying flat on his belly on the ground.
1:09:00 > 1:09:02Please, Anthony.
1:09:02 > 1:09:04Your chairman is asking you.
1:09:04 > 1:09:07No, no, no, Chairman.
1:09:07 > 1:09:09I'm sorry, but I'm drunk with rebellion.
1:09:09 > 1:09:12It is not proper.
1:09:12 > 1:09:15This thing is not proper!
1:09:32 > 1:09:34Don't you got any manners?
1:09:51 > 1:09:53Uncivilised.
1:10:10 > 1:10:12And now?
1:10:12 > 1:10:14And now,
1:10:14 > 1:10:16we wait for justice.
1:10:18 > 1:10:20We were serious.
1:10:20 > 1:10:22We were willing to push this protest.
1:10:22 > 1:10:25To hell with the consequences.
1:10:25 > 1:10:27It's the principle.
1:10:27 > 1:10:31If you're playing to FIFA standards, you cannot just suddenly say...
1:10:31 > 1:10:33What about the principle of comradeship?
1:10:33 > 1:10:35What about that, Maxabane?
1:10:35 > 1:10:37You guys have become so obsessed with winning.
1:10:37 > 1:10:39I'm not obsessed with anything!
1:10:56 > 1:10:58Hey, very nice.
1:11:01 > 1:11:02Careful, prisoner.
1:11:23 > 1:11:25Hey.
1:11:25 > 1:11:28- I heard that old guy in C2...- Mpofu? - Mpofu, yeah.
1:11:28 > 1:11:31He's got high blood pressure because of this whole protest.
1:11:31 > 1:11:34Eish, everyone gets high blood pressure and depression here.
1:11:34 > 1:11:36It's like asthma and TB.
1:11:36 > 1:11:41But you can't tell me we're also getting TB and depression because of the Atlantic Raiders.
1:11:41 > 1:11:43Hey, guys, I don't like it.
1:11:43 > 1:11:45The whole thing makes me very, very unhappy.
1:11:45 > 1:11:47Eish.
1:11:49 > 1:11:54What is wrong, is setting down guidelines, agreed to in a democratic and organised way,
1:11:54 > 1:11:57- then changing those guidelines at the last minute?- Comrades, please.
1:11:57 > 1:12:02Leave this on the soccer field, or the disciplinary hearing, where it belongs.
1:12:02 > 1:12:03Please, it is very distressing.
1:12:03 > 1:12:05But that is the point, comrade.
1:12:05 > 1:12:08This is something that affects every aspect of our lives.
1:12:08 > 1:12:10- So we have to take position on... - Enough!
1:12:10 > 1:12:13Do not tell me what to do.
1:12:13 > 1:12:15Leave it alone!
1:12:19 > 1:12:25This is causing mayhem, high blood pressure, you name it.
1:12:25 > 1:12:30Those who are angry, those who don't relate, they don't talk to one another, and so forth.
1:12:30 > 1:12:35Laughter, ridicule, turned to anger,
1:12:35 > 1:12:42it turned to emotion, it tended to divide us now.
1:12:42 > 1:12:43It was serious.
1:12:43 > 1:12:47We couldn't accept the fact that we'd been beaten by this lousy side.
1:12:47 > 1:12:50Gentlemen.
1:12:50 > 1:12:53I have here my report on the activities of our club,
1:12:53 > 1:12:58Dynaspurs Football Club, over the period January to June, 1971.
1:12:58 > 1:13:02And I had intended to read the entire document to you today
1:13:02 > 1:13:04before I make it available to you for your perusal.
1:13:04 > 1:13:10There are various administrative improvements I wanted to share with you.
1:13:10 > 1:13:15And there are also players whom we should single out as having improved dramatically so far this year.
1:13:19 > 1:13:23But right now I think I would like to start on the second page of my report
1:13:23 > 1:13:29with an issue that has been weighing very heavily on all of us
1:13:29 > 1:13:33and that has certainly depressed me personally since it took place.
1:13:36 > 1:13:38Why do we play soccer?
1:13:38 > 1:13:41Or any sport for that matter?
1:13:41 > 1:13:42Do we play to win?
1:13:42 > 1:13:45So we can say we thrashed such and such a club?
1:13:45 > 1:13:50For points, for diplomas and trophies?
1:13:50 > 1:13:51No.
1:13:51 > 1:13:55Let us remember that our sporting activities here on the island
1:13:55 > 1:14:01are meant and aimed at making our stay here less unbearable
1:14:01 > 1:14:03and less intolerable than it is.
