‘Soccer Fan’, by Antony Kaminju
Photographer Antony Kaminju is one of the artists presented in LADUMA! About 20 impressive photo’s of his Soccer Fan series will be presented. He sent us a description of his experiences:
“My name is Long John Silver”, the man says firmly as he shakes my hand. Finding him was not easy, as I had to maneuver my way through small and dusty streets in Soweto tracing where he lives. He is in his mid sixties and is bare chest probably to keep the heat off as it is scorching hot on this afternoon. “I’m the King of pirates of the sea” he continues with his story. He quickly invites me to his bedroom which is adorned with black and white paraphernalia of a pirate’s world. I spot a long a long samurai sword next to his bed and a face mask. There is also a toy gun on the table.
Kenneth Metiba is one of the many soccer fans who support South African soccer clubs religiously. He is supports Soweto club , Orlando Pirates , ateam he has been since 1947 and he has never turned his support to any other club.Like many of the fans his lifestyle revolves around soccer. He collects any memorabilia that is associated with his club. He is such a devout supporter that when his club looses a match he does not eat for that day.
‘Mzion’ is another hardcore supporter of the Pirates club. He lives in Sebokeng a township outskirts of Johannesburg. Everything in his house reflects his devout support of his favourite club. In his sitting room there is a shrine where he worships before going out to a match. When he ushers me to his bedroom I notice that everything from the bed sheets to the floor mats, everything is adorned with his clubs logos. At the back of his house is a small room which he keeps his variety of ‘amakarapas’.
These are just a few of the soccer fans that I have been following and documenting. I was struck by the zeal and spirit that they show for their clubs. Like many soccer followers I have always seen them for a few seconds on TV blowing vuvuzelas. But after attending a soccer match at the Orlando Stadium in November 2009 for Soweto Derby it brought me closer to the real world of soccer fans.
I noticed quite a number of them carrying water melons, giant loafs of bread, telephone sets, cabbage, giant dolls and many wearing all kind of different masks. When one team scores or almost scores that is when their paraphernalia comes into play. In the midst of frenzy and ecstatic cacophony of different sounds a fan of the winning team will eat the cabbage or the water melon or take a big bite from the giant bread. The act is to send a message to the competing team that ‘we shall eat you up’. In one recent match there was a group of young men who brought along a boiled head of a sheep. They went on to enjoy the meat from now and then. Every prop that the fan brings to the stadium has its meaning and a time for use.
Tracking the supporters back to their homes indicates that their support is real. That is the life they live. Many of them have been supporting their clubs since childhood and the patriotism is being passed on to the younger generations at home.
© Antony Kaminju
Antony Kaminju is exhibiting at this moment in South Africa. Read the article in Mail and Guardian
