Loop en val By aanhoor van Matthews Motshwarateu

Loop en val (By aanhoor van Matthews Motshwarateu se dood) Digter: DJ Opperman

Inhoud • Einde van Loop-en-val (Sy Bynaam) se lewe • Gedig is ‘n reaksie op ‘n berig van sy dood in die koerant • Hartseer dat so ‘n talentvolle atleet op so ‘n tragiese en wreedaardige wyse moes sterf • Sy “laaste wedloop” was so onnodig en ondenkbaar

Strofe een: versreëls 1 - 5 • • • Wie sou ooit kon dink (Who would ever think) dat dit so sou wees? Jy wat soveel rondtes (that it would end (be) like that? You, who could do so many rounds) om die baan triomfanklik kon loop (triumphantly around the track) en val (and fall) ongemaklik, die kommiek van totale toewyding – (uncomfortably, comically but totally committed -)

Versreëls 6 - 11 • • • Wie sou ooit die afloop van jou laaste wedloop (Who would ever think that your last race would end) só voorsien? Jy wat eens die rekords (like this? You who could obtain records) en medaljes (and medals) amper na willekeur kon verwerf: Neergeskiet (almost at will: Shot down) in Molape onderweg na huis (in Molape on your way home) wie het kon dink (who could think)

Strofe twee / Tweede strofe • • Op drie-en-veertig sou jy (At the age of fourty three you would) met vier koeëls in jou lyf roemloos (with four bullets in your body and without fame) oor die wenstreep (over the winning line) val (fall)

Strofe drie / Derde strofe • • hulpwaarts (towards help) kruip (crawl)

• Tuesday, November 6, 2001 • Loop en Val killed for a paltry R 30 ROAD RUNNING Bob Norris THE past few days have been emo-tional ones for the road running world. The death of one of South Africa~s all time greats, Matthews Motshwarateu, in a senseless manner, is devastating. 'Loop en Val', as he was affectionately known, was gunned down and robbed of R 30 in Soweto and died in hospital days later. On Sunday the Soweto Marathon was run in rememberance of Motshwarateu and it is hoped the tragedy will streng~-then the resolve of all our people to eliminate thuggery and crime. Motshwarateu was a humble man despite towering above the sporting world in the late 70 s, through the 80 s and into the early 90 s. He became the first South African to break 28 minutes for 10000 m and won numerous track and cross country titles. He was a tough competitor, winning the SA half-marathon and holding the 10 km record for some time. He went on to represent his country at the half -marathon, on the track and in the road relay. I was privileged to have managed the SA relay team which included Motshwarateu to the Berlin Ekiden in 1992.

• On this trip he proved what a fine team man he was. Prior to selection he was one of two certainties, but lost form in the build-up to the event. A tough decision to replace him with reserve runner Adam Motlagale, mere days before the race, was made easier by the personality and team commitment of Motshwarateu, who filled the role of assisting with and motivating the team to a superb fourth place in their first outing at such an event. The entire contingent that made up that relay team were and are running greats. They, more than any others, should today be playing leading roles in South African athletics. The team included Mathews Temane, Xolile Yawa, Meshack Mogotsi and Motlagale. Just as difficult to fathom is the lack of media coverage of so great an athletes senseless death. The connotations are obvious and sad. p The president of Athletics South Africa, Leonard Chuene, paying tribute to Motshwarateu, who died on his birthday, said the South African athletics fraternity mourned the tragic and untimely death of one of the greatest and finest athletes the world has ever known.

• ''Had it not been for the evil system of apartheid, Matthews would no doubt have been one of the athletes who would have not only represented our beloved country at the Olympics, but would have done so with distinction. That a hero of the people, and a soldier in the army of good, should have his life usurped by a villain, in such a callous and cold-blooded manner, is a serious indictment on the fabric of our society. ''I believe that for us sports people, the murder of Matthews should mark a turning point. It should serve as our moment of truth. At this dark hour we should ask ourselves what our role is in combating crime. Furthermore, we should be honest in answering the question: Have we played this role and, if yes, to what extent? ''I believe that by multiplying and intensifying our efforts in creating competition opportunities, particularly in the previously disadvantaged communities, we will go a long way to providing an alternative for the young boys who hijack cars and rob innocent people of their hard-earned means. ''Let us all say with one voice, enough is enough, '' the president of South African Athletics said.

