Xenophobia: Vat jou goed en trek Parreira

Former Bafana-Bafana coach Parreira, a few weeks before he left the country in a hurry, recommended a quota system which would limit the number of foreign players in the Premier Soccer League in order to groom local players for the national squad.

There has been so many theories about the xenophobic chaos in the country: poverty, third force and others. What about the Parreira Theory? Could it be just coincidence that the unrest started a few weeks after he had made the recommendations and the masses took that as a clarion call to implement his recommendations in informal settlements? New coach Santana does not know what he is letting himself in for.

The there is the Blade Runner who won an international court battle, at his own expense, to run for his country at the Olympics, without pay. Now that is patriotism for you. On the other hand you have Benni McCarthy, earning millions in the UK, reportedly turning his back on his country again, refusing to come and play, even when paid an appearance fee.

When I think of this trio, Benni, Parreira and the Blade Runner, and the recent events in the country, I can’t help thinking of the old Afrikaans song Vat jou goed and trek Ferreira .The bloody tune keeps playing in my head:

Benni met die hoepel-bene
Benni met die hoepel-bene
Vat jou goed en trek Parreira
Bennie met die hoepel been.

Then there is the other song which is repeating itself over and over in my head: Tant Sarah op Kimberley se trein:
Hoe ry die trein
Hoe ry die trein
Kimberley se trein

Askies Tant Sarah
Met jou bloekom blare
Askies Santana
Met jou bloekom blarah.

Maybe it is because I recently bought renowned South African jazz pianist Don Laka’s CD entitled Invitation, which includes a track of the haunting, catchy jazz version of Vat Jou Goed en Trek. Check it out. It is a must- have for collectors of Africana.