This morning in Diepkloof Soweto, we had fun: playing football and chatting. The local guys were there as well as some visitors from the UK (Andy and his boys). Firstly, the British boys were not bad at football and I think they were nice. We quickly gave them nick names: Walcott, Eboue, Malankane/Yaya, Crouch, etc. They were cool. Not the rioting type, it seems :-) The experience overall was good.

Yet there were a few reality checks, that convinced me again poverty is not about money only, but also attitude. Sometimes therefore I am rich, sometimes poor. On one occasion one team was playing with blue bibs and just one Soweto player were wearing a yellow shirt. There was an extra bib next to the field, so the visitor Andy ran, got the bib, took it to the player and offered it to him. He was just stubborn and refused. Andy ran away, threw the bib next to the field and mumbled: 'idiot'. In the heat of the game, we will excuse Andy for his choice of words, especially since he tried to do good. I thought the bearded guy with yellow shirt was not very smart. Considering how informal the game was, what was he to gain from being rude or stubborn? Nothing. 

After the game we sat in a circle, chatting asking questions etc. Two Soweto guys went to fetch water. Then another guy kinda grabbed the water and started drinking, to which one player commented:"hey -you show up late but want to be the first to drink water" In reply to this 'chirp' the other guy totally lost it and threw the 5l water at his 'friend' shouting "you always talk too much" - angry, physical, wanting to fight. To his credit the angry guy left and walked it off. It was a good picture of reality, but it was not being smart ambassadors for your team, township or country... same goes for excessive shouting about corners, handballs or throw ins... is a small call, even a penalty worth fighting over during a social football game between friends?

The chat went well and overall a very good experience. But what I learned is that many youths don't know how to "play the game"- not football game, but game of social relations, representing oneself as mature, making connections...