sports
My Arsenal devotion began with watching them lose in a South African cinema
As a boy in the apartheid era I saw footage of the Gunners beaten in the 1969 League Cup final – on Saturday I will attend the Champions League showpiece with my son
TL;DR
- The author's love for Arsenal began in apartheid South Africa in 1969, seeing footage of a League Cup final loss.
- Football provided a connection and escape for the author and his students in Soweto.
- He moved to England in 1984 and experienced Arsenal matches firsthand, finding a sense of belonging.
- The author highlights Arsenal's integration and stance against racism in the 1980s.
- The article chronicles the Arsène Wenger era and its impact on English football and the author's career.
- The author's passion is now shared with his son, Jack, leading to their attendance at the Champions League final.
- The narrative contrasts moments of agony and ecstasy, reflecting the emotional rollercoaster of supporting Arsenal.