The peculiarities of South African culture are astonishing. From ethnic diversity to extravagant traditions, the country boasts a wide range of so many interesting things to discover.
Today, we will touch only on one aspect of South Africans’ lifestyle, which is sport and recreational activities. Given the popularity of online sports betting and the many available betting platforms as mentioned here in the country, it is impossible not to talk about what kinds of sport are most practiced by people living in the former Dutch colony and most developed country on the African continent.
We will get started from the least to most popular sport in South Africa:
Basketball
South Africa definitely has some other sports activities locals are known for, but introduced in the beginning of the 20th century basketball has a role in the nation’s sports interests to the extent that government authorities have established the Basketball National League.
Golf
The next one South Africans have relished watching and playing since the early 1900s is golf. The government’s Sunshine Tour is a good opportunity for new players to prove themselves as future professionals in order to then compete in large-scale tournaments.
Tennis
The people of South Africa do know how to wield a racket to get another point when playing tennis, for South Africa is home to a plethora of tennis competitions with one of the most famous events being SA Open.
Netball
Previously unheard for many, Netball is one of South Africa’s recreational and competitive sports. With as many as over two million people interested in the netball game, this activity is widespread among the female population and dates back to over 100 years ago.
Hockey
Surprisingly, South Africa is a passionate participant of hockey. Those who want to enter into the professional realm of this sport have to go through the Premier Hockey League led by the government and prove themselves worthy of competing in high-level matches overseas. It is as early as the 1800s that hockey became present in the country.
Swimming
The country where the sun always shines bright cannot go by without swimming as the national sport and an activity to enjoy during the weekends. When looking for South African swimming athletes, do not overlook Chad le Clos, who is a nation’s representative able to compete at top-level in various styles.
Athletics
South African athletes are known in all parts of the world as they are able to show prowess on a global arena. What is more, the country hosts Two Ocean and Comrades Marathons each year, attracting other talented sportsmen from abroad.
Cricket
For cricket enthusiasts, the name Proteas does ring a bell as it is a name of the national team. The first introduction of the game can be traced back to the 19th century leading to international cricket competitions such as the One-Day Cup and the T20 Ram Slam.
Rugby
Rugby is a sport of unity and strength, as found by many in South Africa. The national team performs under the name of Springboks, serving as a country’s glory on an international arena. Believe or not, but Nelson Mandela himself was a distinguished player of rugby back in the days.
Soccer
Of course, soccer is the biggest part of South African sports culture. It was first played in 1859 while its most famous player is midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Proudly the biggest participation in the country, it is estimated that more than 2 million people actively participae in soccer, while many more follow the game at international and club level. In terms of sporting highlights, South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African country to stage the event.
The national team, affectionately known as Bafana Bafana (the Boys), hasn’t always produced the greatest results but draws a great deal of admiration because of its aesthetically pleasing style of play, not to mention the ever-passionate fans, known around the world for their love of noise and celebration.
However, in recent years, the South African soccer scene has been thrilling, with our beloved women’s national team, Banyana Banyana securing their first-ever World Cup knockout spot in 2023, with Bafana Bafana claiming an AFCON Bronze in the same year.
