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Andrew Watson: The 'most influential' black footballer for decades lost to history

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  By Andrew Aloia BBC Sport Last updated on 11 October 2021 11 October 2021 . From the section Football Watson was a trailblazer who helped transform how football was played There are two murals of black footballers facing one another across an alleyway in Glasgow. One helped shape football as we know it, the other is Pele. Andrew Watson captained Scotland to a 6-1 win over England on his debut in 1881. He was a pioneer, the world's first black international, but for more than a century the significance of his achievements went unrecognised. Research conducted over the past three decades has left us with some biographical details: a man descended of slaves and of those who enslaved them, born in Guyana, raised to become an English gentleman and famed as one of Scottish football's first icons. And yet today, 100 years on from his death aged 64, Watson remains something of an enigma, the picture built around him a fractured one. His grainy, faded, sepia image evokes many differen
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TAKE A LOOK | Inside SA’s first Ankole cattle auction, with Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrice Motsepe

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 James Oatway , Business Insider SA

 May 04, 2021, 08:11 AM
30 April 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa during bi
(James Oatway)
  • The first auction of Ankole cattle in South Africa attracted a President – and a business mogul.
  • Both Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrice Motsepe were spotted at the auction, with one selling and one buying.
  • Ramaphosa described as "incredible" the scientific innovation that allowed the breed to be established in South Africa.
  • Organisers were thrilled at "astronomical" prices, including R2.7 million for a bull.
  • For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

The organisers of South Africa's first auction of Ankole cattle said they were thrilled by the "astronomical" prices achieved – with some recognisable faces in attendance.

Of the more than R10 million in cattle sold at the National Ankole Auction on Friday, a quarter by value came from the herd of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He is the biggest breeder of the majestic cattle in South Africa, from his Ntaba Nyoni Estates in eastern Mpumalanga.

See also | President Ramaphosa’s Ankole cattle just sold for R2.7 million – with bull ‘Mufasa’ voted best

On the buying side was business mogul Patrice Motsepe – who set the tone by arriving in a helicopter.

Motsepe currently has a complicated relationship with some other farmers in South Africa.

Take a look inside the auction

During remarks, Ramaphosa described the "incredible scientific innovation" that allowed the breed to be established in South Africa.

30 April 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa during th
(James Oatway)

Disease control measures would not allow the import of animals from Uganda, where Ramaphosa encountered Ankole when he met the country's President Yoweri Museveni in 2004. Ramaphosa imported embryos instead.

Ramaphosa cast an eye over some young cows...

30 April 2021. President Ramaphosa inspects a youn
(James Oatway)

... and checked out the horns on a young bull named Kovu.

30 April 2021. President Ramaphosa inspects the ho
(James Oatway)

Kovu sold for R240,000.

Ramaphosa was not the only high-profile guest. Patrice Motsepe arrived at the auction by helicopter....

30 April 2021. One of South Africaâ??s richest men
(James Oatway)

... and spent more than R1 million.

30 April 2021. Patrice Motsepe spent more than R1-
(James Oatway)

Meanwhile, the podium featured former Springbok and Blue Bulls rugby player Victor Matfield.

30 April 2021. Auctioneer Brandon Leer at work whi
(James Oatway)

Matfield watched for bids, alongside auctioneer Brandon Leer.

The sale included such impressive specimens as Jupiter, which sold for R700,000.

30 April 2021. Jupiter the prize Ankole bull. Anko
(James Oatway)

Several cows and bulls sold for well under R100,000 each. At the other end of the spectrum, the full-bodied bull Sebastiaan sold for R300,000.


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Go to the Business Insider front page for more stories.

Tagged In

cyril ramaphosa patrice motsepe ankole bulls cattle auction
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