Esterhuyzen

Inhoud • Die gedig is oor “Loop en val” se laaste wedloop wat onnodig en sinneloos was • Geskryf a. g. v. ‘n berig wat in die koerant verskyn het. • Hy het ‘n komiese hardloopstyl gehad maar was meestal die oorwinnaar • Hy kon nie ‘n sinnelose manier van sterf oorwin nie

RETORIESE VRAAG • Die retoriese vraag word 3 keer gevra – HOEKOM? • Dit dui en beklemtoon die ongeloof van die spreker oor Loop-en-val se onverwagse dood • Vier koeëls het sy liggaam binne gedring

Huiswaarts word nou hulpwaarts • Dit verwys na Loop-en val- se laaste loop voordat hy geval en grondwaarts gestort het • Geen hulp sou sy lewe kon red nie • Die woord wenstreep = ironiese betekenis • Die verwysing na ‘n erg beseerde Loop-enval wat op die grond kruip op soek na hulp, herinner sterk aan die tragiese prentjies van Comradeshardlopers aan die einde van die wedstryd.

Hoe oud was hy? • Hy was drie-en-veertig jaar oud • Sterf ‘n wreedaardige dood • As ‘n bykans vergete en onbekende voormalige atleet

Kontras • Die beklemtoning van die woord “Só” in reël twee en in reël sewe – dui die kontras aan van hoe dit vroeër was en hoe dit nou is. • Ons vind hierdie kontras dwardeur die gedig, ook in die kontrasterende stelleing dat hy vroeër na willekeur sy lewe kon beheer, terwyl hy aan die einde geen beheer gehad het oor wat met hom gebeur het nie.

Hardloopstyl • Dit is sy uitsonderlike hardloopstyl wat hom so merkwaardig gemaak het • Hy het op ‘n komiese manier gehardloop en tog geslaag om rekords te verbeter en groot name in atletiek uit te stof • Hy het sy bynaam gekry oor die vreemde manier waarop hy gehardloop het. • Het altyd gelyk asof hy enige oomblik balans kon verloor en val • Maar in sy laaste “wedstryd” het hy werklik geval

Derde dimensie • • • Was loop en val Nou word “kruip” ook bygevoeg IRONIE: Woorde soos “laaste wedloop” “wenstreep” Daar is geen wensituasie hier nie – die wenstreep is ‘n verloopstreep

Agtergrondkennis • Motshwarateu was in die 70’s en 80’s een van SA se kleurrykste atlete • Het lomp en onritmies gelyk, asof hy enige oomblik kon val • In April 1978 het hy Ewlad Bonzet in die 5000 in Stellenbosh geklop • ‘n Jaar later het hy Bonzet se 10 000 meter rekord verpletter • Hy het ‘n studiebeurs gewen om in Texas te studeer • In 1980 verbeter hy die 10 km padwedloop met 24 sek. • Na sy atletiekjare, terug in SA, voer hy ‘n sukkelbestaan

Vervolg…. • Toe hy op 43 sterf was hy so arm dat sy gesin nie eers vir sy begrafnis kon betaal nie • Gedig is gebaseer op die koerantberig wat op 11 November 2001 in die Sunday Times verskyn het

Opsomming van gedig • 1 -3 Spreker is verstom omdat hy so gesterf het. • 4 en val (staan alleen /tipografie) dit beklemtoon die laaste val van sy lewe 5 Vreemde hardloopstyl (komieklik) maar hy het baie hard geoefen 6 -7 gedeeltelike herhaling van reël 1 Beklemtoon onbesonnenheid van dood Reël 7 is op inhoud van koerant gebaseer

Versreëls…. • 8 het rekords, oorwinnings en medaljes gehad • 9 impliseer dat hy maklik / na willekeur kon wen • 10 enjambement – reël 9 gaan oor in reël 10 en vertel dat hy doodgeskiet is • 11 Vra weer (verbaas) wie sou kon dink hy sou so doodgaan?

Versreëls…. • 12 -15 43 jaar oud. 4 Koeëls. Roemloos – impliseer dat hy byna vergete was toe hy dood was / nie meer bekend nie – sou nie meer opstaan as hy “val” nie • 16 -17 Val neer en kruip om hulp te soek (al was hy voorheen beroemd) Retoriese vraag – maar vraag eindig hierdie keer nie met ‘n ? Nie. Beklemtoon dat niemand hom gehelp het nie – sterf in armoede – nie eers genoeg geld vir ‘n begrafnis nie