By Chris Totobela
The Hollywood Bets Regional League concluded its fixtures a couple of weeks ago while the local premier league ended a week ago with XI Attackers promoted to the regional league. Two other two local sides have been relegated back to the Makana LFA.
This regional league recess has given the local football people an opportunity to look at why local teams are struggling in the regional league and they have come up with some interesting findings. Rhodes University’s sport administrator Siya Dumiso shared his views with Grocott’s Mail. “We have a lot of talent in Makhanda, however, our goals and visions as teams are not clear enough and we do not align our programme according to those goals and visions. We work under a very toxic environment where everyone is pulling in different directions,” said Dumiso.
He added: “Everyone wants to be in the spotlight and wants attention to be on him instead of developing the young talent that we have. What happened in East London recently is a true reflection of what we can achieve in Makhanda when we are united and not putting our selfish interests first. We just need to be serious about developing the talent we have and stop delaying our progress with jealousy and unnecessary squables.” Makana Tigers’ chairman Thandisizwe Matebese believes that the lack of dedicated under 21 players is another contributing factor. “We need to find and train more under 21s that are serious about football, that are hungry to play. Our teams don’t have a structure that is able to lead. Our teams need proper coaches that are well trained and who know what they are doing, not just people who like football,” said Matebese. He lamented lack of sponsorship. “It is also killing our teams,” Matebese said.
Tanduxolo Faxi, the head coach of newly promoted XI Attackers, echoed the same sentiments. “According to what I have witnessed over the years, I think the lack of financial support is a major downfall of our teams.”
Meanwhile, the coach of the now relegated Jacaranda Aces, Asanda Koliti, looked at this from a different angle. “I don’t really think our teams struggle in the regional league, as I believe that we have enough talent in Makhanda. The only problem is that some of us have small squads to work with and once you get hit by injuries and suspensions, you get into deep trouble. As for us, we had a very young squad but we managed to compete against the best teams in the league and it is a pity that we were hit by injuries at the crucial time of the season and had to reshuffle players,” Koliti explained. He complained that some teams have big squads of about 40 good players, and some of the players don’t get to be used for an entire season and yet are not loaned out to other teams with smaller squads. This, he said, shows a lack of unity in local football. “Teams only think of themselves and compete against each other trying to prove who is the best instead of working together. With the talent we have, we can easily have a team in the ABC Motsepe League.”
Former Maru coach, Andile Bobotyana, also shared his views. “Playing in the regional league is no child’s play, there are too many costs involved, transport to away games, pre-match meals and a match fee of R200 for each game. Most of the time these costs are carried by individuals out of their own pockets.
Bobotyana said Rhodes University and St Andrew’s College helped teams in the past. “Sponsors are no longer interested in our football and maybe they are more interested in grassroots football. There is also infighting that is killing our teams as each one wants to be seen as the main man.” Xolela Tyelbooi, a religious local football follower who is also a former Santos’ defender, believes local football is going nowhere if the status quo carries on. “We are all pulling in different directions and everyone wants to be a coach. We need to sit down and come up with one team that all Makhandans will identify with and stop what is currently happening in our football.”
Sophia Stars’ director of football, Thulani Msipha, pointed to lack of unity. “I think the lack of proper planning from management and a lack of discipline is a major problem. These teams don’t want to invest in young players. Some teams have about 45 players in their squads and have to keep everyone happy while chopping and changing their line ups. That results in inconsistency as you try and keep everyone happy.
“Our teams do not want to see their counterparts succeeding, which clearly shows that there is no unity in our football.”
One of the underrated tacticians Makhanda has ever had, former Joza Callies head coach and manager, Louis Ntlanjeni, did not beat around the bush in his analysis. “Even in the next 10 years our football will still be in the same position, as we have egos that are taking us nowhere. We are not united in Makhanda. For example, we had a team that was safe from relegation playing against a team that was on the verge of being relegated, but they still went all out to beat that team and dumped them out of the regional league, not knowing that having more teams from Makhanda in that league reduces traveling costs. The LFA, coaches, administrators and all football people need to sit down and try and save our football as it is going nowhere. This season alone we have two teams that have been relegated and some people are rejoicing about that and sometimes we have people backing away teams that are playing against local sides and that shows how divided we are.”
Former United Royals’ legend and current Black Stars’ chairman, said only two things will help improve local football – good coaches who know what they are doing and players that are willing to play, are passionate and disciplined. “If we get that right the rest will follow,” he said.
The footballing community has once again spoken out, but it should not just end here, there needs to be action. Last year, football people called for a soccer Indaba but it never happened and if there was any good time for it, now would be it, to finally sort out local football once and for all as all those associated with it habour the desire to see it grow.
