Frustration and Exile

The history of black and coloured sport has been one of frustration and exile. The best African and coloured sportsmen have, for the past twenty years, been forced to leave South Africa in order to further their sporting careers. All of them would have preferred to have remained in South Africa and represent their country. Yet because of the colour of their skin, their Government and the white sports bodies told them that they were not allowed to.

Some of the sportsmen that suffered in this way and were forced into exile are well known here in New Zealand. For many years Precious McKenzie was the best South African weightlifter in his weight division, but the South African champion was still a white, regardless of his lower standard. Basil d'Oliveria (cricket), Jake Ntuli (boxing), Ron Eland (weightlifting), Jasmat Shiraj (tennis), are a few of those who were forced to emigrate in order to develop and further their sporting careers.