Locked Down Spectator

 *** This article was first published in February 2023. It was ahead of India's tour to South Africa, as well as the controversial Proteas squad announcement for the tour to New Zealand in February 2024... *** If there ever was a case of becoming a victim of one’s own success, the sport of cricket can attest to this double-edged sword. Namely, Twenty20 cricket. This shortened form of the game took the sport by storm back in 2003 when English cricket implemented it to regain the waning attention of spectators at stadiums and viewers at home. It made perfect sense, for the Gentlemen’s Game – Test, First-Class, One Day International and List-A – was struggling to hold the attention of fans at the start of the 21st century. There were already more than enough distractions in the day of the average cricket lover to deter them from going to the stadium or plopping down on the coach to see how the Proteas could navigate a particularly tricky lunch-to-tea session against an unexpectedly co...

*** This article was first published in February 2023, before any significant developments on the African and European footballing calendars since then ***  The smartest decision CAF has made this century – or last decade to be specific – was moving the Africa Cup of Nations from January to June/July. The scheduling before proved to be menacing to Europe’s leagues, whether they were the prestigious ones or otherwise. This was understandable, considering how the continent’s best players were now plying their trade up north. Having to let go of these valuable individuals so that they could go do international duty in the demanding period during and after the festive season regularly derailed a team’s campaign, so the grumblings of discontent were justified. Up until the 2000s, African leagues ran from February until November and December, so having AFCONs take place when they did was perfectly sensible. However, it was only a matter of time before many local football associations – n...