WATCH: Debate rages on over the lack of white players in South African football

WATCH: Debate rages on over the lack of white players in South African football

Cape Town Spurs veteran Michael Morton has weighed in on why there are so few white players in South African football.

The debate was sparked earlier this week when former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Matthew Booth said the lack of white footballers was due to a class issue, rather than a racial one.

Speaking on the issue on his account on X, formerly Twitter, Morton attributed the lack of white footballers in South Africa to young players choosing rugby, cricket and other sports once they reach high school.

“I think I may be qualified to enter this conversation,” Morton said in a video posted on X.

“I don’t think the problem is as guys get to 18 or 19 years old. Those players, once they’ve reached that point, they’re going to the next level.

“It’s moreso at 13 and 14 where they make the jump to high school. The old traditional ”Model C“ white schools don’t take football very seriously, and I think we lose a lot of very talented footballers in that jump where they have to chose between cricket, rugby and a whole bunch of other sports and football is not really taken that seriously.”

Morton added: “Community run clubs are also struggling financially and the level is not that great. I think we are losing a lot of talented footballers in that period.

“That’s my personal experience. I’ve played with a lot of talented guys that when they jumped to high school, didn’t carry on playing football.

On Thursday, former player and television pundit Booth, addressing the issue of the lack of white footballers in South Africa, said: “It’s middle class and upper class kids who perhaps are finding training a little bit difficult, or they have to go to areas where they feel unsafe, or the referee does not turn up, or the league is badly organised. And then the middle class and upper class say ‘Mom, dad, I am going to focus on my studies or I am going to sit at home and play X-Box’,” Booth added.

Speaking on the matter two years ago, Jesse Donn, who plays for SuperSport United, said: “I think it’s a very controversial subject of course but I just think a lot of white players tend to swerve more towards rugby or cricket and I know this because that’s what happened to some of my friends.”

Earlier this week, Morton, who has played football professionally for the last 15 or so years, spoke to IOL Sport about planning for his future when he finally hangs up his boots. That story will be published on Sunday.

IOL Sport