Top from left: Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, Argentinian
striker Carlos Tevez and S. African mid-fielder Steven Pienaar.
Below: Alexandra Ladies FC
Below: Alexandra Ladies FC
An article in The Independent reports that South Africa has placed a ban on guns in football stadiums for the duration of the World Cup.
Independent:
A campaign led by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) aims to extend the ban beyond the World Cup.
The UK fashion designer Katherine Hamnett came up with the T-shirt for the campaign emblazoned with the slogan "Don't Shoot: Gun-Free World Cup." It's a graphic and up-front approach to getting out the message.
Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez shared his personal story and what motivates him to get behind the campaign: "Guns have no place in sport, or in society... And if it's possible to have a gun-free World Cup, why stop there? When I was growing up in Buenos Aires, I often heard gunshots at night, and I had to choose between following my dream, football, or falling into a life of crime. Hopefully, the World Cup will inspire kids in South Africa in the same way."
Football violence involving guns occurred at the Africa Cup of Nations. On the way to the tournament the Togo team bus came under machine gun fire. Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba who played in the African tournament said: “The World Cup is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate what is great about Africa. We should all work together to make sure the violence that threatened the African Cup of Nations is never repeated.”
Samuel Modiba, proprietor of the Alexandra Ladies FC featured in the above photo, believes there should be a more extensive gun ban in S. Africa: "It's important that guns aren't just banned from football stadiums for the duration of the World Cup. We should work to take them off the streets entirely..."
Africa coordinator for IANSA, James Dube, concurs: "The fact that guns are banned from stadiums for the World Cup is great news. But we really want to see guns banned across the board."
Link to Independent article - IANSA
Independent:
Premier League footballers have launched a campaign to banish guns from South Africa during the World Cup – and for the future.
For the first time in the country's history, personal firearms will be banned from stadiums during the tournament. But, when the contest finishes on 11 July, guns will once again be allowed in all public places.
Every year in South Africa, some 10,000 people are killed with guns. Those who have fallen victim to the country's lax gun laws are disappointed that measures to take guns off the streets will be only temporary.
A campaign led by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) aims to extend the ban beyond the World Cup.
The UK fashion designer Katherine Hamnett came up with the T-shirt for the campaign emblazoned with the slogan "Don't Shoot: Gun-Free World Cup." It's a graphic and up-front approach to getting out the message.
Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez shared his personal story and what motivates him to get behind the campaign: "Guns have no place in sport, or in society... And if it's possible to have a gun-free World Cup, why stop there? When I was growing up in Buenos Aires, I often heard gunshots at night, and I had to choose between following my dream, football, or falling into a life of crime. Hopefully, the World Cup will inspire kids in South Africa in the same way."
Football violence involving guns occurred at the Africa Cup of Nations. On the way to the tournament the Togo team bus came under machine gun fire. Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba who played in the African tournament said: “The World Cup is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate what is great about Africa. We should all work together to make sure the violence that threatened the African Cup of Nations is never repeated.”
Samuel Modiba, proprietor of the Alexandra Ladies FC featured in the above photo, believes there should be a more extensive gun ban in S. Africa: "It's important that guns aren't just banned from football stadiums for the duration of the World Cup. We should work to take them off the streets entirely..."
Africa coordinator for IANSA, James Dube, concurs: "The fact that guns are banned from stadiums for the World Cup is great news. But we really want to see guns banned across the board."
Link to Independent article - IANSA
