![]() | Resources | No.52 January 2008 |
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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 ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 |