Ashley Green-Thompson Ashley Green-Thompson
You'd have to be living under a rock not to have been infected by the outpouring of joy at the South African soccer team’s first entry into the knockout stages of the World Cup. But I was determined to boycott this edition of the world’s most famous sporting event. FIFA and its odious leader have shown complete abandonment of anything remotely ethical. From giving the orange ogre a peace prize to absolute spinelessness in allowing him to bully fans from countries he doesn’t like, they have sullied the beautiful game. I confess, the times at which most of the games are televised make it a little easier. But here’s the thing: soccer played well is a thing of beauty and passion, and when Bafana Bafana, our national team, showed glimpses of what they could do, I modified my protest.
Even Pope Leo has gotten in on the action and shared reflections earlier this year on the value of sport. In a letter published in February, he references Thomas Aquinas (Saint Thomas, mind you) who said that the virtuous life concerns not only work but time for games and rest. Augustine (another saint) is quoted: “I pray thee, spare thyself at times: for it becomes a wise man sometimes to relax the high pressure of his attention to work”.
