Enjoyable down to earth chance encounter

Pay-television and its ability to provide viewers with a mind-boggling array of professional sports at all times of the day and night was the last thing on my mind on Wednesday afternoon.

Sometimes it's pleasant to escape from the endless stream of sports events and forthcoming shows being punted by various media. But where to go to for a dose of something more down to earth?

Driving along Essenwood Road, my mind was instantly made up - by the sight of a soccer match in progress at Berea Park. It seemed like the ideal sort of escape.

Initially, the side playing in yellow and blue (a la Manning Rangers) caught my eye. So I found a parking space and soon realised that I had inadvertently stumbled into a game between two of the province's top sports schools, Durban High School (DHS) and Maritzburg College.

Only this time it was not at one of the traditional match-ups between the arch-rivals, but at a fast emerging schools sport in the province, soccer.

The match was just as fiercely contested as any other sport between the schools would be - what was even more gratifying was the maturity shown by players from both sides.

It was a cut above what I would have expected from schoolboy sides, the only pity was that the referee didn't have any assistants (linesmen) to call on to help him, particularly in ruling on the more contentious decisions like offside where he was largely forced to rely on his instincts.

The players kept their cool when decisions went against them, for the most part anyway. Though I'm sure that had they been playing for their clubs, where discipline tends to be enforced less rigidly, their remonstrations would have taken on a more vocal tone.

The small, but assorted crowd of people watching from the sidelines seemed to find the outing agreeable too. There was even the obligatory youth in Manchester United regalia.

"You won't find any of that old kick and rush type tactics, most of our guys play for top clubs or have represented their province," explained a proud Mike Bechet, the director of sport at Maritzburg College, later.

Bechet is one of the most influential schoolmasters of the modern era in KwaZulu-Natal, having played a leading role in cricket and hockey at provincial level and also soccer at one stage (at College).

He is a hard taskmaster, as many past and present provincial and Test cricketers and hockey players would attest.

Jonty Rhodes credited Bechet, his first team hockey coach from the age of 14, as having a profound impact on his sporting development. "He instilled the three-D's into my mind from an early age - discipline, determination and dedication," said Rhodes.

Bechet speaks with the conviction of someone who has a deep love for sport - he is also aware of the implications of the current developments.

Soccer is obviously changing the sporting landscape at one of the province's top schools.

"We could probably raise as many as 12 under-14 soccer teams (at College)," he stated of a sport which has been played at the school since the mid-eighties though it is only in the last few years that it has gained official recognition as a school sport.

The days when rugby was THE winter sport seem to have gone. Now, at least, pupils finally have a choice should they wish to pursue a particular sport.

That's not to say that rugby won't retain its stature as the dominant sporting code - only time will tell what happens - but it's only right that those whose passion for other sports is greater, should be provided with the opportunity to realise their dreams. If there are any budding sportsmen with a keen interest in rugby and soccer, they deserve the chance to exhibit their talents.

It just goes to show that the most rewarding experiences can occur when they are least expected.

Just in case you're wondering the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Pity I missed both the goals.

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