It is that time of the year once again when young men have to face reality and go to the mountains in order to be real men. But this year is different as the circumcision schools will be held simultaneously with the 2010 FIFA world soccer games. This has left many of those involved in the schools with a big headache. They know this year could be disastrous as no one is prepared to sacrifice the games for anything, initiates included. The House of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo has taken an unusual step by allowing television sets at circumcision schools this year. The chairperson of the Task Team dealing with circumcision schools, Chief Vusani Netshimbupfe, said they had considered the importance of the 2010 FIFA world soccer games before taking a decision to allow the television sets at circumcision schools. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for all, including the initiates who will be in the bush during the games, to watch them. We cannot afford to deny these people this once-off chance,” he said. He said they knew many would question their decision, but they had carefully looked into the matter and concluded on granting them the chance. “Others would say that we are breaching culture, but we must understand that culture has to move with the lives of the people, move with the times, otherwise it would be extinct,” he said. The decision by the task team has not gone down well with certain sections of the community. Traditionalists feel that televisions at initiation schools are a further erosion of the culture. More than 300 initiation schools were registered in Limpopo last year. This year the number is not yet known, as they are still registering.