1:14:05 > 1:14:09Let us not allow them to become the causes of more frustration,
1:14:09 > 1:14:12tension and discomfort than they already are.
1:14:14 > 1:14:17Some of us might say, "Noble ideals and big talk,
1:14:17 > 1:14:20"which have no bearing on the real situation."
1:14:22 > 1:14:25I would like to answer those people with a question.
1:14:26 > 1:14:30"If we had no noble ideals,
1:14:30 > 1:14:32"would we have been here today?"
1:14:47 > 1:14:54So the guys appealed to us through the committee structures.
1:14:54 > 1:14:58They threatened us in all kinds of manners and ways.
1:14:58 > 1:15:02They appealed to our sentiments as political prisoners,
1:15:02 > 1:15:05as sportsmen, as comrades.
1:15:05 > 1:15:10It didn't work, but you see, the thing is we, as things went on,
1:15:10 > 1:15:13we felt we had to back down.
1:15:13 > 1:15:14We knew we had to back down.
1:15:14 > 1:15:17It was becoming unpleasant for everybody.
1:15:17 > 1:15:20And we wanted to throw in the towel, but we just didn't know how.
1:15:24 > 1:15:26THEY CHATTER INDECIPHERABLY
1:15:40 > 1:15:41Anthony.
1:15:41 > 1:15:45'There was this old man in my club,'
1:15:45 > 1:15:46Makaleni.
1:15:46 > 1:15:49He was the chairman of our club, Manong.
1:15:49 > 1:15:52Makaleni was not a highly-educated person,
1:15:52 > 1:15:56but he was very articulate and a very good administrator.
1:15:56 > 1:15:59And he understood people.
1:15:59 > 1:16:04And particularly, he understood how to deal with people's weaknesses.
1:16:04 > 1:16:06And he knew my weakness.
1:16:06 > 1:16:10What do you have to lose? You've got nothing to lose.
1:16:10 > 1:16:12You can tell these...
1:16:12 > 1:16:14Mnumzana, please.
1:16:14 > 1:16:17It's an impossible position, it's impossible.
1:16:17 > 1:16:21It only seems impossible because you are so young, Anthony.
1:16:21 > 1:16:25But humour a foolish old man like me and listen.
1:16:25 > 1:16:27You've got nothing to lose.
1:16:27 > 1:16:28You led these men away.
1:16:28 > 1:16:30Now lead them back to us.
1:16:32 > 1:16:35Yeah, yeah, but, Mnumzana, it's not just me.
1:16:35 > 1:16:37There's a committee, even this, you know...
1:16:37 > 1:16:41No, no. Find a way, find a solution.
1:16:41 > 1:16:46And lead them back to us. Lead, Anthony, don't just play.
1:16:46 > 1:16:47Lead, Anthony!
1:16:50 > 1:16:53TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SINGING
1:17:28 > 1:17:29Where are you going?
1:17:31 > 1:17:32Back.
1:17:35 > 1:17:40Because they were good soccer players, we needed them.
1:18:12 > 1:18:19By the 1970s, I'd obviously grown older,
1:18:19 > 1:18:21a little slower also.
1:18:21 > 1:18:24We continued playing soccer, of course,
1:18:24 > 1:18:29but a lot of us, had moved into more senior administrative positions.
1:18:29 > 1:18:33For instance, I'd become a soccer referee,
1:18:33 > 1:18:38and had become part of my club executive.
1:18:38 > 1:18:41For us it was an era coming to an end.
1:18:41 > 1:18:44There was, of course, still a number of hardcore lifers,
1:18:44 > 1:18:45but they were getting older.
1:18:45 > 1:18:49For those of us who arrived in the '60s, we were being released.
1:18:49 > 1:18:53It was quite something, the idea of being free.
1:18:53 > 1:18:56I was 19 when I got to the island.
1:18:56 > 1:18:57And now I was in my mid-30s.
1:19:01 > 1:19:04Yeah, I think that the...the...
1:19:04 > 1:19:07As I said, ironically, for me, the saddest day
1:19:07 > 1:19:09was when I left the island,
1:19:09 > 1:19:13because I left so many people.
1:19:22 > 1:19:26But when we look back, I think it was a good experience.
1:19:26 > 1:19:28A very good experience.
1:19:35 > 1:19:37My first thoughts were,
1:19:37 > 1:19:41"Where am I going? What's it like?
1:19:41 > 1:19:44"I'm used to where I am now
1:19:44 > 1:19:48"and I'm going to a new world altogether.
1:19:48 > 1:19:49"Am I going to fit?
