While Gandhiji used the game of football as a tool of satyagraha in South Africa

New Delhi, January 30, 2021, Saturday

People are aware of many aspects of Satyagraha, fasting and non-violence of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. But very few people know that this great man with a slender body is also interested in the game of football. Surprisingly, Ko also used the game of football as a medium in the anti-apartheid satyagraha in South Africa. He started spreading his word against the black law of the British for the first time through the game of football. Gandhiji saw that even the underprivileged people of South Africa have a good attachment to football.

The first football club to be established in Durban in 1901 was followed by the 14th Indian Football Club. So football could prove to be very effective in spreading political ideas. That is why Gandhiji became the manager of the Passive Resister football club in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Gandhiji also taught his football team to struggle with the game through non-violence and truth. They also believe that the game has a wonderful ability to cultivate team spirit.

In addition to Phoenix, there was a place called Wallastap Farm which used the money for the football game played here for poor families fighting against apartheid laws. Joe's goal in a football match between the Johannesburg and Pretoria teams in 1910 was to protest the arrest of 100 comrades who had been arrested for speaking out against separatist black law.