Football - or soccer, as we call it - is the most widely played sport in South Africa, with its traditional support base in the black community. For many South Africans, rugby is a serious matter, a source of bursting pride - or shattering disappointment. The country has traditionally fared well on the world stage, and SA fans expect the national team to win every game they play.
SA cricket was isolated from the rest of the world for 21 years because of apartheid. Isolation came at a time when the country could fairly claim to be the top test-playing nation in the world, having just pummelled the powerful Australians. South Africa has the weather, the courses .
.. and the players.
The country has produced some of the best in the game, including multiple major winners Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and a host of others that regularly challenge for titles around the world. Thirty-five South African fighters have won 49 world boxing titles between them - including "road warrior" Brian Mitchell, whose record 12 title defences were fought almost exclusively abroad, and "Baby Jake" Matlala, with four titles in three weight divisions. It's no wonder that South Africans love long-distance challenges - the country's climate and contrasting landscape is ideal for endurance sport activities.
Horse racing is a popular sport in SA, with regular racing taking place around the country. The sport enjoys a long and rich history in South Africa that can be traced back to 1797! The world's biggest sporting event is coming to South Africa.
Find out more ...
Get up to speed with what's happening in South African sport. Profiles of some of South Africa's most outstanding sportsmen and women.
News RSS