1:19:53 > 1:19:57"My family, who are they any more?
1:19:57 > 1:19:59"Do they still know me? Do I still know them?
1:19:59 > 1:20:01"My friends, are they still alive?"
1:20:01 > 1:20:04All those things went through my mind very quickly.
1:20:11 > 1:20:14Today you find a lot of people
1:20:14 > 1:20:17talk about the suffering on Robben Island.
1:20:17 > 1:20:20Yes, there was a lot of suffering, but I think
1:20:20 > 1:20:22there's too much focus on that.
1:20:22 > 1:20:24And that sort of thing worries me.
1:20:24 > 1:20:28The people who really suffered, I believe,
1:20:28 > 1:20:32were the families we left behind, the wives and the children.
1:20:34 > 1:20:38It was very, very, very emotional.
1:20:38 > 1:20:40The idea of going into the ship
1:20:40 > 1:20:43and going back to the mainland and going home.
1:20:43 > 1:20:49June '76, the students' uprising, right?
1:20:49 > 1:20:52Those are some things that were inspiring us.
1:20:52 > 1:20:54They were making us more stronger.
1:20:54 > 1:21:01And we felt that liberation was just very near.
1:21:01 > 1:21:03Those were students,
1:21:05 > 1:21:08they were like soldiers in school uniforms.
1:21:08 > 1:21:12They fought bravely, you know, against the police.
1:21:12 > 1:21:16And they were arrested in droves and were sent to the island.
1:21:40 > 1:21:41Young people who were coming in
1:21:41 > 1:21:44were very enthusiastic footballers themselves.
1:21:44 > 1:21:49So they needed no encouragement in terms of keeping
1:21:49 > 1:21:55and adhering to the structures that had been put in place.
1:21:55 > 1:22:00We feel quite pleased sometimes that at least we left something
1:22:00 > 1:22:07that could guide people or make people understand how we tried to live our lives.
1:22:07 > 1:22:11And I think, hopefully, that should be the sort of thing
1:22:11 > 1:22:16that should get people to understand the way forward, in a sense.
1:22:16 > 1:22:20One could say that we passed on the baton,
1:22:20 > 1:22:24we passed on the legacy to them, we passed on the game.
1:22:25 > 1:22:27It was more than a game.
1:22:30 > 1:22:35# I see in your eyes
1:22:37 > 1:22:43# The sad history of our times
1:22:43 > 1:22:49# The violent days of betrayal
1:22:50 > 1:22:54# The screaming of the innocents
1:22:54 > 1:22:58# As people were gunned down
1:22:58 > 1:23:06# Many disappearing without a trace
1:23:07 > 1:23:15# Mmm, whoa-oh-oh-oh
1:23:17 > 1:23:24# Whoa-oh-oh
1:23:24 > 1:23:27# You were banished to an island
1:23:27 > 1:23:30# A place beyond hope
1:23:32 > 1:23:35# Yet you stood proud and tall
1:23:35 > 1:23:40# And a new hope dawned
1:23:40 > 1:23:45# And the joy
1:23:45 > 1:23:48# Of your dreams
1:23:48 > 1:23:52# Set you free
1:23:52 > 1:23:56# Will set you free
1:23:56 > 1:24:03# Free
1:24:03 > 1:24:07# Ah-ah
1:24:07 > 1:24:12# Let my angry words reflect the story of your life
1:24:12 > 1:24:14# Keep on
1:24:14 > 1:24:18# As the pain still dances in your eyes
1:24:18 > 1:24:23# Keep on caring, sharing
1:24:23 > 1:24:26# Tenderness and faith
1:24:26 > 1:24:28# Must thrive
1:24:28 > 1:24:33# Keep this feeling alive
1:24:33 > 1:24:36# Let our hearts be strengthened on the road
1:24:36 > 1:24:42# All the hope
1:24:42 > 1:24:49# I see in your eyes... #
1:24:49 > 1:24:54The 2010 FIFA World Cup
1:24:54 > 1:24:57will be organised in South Africa.
1:24:57 > 1:24:59CHEERING
1:24:59 > 1:25:01# And their spirit sings today
1:25:01 > 1:25:04# Mmm-hmm
1:25:04 > 1:25:13# For the colours of a new day
1:25:58 > 1:26:02# And my spirit sings today
1:26:02 > 1:26:05# Mmm-hmm
1:26:05 > 1:26:15# For the colours of a new day
1:26:41 > 1:26:43# Calling
1:26:43 > 1:26:47# The spirit of Ubuntu. #
1:26:47 > 1:26:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
1:26:49 > 1:26:51E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk