South Africa’s stance regarding the genocide in Israel against the people of Palestine is not only baffling but very questionable to say the least!
Allow me to explain: Look, it’s no secret that football’s governing body Fifa is under immense pressure to respond to calls from the rest of the football and sporting fraternity to ban Israel from world football and sport due to the war in Gaza – but why has it taken so long to come into effect?
Admirably, South Africa has initially shown the rest of the world that it has the balls and bravado to take on Israel. Firstly, it’s believed that SA’s president Cyril Ramaphosa changed his itenary to be present at the Football for Humanity Cup that saw the Palestine National football side in action against a Western Cape and SA Invitational side in the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town in February 2024. This was a real show of solidarity.
A couple of months down the line Ramaphosa mandated their legal eagles to take Israel to the International Court of Justice and this stance was well received and resonated with former and late president Nelson Mandela’s statement back in 1997 of ” We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
Needless to say that one felt extremely proud to be a South African as the country stood up for what is right..
Alas! One wonders what has changed since, especially after the recent shock and stir caused by Stellenbosch FC’s Faeez Abrahams. This player was also an important member of the successful under 20 national team that won the African Cup of Nations earlier this year and qualified for the World Cup.
The 22-year-old winger who featured in Stellies’ Multi-Diski side, got the tongues wagging following his controversial move to the Israeli second-tier club Hapoel Kfar Saba amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The immediate question is… How could the South African Football Association allow Abrahams to leave given their support of Palestine and their stance on Isreal?
Our website was also informed that Abrahams is receiving something in the region of R60 000 per month at his new club and this financial boost is also why the bigger picture was ignored.
While this will no doubt ease the financial burden of the Abrahams household, it does very little that will benefit Abrahams’ career – in fact it will only be to his detriment.
As expected Abrahams was lambasted, especially by the locals, on social media for his decision to move to Israel.
No Bones with Jones has reached out to Abrahams’ dad Muneer who maintains that he supports his son’s decision of pursuing his career in Israel.
“We are aware of what is happening in the world but that is Fazeez’s decision,” Muneer told our website.
Furthermore, No Bones with Jones has established that more players like Mervin Boji is set to follow suit, which could spell dire consequences for South Africa in the future.
These developments are apparently made possible by former Spurs goalkeeper coach Ernil Kemp who is sending players to Israel.
So, given South Africa’s longstanding support for the people of Gaza, why has SAFA decided to stay mum and not act on the Abrahams issue?
Why was there no intervention or last-minute change of plans to stand up for what is right again?
Why do South Africa’s actions all of a sudden border on cowardice and hypocrisy?
Just recently German Bundesliga 2 club Fortuna Dusseldorp opted not to sign Isreali striker Shon Weissman following backlash from their fans.
