‘FOOTBALL ‘UNGODLY’ TAG TO BE HISTORY’

EZULWINI – Sport, in particular football, has always been perceived as ‘ungodly’ but the Bible Society Cup is here to eliminate that belief.

This is the view of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga. He was the guest of honour in yesterday’s official launch of the third edition of the annual Bible Society Cup, a ‘Bible in the soccerfield’ event set for June 15 this year.

“As an introductory note, I should state that the Bible Society’s involvement in sport, particularly football, is vital in addressing one of the biggest myths on the church and sport. Many forms of sport, particularly football, have been portrayed as ‘ungodly’ and for a long time many believers have been afraid to follow their various sporting passions.

“To have the Bible Society take the lead, by taking the Bible into the soccer field destroys that stereotype and now Christians are able to enjoy their various sporting passions which go even beyond football,” Minister Bulunga remarked much to a huge round of applause.

believers

He said the Bible was also a way of life and uses sporting examples to inspire, warn and guide believers. He quoted 2nd Timothy 4 verses 7-8 where Apostle Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day,”

He explained that two sporting analogies were evident there to inspire believers, that of ‘fighting the good fight and ‘finishing the race’.
“In the same sport we talk about the importance of sportsmanship and perseverance. The Bible sets the foundation for the creation of morally upright human beings. It is in the Bible where we find guidance, as well as inspiration as to how we are to live and interact with other people,” he said.

He said through this initiative, human beings of good moral standard would be developed, to have athletes who can tell between right and wrong from a tender age and also be able to refrain from doping and age-cheating among other mischief.

complement

He said the Bible and sport will always complement each other as they promote integrity, accountability, hard work and many other values. He encouraged athletes to use their God given talents for the betterment of the society while thanking the Bible Society, for partnering with football again this year as he looks forward to a good tournament.

Meanwhile, Bible Society Cup Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ngcebo Mbuli also expressed their excitement at partnering with football for this initiative, saying there were many questions when they started in 2017, with some of the views that football was evil.

conceived

However, he thanked the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) for welcoming them, as they felt that they were taking the Bible to places conceived as darkest. He said they had fans and players who were Christians, and all they wanted to achieve as a society was to see people carry their Bibles and actually get to read them, as they sought healing by just reading it.

growing

The Society’s Board Chairman Dr. Nomsa Mndzebele thanked PLE for welcoming them and said this global event was growing in leaps and bounds.
She said when they started; she had no idea about football, but now she knew more about off-sides and hopes to learn more as they take this initiative forward together with the PLE.

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