ResourcesNo.52
January 2008
 
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Book Review
Anneliese Goslin & Darlene Kluka

 

Van Dijk, L. (2006).
Crossing the Line
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
ISBN: 0 – 79602 – 854 – 7. Cost: $8.00 USD
Crossing the Line, although a novel written for young readers, came to our attention recently at a Women and Sport Conference held at Wykeham Collegiate in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The book’s cover immediately attracted our attention, as an image of a young black male in a faded red athletics shirt and the book’s title with a soccer ball used as the “O” in the book’s title (Crossing the Line), was nearly irresistible. Upon closer examination, the content was also intriguing. Author Lutz van Dijk skillfully weaves a story about Themba, a rural boy, who achieves a lifelong dream to become a player on the South African National Soccer Team and, by the way, he has HIV/AIDS.
Although the story revolves around Themba, his younger sister, Nometha, and a community filled with misunderstandings, misperceptions and limited tolerances for those with HIV/AIDS, the author creates an environment using the sport of soccer to open cognitive and emotional pathways for young readers toward understanding and acceptance of those who are directly and indirectly affected by the virus.
This book has the potential to be used by any sport science, physical education or coach education professional worldwide. Not only does the book feature the plight of rural South Africa, but also uses sport as a vehicle for social change for future adults. The book, although written for young South African readers, also has a Teacher’s Guide that facilitates the transformation of paradigms to deal with 21st Century issues involving the world’s youth.
Proceeds from the sale of the book go to a South African non-government organisation, HOKSIA (Homes for Kids in South Africa). The organisation provides homes for youngsters affected by AIDS in townships in and around Cape Town.


Contact
Prof. Dr. Anneliese Goslin
University of Pretoria
Center for Leisure Studies
Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences
Pretoria, South Africa
Email: anneliese.goslin@up.ac.za

Prof. Dr. Darlene Kluka
University of Pretoria
Center for Leisure Studies
Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences
Pretoria, South Africa
Email: eyesport@aol.com
darlene.kluka@up.ac.za




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