The drying South Africa channel
South Africa has been the obvious destination for local players seeking green pastures. But in recent years, the footballers’ footsteps crossing the border into the neighbouring country are growing feint. What has gone wrong? asks Staff Writer,
The movement of Botswana players to the South African leagues has been relentless since the turn of the millennium. The more illustrious names include Mogogi Gabonamong, Diphetogo Selolwane, Joel Mogorosi, Modiri Marumo, Dirang and Pontsho Moloi, Mogakolodi Ngele, Ofentse Nato, Jerome Ramatlhakwana, Boitumelo Mafoko and Phenyo Mongala, and most recently, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.
While in what can be classified as under the radar moves, there was Ntesang ‘Mirror’ Simanyana, Thabang Sesinyi, Galabgwe Moyana, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Thero Setsile, Ezekiel Morake, Mosha ‘Zim Dollar’ Ndlovu, Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Onkabetse Mankgantai, Simisani Mathumo, Lebogang Ditsile, Lesenya Ramorake, Mpho Kgaswane and Kabelo Seakanyeng.
‘Zim Dollar’ was Botswana’s last export to South Africa, when he moved to Pretoria Callies in the second-tier league, the Glad Africa Championship last August. No Botswana player was signed by South Africa’s top league sides last season, where only Ditlhokwe and Ngele are the remaining ambassadors. Overall, there are only three Botswana players in the South African leagues. This marks a sharp decline that has left the local football family wondering what could have led to the drop.
Most of the moves happened around the time the Zebras were emerging as a force and continued until the decline became amplified around 2019. The situation was exacerbated through some self-inflicted decisions where there was no local action for nearly two years, between 2020 and late last year. This saw the Zebras play fewer matches, while local players continued to gather the cobwebs. The inactivity affected players’ movements, with a flash in the pan ‘Zim Dollar’ deal sealed at a time when there was no action.
While over the years the Zebras have grown in stature, there has been a sharp reversal, with the team now ranked 148 in the world, and among the 12 lowest-placed nations in Africa.
But over the same period, there has been a kind shift in club football with both Township Rollers and Jwaneng Galaxy progressing to the group stages of the CAF Champions League in recent seasons. However, the breakthroughs and exposure have not translated to moves for players. Instead, there has been a new route, with players heading up north to join Morocco sides in deals reportedly brokered by former Zebras coach, Adel Amrouche.
Seakanyeng, Mathumo, Tumisang Orebonye, and Mothusi Cooper are some of the players who have signed for Morocco clubs.
There has been Zambia, but Cooper’s stay was cut short across the Zambezi River, predictably over unfulfilled contractual obligations from Lusaka Dynamos. South Africa, due to proximity, the financial stability of the clubs and the shared culture has, therefore, presented an immediate and attractive destination. After the Zebras’ good run at the 2019 COSAFA Cup tournament where the team reached the final, several players trekked down south. TS Galaxy notably signed three players Gaolaolwe, Morake and Thero Setsile. But TS Galaxy owner and former agent, Tim Sukazi said they endured a ‘terrible experience’ after signing the Botswana players. “We had a very horrible experience with our first ever intake of three Botswana players in 2019. I wouldn’t want to go into details so as not to jeopardise their thriving careers. We ended up making a decision not to ever consider players from Botswana in the near future. However, I know as much that it will not be fair to paint every player from Botswana with the same brush,” Sukazi told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
“We will see what the future holds. My advice to Botswana players who want to pursue a career at TS Galaxy is that they would need to show a very good attitude towards football as a profession,” he added.
Comfort ‘Big Fish’ Ramatebele, who initiated Ndlovu’s move to Callies, said local players should show hunger and determination.
“I believe the first and most primary issue is that our players don’t exhibit the hunger and determination to get to a higher step. And then, it seems a lot of our teams are not capitalising on this lucrative market by forging networks with their South African counterparts to send players,” Ramatebele said.
He said agents have also not built networks in South Africa to enable player movements.
“Most of us in that space have not really built ourselves networks with key stakeholders next door, something which I believe we should collaborate and introduce ourselves as a force.
Our individualism and anticipated profits of going it alone have clouded us from the bigger picture,” he said. Gabonamong, who enjoyed a long stellar career at Engen Santos, Bloemfontein Celtic and Supersport United, urged his fellow nationals to be more resilient.
“As a player, if you want to play outside the country, you have to be good enough. Professional leagues always want good players. On top of that, you need self-discipline, be strong mentally. You can’t succeed without a dream or discipline. We need to improve a lot of things, which are pulling our football backwards. That’s why our national team is not doing well,” Gabonamong said.