Mocking the voting system!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Carling Knockout has been very interesting and we’ve seen big teams crash out at first time of asking. As exciting as the football we’ve witnessed so far has been, the Man of the Match award has become a sore thumb and a bone of contention. It is a wonderful gesture from the tournament organisers to give football supporters a chance to have a say and impact the game by voting for the player they feel has outshined everyone. However, yours truly would be failing in his responsibility of ensuring that we entertain, inform and educate our people through these powerful platforms that may seem insignificant to some people, if this voting system goes unchallenged!

When we look at how the voting system has played itself out so far in the Last 16 of this competition, we have to be ashamed of ourselves! We’ve not served the Beautiful Game at all with the way we went about voting for the Man of the Match award and it has not been fair at all! More than 90% of the players voted as Man of the Match award winners have not been the most deserving in the game. We’ve watched these awards going to the wrong people and this is not taking shots at the receivers, they didn’t vote themselves, but some of them were clearly surprised to learn that they had actually been voted as the best player on the field. What’s done is in the past, nothing is going to change, but we can change how we do this going forward. The bottom line is that voting is always subjective and that’s why the DStv Premiership stopped getting the supporters to vote for the Goal of the Season because it was never fair. People voted with their hearts and not their heads, which is exactly the same thing happening now in this tournament.

If the voting trend we’ve seen so far is anything to go by, we seriously have to be worried about our supporters’ capacity to analyse objectively, engage and understand the Beautiful Game. The very same supporters always have strong opinions when the media selects Man of the Match and to see them doing the same thing they always accuse the media of is really disappointing. There has been no fairness in the voting system so far and stand-out players have not been acknowledged, which is so wrong. The Man of the Match award has been clouded by a lot of bias instead of rewarding the deserving player. One thinks, given a chance, some of our supporters would vote for their player even before the match kicks off, looking at the level of bias that we’ve witnessed so far in this tournament. To think only one round has been played so far, one can only hope things get better and this column will awaken some sense into our heads to do the right thing – vote with our heads and not the hearts!

This is a wonderful initiative by the organisers, but we are making a mockery of the system by the way we’ve been voting. This defeats the objective of this initiative because we are robbing the deserving players of the much-needed acknowledgement for their outstanding performances by giving the awards to the wrong people. “This is criminal!” as coach Paul Dolezar would say. At the end of the day, we have a duty to vote fairly, objectively and without any bias. Let us not turn this into a popularity contest because that’s not what this is about. Let us also not give the organisers a reason to do away with this privilege given to the supporters. We can all admit that we’ve not jumped at the opportunity to maximise it. We all have the ability to see and analyse the game properly, but we just struggle to do away with favouritism, club and player allegiance when it matters most. This is something we definitely need to change because it is counter-productive to the wonderful initiative that seeks to give the power to the supporters. Choosing a Man of the Match is a big deal, but it looks like some people are just going through the motions instead of making sober decisions with their votes. The way we’ve been doing this voting business leaves so much to be desired and one believes we are better than that. We know our football, we just need to stop with the bias and vote objectively. It matters not who wins this award as long as they are deserving winners, not what we have seen so far. Some of the recipients clearly couldn’t believe their luck when their names were called and their interviews told a story of someone who can’t even find words to express their shock at being accused of being the best player on the day!

One wonders what criteria most of our voters use to select the most valuable player of the match? We are not just talking about someone playing to the gallery but someone who is impacting the game positively. Someone who is making things happen for their team, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and making the opposition’s life miserable. This is someone who outshines everyone on the field of play and the only player who deserves to be rewarded with the R100 000 prize money the tournament organisers have made available for the award winner. This is a lot of money and a wonderful incentive for someone who stood head and shoulders above the rest. However, it is sad to see wrong people being rewarded at the expense of the more deserving candidates. We have to correct our mistakes because we can do much better. Guys, we are football people. We love, live, breathe, eat and sleep this Beautiful Game. By voting through popularity, you are taking away from the deserving player who made it a point to stand out and that player will have every right to feel either robbed or betrayed by the very same people he was trying to please and entertain.

Here’s hoping that those who ‘benefitted’ though this unfair voting will not get a false sense of thinking they are on top of their game and therefore see no need to improve. They must know that they are award winners on paper, but they still have a lot of work to do. Those who feel betrayed and overlooked, please chin up and continue working hard because some of us see you. Let us forget about who we support and watch the game objectively so that we can vote accordingly. It is not going to help our game to have people rewarded for doing less just because they are popular or playing for big teams. Let’s be objective and reward people accordingly. By so doing, we won’t give the tournament organisers a reason to do away with the voting system, taking the only privilege of impacting the game we have away from us because we are not using it correctly. Let us take this voting seriously so that we add our weight behind the development of our football rather than dragging it through the mud. At the rate we are going, we are taking a completely different direction to what this wonderful initiative is all about.

