Comments on: Booth, Fish, and Me: Playing While White in Africa http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-25780 John Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:32:45 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-25780 What a great and entertaining story! Thank you for sharing it with the world. What a great and entertaining story! Thank you for sharing it with the world.

]]> By: Mediating South Africa 2010: Parting Thoughts and Sources | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-23934 Mediating South Africa 2010: Parting Thoughts and Sources | Pitch Invasion Mon, 31 May 2010 16:47:46 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-23934 [...] an American perspective on African soccer here on Pitch Invasion interesting: I first wrote about my own experiences playing in Malawi, then wrote several pieces on prominent issues in contemporary African soccer (on the uncertain [...] [...] an American perspective on African soccer here on Pitch Invasion interesting: I first wrote about my own experiences playing in Malawi, then wrote several pieces on prominent issues in contemporary African soccer (on the uncertain [...]

]]> By: Post-Invictus: South Africa’s Greatest Soccer Moment | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-23640 Post-Invictus: South Africa’s Greatest Soccer Moment | Pitch Invasion Mon, 24 May 2010 14:51:43 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-23640 [...] to laborers looking for decent wage, everybody seemed to know players such as Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish from the racially diverse soccer team.  But as far as I can remember no one ever mentioned [...] [...] to laborers looking for decent wage, everybody seemed to know players such as Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish from the racially diverse soccer team.  But as far as I can remember no one ever mentioned [...]

]]> By: The South African Connection: Kaizer Motaung, Jomo Sono, and the North American Soccer League | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-22586 The South African Connection: Kaizer Motaung, Jomo Sono, and the North American Soccer League | Pitch Invasion Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:24:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-22586 [...] the mid-1990s, when I spent a rather inglorious season as the only non-African playing in the Malawian Super League, one of the few constants across [...] [...] the mid-1990s, when I spent a rather inglorious season as the only non-African playing in the Malawian Super League, one of the few constants across [...]

]]> By: Where Has All the Magic Gone? Juju, Africa, and Superstitions in the Game | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-20005 Where Has All the Magic Gone? Juju, Africa, and Superstitions in the Game | Pitch Invasion Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:10:10 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-20005 [...] it says about Africa.  But I admit that it has long provoked my curiosity—so much so that when I spent a season playing in the Malawian Super League in the 90’s, I made an active effort to learn about juju.  [...] [...] it says about Africa.  But I admit that it has long provoked my curiosity—so much so that when I spent a season playing in the Malawian Super League in the 90’s, I made an active effort to learn about juju.  [...]

]]> By: Stuart Griffin http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-19769 Stuart Griffin Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:50:37 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-19769 Loved your views of the azungu playing Malawi football and recognised the behaviours you describe from my past there. I was born in Malawi in 67' my father being Brian Griffin. He was a Brit who had played some professional football as a youngman in the UK before becoming a teacher. Together with my mother both went teaching in Malawi when it first gained its independance. Brian ended up not only teaching but also sports broadcasting for MBC (national radio) and more importantly becoming national player team coach. Much of what you write including the teams was as true back then as when you experienced it in later times. Loved your views of the azungu playing Malawi football and recognised the behaviours you describe from my past there. I was born in Malawi in 67′ my father being Brian Griffin. He was a Brit who had played some professional football as a youngman in the UK before becoming a teacher. Together with my mother both went teaching in Malawi when it first gained its independance. Brian ended up not only teaching but also sports broadcasting for MBC (national radio) and more importantly becoming national player team coach. Much of what you write including the teams was as true back then as when you experienced it in later times.

]]> By: Football Age, “Real” Age, and the Meanings of Age in Africa | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-8184 Football Age, “Real” Age, and the Meanings of Age in Africa | Pitch Invasion Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:25:22 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-8184 [...] beyond the circumstantial evidence, in my own experiences with African soccer age claims proved dubious at best.  When my Malawian team would travel to week-end road games a [...] [...] beyond the circumstantial evidence, in my own experiences with African soccer age claims proved dubious at best.  When my Malawian team would travel to week-end road games a [...]

]]> By: Bobby http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-8019 Bobby Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:58:45 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-8019 Amazing piece. I was actually considering doing some work in Botswana this summer, but an illness didn't allow that. I was hoping I could play some there, even if at a lower level. It's a very interesting topic, I'm glad you gave us some perspective on it. Amazing piece. I was actually considering doing some work in Botswana this summer, but an illness didn’t allow that. I was hoping I could play some there, even if at a lower level.

It’s a very interesting topic, I’m glad you gave us some perspective on it.

]]> By: Avery Guest http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-8012 Avery Guest Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:20:59 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-8012 Great article, Andrew. One thing that should be emphasized is that "high-level" soccer in Malawi placed a big premium on kick-and-run tactics and on individual showmanship. In my opinion, Andrew was a gifted player in terms of tactics and field intelligence, but, as he points out he was relatively slow of foot in comparison to the star Malawi players. I am now 68 and have given up playing adult soccer. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a relatively slow player, point at me and not Andrew. Andrew's Dad, Avery Great article, Andrew. One thing that should be emphasized is that “high-level” soccer in Malawi placed a big premium on kick-and-run tactics and on individual showmanship. In my opinion, Andrew was a gifted player in terms of tactics and field intelligence, but, as he points out he was relatively slow of foot in comparison to the star Malawi players. I am now 68 and have given up playing adult soccer. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a relatively slow player, point at me and not Andrew.

Andrew’s Dad, Avery

]]> By: Luka http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/01/booth-fish-and-me-playing-while-white-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-8010 Luka Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:09:06 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=1920#comment-8010 Chelsea supporters used to call out "Shoooot" whenever Robert Huth (now this sounded like a "Boooo" sound similar to audibility of "Boooth") received the ball in the opposition's half as he possessed a mighty powerful right foot shot. Similarly, supporters call out "Kaloooo" pretty much whenever Salo Kalou gets the ball. This is a common trend in modern football and supporting techniques, so anyone thinking this was racism either never watches football in their life, or is completely ignorant as the commentator for the worldwide feed explained a number of times the reasons for the sounds emanating from the crowd whenever Booth touched the ball. Chelsea supporters used to call out “Shoooot” whenever Robert Huth (now this sounded like a “Boooo” sound similar to audibility of “Boooth”) received the ball in the opposition’s half as he possessed a mighty powerful right foot shot. Similarly, supporters call out “Kaloooo” pretty much whenever Salo Kalou gets the ball.

This is a common trend in modern football and supporting techniques, so anyone thinking this was racism either never watches football in their life, or is completely ignorant as the commentator for the worldwide feed explained a number of times the reasons for the sounds emanating from the crowd whenever Booth touched the ball.

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