25 June 2010, 02:00 p.m.

With South Africa caught in the grip of unprecedented soccer fever, a new movie, Soccer – South of the Umbilo – will add to the excitement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The movie will open with a soccer-star studded premiere in Durban this weekend.

Iconic coach and others

Soccer –  South of the Umbilo focuses on former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker and other successful soccer players from the Umbilo area in KwaZulu Natal. Barker led the Bafana Bafana to an unforgettable victory in the 1996 Africa Confederations Cup.

The director John Barker, is Clive’s son, and the movie focus on the role that soccer played in his dad and other KwaZulu-Natal soccer icons’ lives. 

 

Only a few left

He was quoted on EWN this morning saying: “When we were growing up in our neighborhood there were eight strong teams and there are only three or two left, and they are not going to come from there anymore because there are no teams playing football anymore - and that needs to change,” said John. 

 

Produced many soccer greats

 

The area south of Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province is affectionately known as “South of the Umbilo” and even though it consists mostly of middle- and low income suburbs it has produced many of the country’s most talented soccer stars.

Other stars featured in the film are Mark Fish, Doc Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, André Arendse, Neil Tovey, Gordon Igesund, Professor Ngubane, Brummie De Leur, Calvin Petersen, Roger de Sa, Sean Dundee, George Dearnaley and Dillon Sheppard.