It doesn’t help the Beautiful Game to have deserving players overlooked because they are not anyone’s favourite or they are playing for a small team. Let us not reward mediocrity just because it is from familiar faces. We can do better than that because we know and love this game. Let us do the right thing by voting for the right people. This is not just about the monetary value but keeping the game clean and levelling the playing fields. No one should benefit unduly because they happen to be more popular or enjoy more fan base for their football club. Yes, everyone has a right to vote the way they see fit, but let us reward excellence and we have not done that so far in this tournament. The quarterfinals will take place next week and one hopes things will be done properly. Reward deserving players based on merit and nothing else!

Masebe Qina: Mike, let’s dive straight into it. Where’s Khama Billiat?

Michael Ngobeni: Khama is around, he’s got a very beautiful house in Midrand. He is staying in his house. Ukhona (He is around), but the thing is … we can’t run away from the fact he trusted people who he thought would take care of his career. Unfortunately, whatever he was promised didn’t materialise. So, to answer your question, Khama is around and waiting on people who told him to wait. It looks to me like there is nothing happening with regards to Khama getting a deal anywhere now. If there was anything, it would have happened long time ago.

MQ: Why do you think it has taken long for him to get a deal?

MN:

I have no idea and I’m concerned because of his age. I guess he is not training professionally in a team set-up, and it can be difficult for him to regain his match fitness and so on when he does finally get a club. It is cruel out there in the industry and people forget about you in two minutes. There have been players who did very well for themselves not so long ago, but they are not anywhere to be found today. We forgot about them because a new generation of players emerged. But Khama is a likeable player – one of a kind – and an idol to many. I’ve had club owners in the DStv Premiership calling me and enquiring about Khama, it’s just that I cannot mention them right now. I speak to the player quite often and he told me that he gave some agents a mandate to get him a deal and therefore I cannot do anything about his situation now. He has to respect the fact that he has given a mandate to someone, and I also have to be very careful in how I get myself involved in his affairs so as to not clash with any agent that is managing him. I’ve known Khama for long, as we were very close even before I started managing him, therefore I don’t want to be seen as someone who’s demanding to manage him.

MQ: Understood. MN:

But what I’m prepared to say though is that those people who have been given a mandate are failing Khama. Khama is supposed to be with a team and playing competitive football as we speak. How the whole thing has turned out to be is bad, Qina. What’s good about how things have turned out for the boy? Is there any? Khama has got a lot of fans out there and everyone wants to see him playing. When you have a player like Khama in your set-up, it is not only about him playing, but there are a lot of other factors that come into play. Having him in your squad means a lot for the club. Kaizer Chiefs knew that they would sell the team’s jerseys with Khama’s name on, and the fans would come to the stadium in their numbers because of him. Even if he isn’t in the starting XI, or gets to play for a few minutes, it makes a lot of difference. Even (Lionel) Messi plays for a few minutes sometimes, and he is still the best. That’s why Patrice Motsepe brought Barcelona to South Africa to play (Mamelodi) Sundowns – those are some of the factors that were looked at. He knew that Messi would be there and the impact of him coming here would have on people. That’s why it was a sold-out match because we were told that Messi would be there and would play. Even if he was to be on the bench, people would have still gone to the stadium because the guy is an idol. I can tell you now that even at the hotel he was booked in, every other guest who gets booked into the room that was used by Messi will be made aware that one of the world’s greatest footballers ever was there. There is a lot that goes into marketing a player and it’s just that some of our other colleagues do not understand that. They think you can just go and say, “He is worth so much.” There are many factors to look at that can make the player’s value increase when you negotiate for a deal, and you have to build good relationships with clubs.

MQ: What was it like when you signed Billiat for Chiefs?

MN:

For me, that deal I did with Chiefs was one of the best. There was trust between me and the club and that is why we agreed on such a huge deal. Qina, when you feel that you have a headache, you must go and see a doctor, isn’t that so? The doctor would be able to advise you on what to take to make you feel better, and you can’t come to me as an agent for advice on headaches and expect to get better, it doesn’t work like that. We are not saying players should distance themselves from their friends and relatives, but they cannot expect to get advice from those people on football matters because t hey do not understand how these things work. They can advise them about groceries and other things, but when it comes to football business, they should leave that to us. As agents, we mustn’t play around with the players’ careers as that can be very dangerous. Players’ values are on the edge, and in a split-second, anything can change and the player can be out the game. In most cases, once a player is out of the game, it is difficult to make a comeback. You can’t, you’re done, it’s finished!

MQ: You suspect he might have been ill-advised?

MN:

That’s exactly what happened. Some of these players trust these guys and think that they can advise them on football matters. Unfortunately, these guys they trust know nothing about football and the kind of football they understand is what they watch on television. But that’s just football – the sport – and that’s not real football, the politics side of the game and so on. Trust your agent to advise you on football matters and contracts and trust your friend to advise you on friendships. You can’t go to a butcher and ask him about things to do with car problems. People mustn’t play around with players’ careers, and this is exactly what happened there (in Billiat’s situation). It is very important for footballers to work with people they understand and who have been there for them for long. As an agent, you have to understand the value of the player and what are the things he likes, which club can he settle in at… all those things. It isn’t just about signing a deal anywhere and leaving. Players are different, and there are best players out there who might find it difficult to settle at Sundowns as big and successful as the club is. There are players who can only settle at (Orlando) Pirates when it comes to big clubs, and you should be able to differentiate to be able to take such players there.

MQ: We were made to believe that Billiat was expected to report at Naturena for pre-season as the club had hoped to finalise contract renewal talks, but he only re

ported for a brief spell. What did you think of that decision?

MN:

That was a bad decision. You cannot decline an opportunity to meet your former

club. I’m saying ‘former club’ because at the time of the said planned meeting, the player’s contract had already expired. Yes, it was his right not to pitch as the contract had finished, but you cannot do that to a club as big as that. You cannot decline an offer just because you are hoping to get a better one that’s not there. I don’t work like that, Qina. I take an offer to counter another one that is there. If I was involved, I was going to honour the meeting with Chiefs to discuss the offer they had on the table. That deal was simple, and I was going to make sure that we agree on something that would make him retire there. Chiefs is one of the big clubs in Africa and Khama had the opportunity to become a legend there. I would have tied him on a deal that would make him play for the team until he retires, whether he played or not. Unfortunately, he was advised to decline what was already there. Imagine a dog next to a river and with a piece of meat in the mouth, and after seeing another piece of meat in the water it decides to drop the one already in the mouth for the one it can’t get because it’s in the water. Do you get my point? That’s what happened.

MQ: Hmm, interesting. There were reports about the player allegedly salary cut…

havingrejecteda MN: Okay, I’ll tell you what I think, because I wasn ’t approached, oba viously. When player is playing for a big club, let’s say he is earning R1 million per month, and they tell him that a pay cut will take him to R500 000, that’s still a lot of money that many clubs can’t afford to pay. Big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and others do that sometimes, and you’d find that their pay cut is still the highest salary for a club like Osasuna. The pay cut at Chiefs could still be the highest salary for a player at SuperSport United. Those are the factors that need to be considered before making these decisions. Yes, you are told about the pay cut, but do you have another offer? You don’t have another one, why do you then reject a pay cut? I read reports about him possibly going to Cape Town City. Do you think they will pay him R400 000, for example? Come on, man, they don’t have such a budget. When you talk about a pay cut, you must ask yourself this question, pay cut from how much? Even in Europe, they make these kinds of mistakes bethere cause is ego and pride once they are told about pay cuts.

MQ: What were you going to do if you were representing the player?

MN:

I was going to be clear with Bobby (Motaung, Chiefs’ football manager), to say, “Bobby, please speak to the media and dismiss this whole thing that’s being said about a pay cut. Tell them that we have agreed on everything and that we’ve improved the contract.” As a journalist, you also won’t know for sure if there’s a pay cut or not, anyway. You can speak about it because you might have been told by someone from inside the club, but you won’t have all the details. I was going to make sure that I reached an agreement with Bobby about the pay cut, but I would have told him, “Fix here, fix there and there.”

MQ: Where can we expect to see the attacker playing next?

MN:

Hopefully at one of the big clubs again. However, everyone out there knows that he doesn’t have a club at present and what I know is that clubs are reluctant to sign players who’ve been out of action for four months or longer. Already, we are halfway through the season, and he will still need to be match-fit and all of that, and that can take some time.

MQ: Was he the highest-paid player at the Soweto giants?

MN:

Of course, yes. But you must remember that in football, you can be the highest-paid player until the next player is signed. (Eden) Hazard was the highest-paid player for that moment, but when the next player was signed, he was no longer the highest-paid player. But that doesn’t make the player who was signed first inferior in quality. To answer your question, yes, he was the highest-paid player.

MQ: You reckon the pay cut would have made him one of the highest earners still?

MN:

His pay cut at Chiefs … even Pirates, I don’t believe they would give him such (an) amount of money. I’m telling you the truth now. And even Sundowns. Chiefs is the highest-paying club in South Africa. People think it’s Sundowns and it’s not. It’s Kaizer Chiefs, I’m telling you because I know. Chiefs look after their players very well more than any other club in the country. People don’t understand Bobby and I can tell you now that Bobby is one of the best managers in South Africa and everyone who deals with him will tell you. Bobby is one of the best soccer bosses in South Africa when it comes to negotiating deals. That’s why even Jimmy Jambo is still there. That’s why Arthur Zwane has been returned (to development). Now let’s talk about Pirates.

MQ: Okay. MN:

Where is (Happy) Jele? When you talk about a player, those are the points that you need to discuss. You have turned 33 and (are) nearing retirement. Come on, man.

MQ: Well, he was offered a non-playing position before he left last year.

MN:

That’s what I mean about advisors. He was probably advised by crazy people who convinced him that he still needed to play for people to see more of him. Also, you must remember that as an administrator, he wasn’t going to earn R300 000 or anything closer to that anymore. Even Peter Ndlovu (Former Sundowns team manager) is not earning that much. An administrator earns according to what an administrator should be earning because your job is no longer a highrisk job.

MQ: Michael, let’s leave it there. Thanks a lot for speaking to us.

MN: Thank you, mngani wam (my friend).