Two of five clubs to face ultimate humiliation

There are two contrasting idioms in my home language that speak about someone who leaves things until the last minute. One goes something like “the bird who is last to take flight, gets hit by the hunters’ knobkerries” and the other says “he who dances last, gets the most applause”.

I thought of these two idioms as the Absa Premiership draws to an end with five teams involved in the fight of their lives as they seek to avoid relegation.

Bloemfontein Celtic, Chippa United, Free State Stars, Highlands Park and Baroka FC have left it late and their Premiership status is hanging by a thread.

Two of the five will bear the brunt and be the birds whose take-off was too slow and got hit by the hunters, while three will be celebrating and be applauded.

Three of the teams have legendary status in local football as they have a rich history, and having witnessed the demise of Moroka Swallows and Santos I would hate to see another historic team follow them into oblivion.

We all remember how sad everyone was when the Dube Birds were relegated three years ago. Unfortunately for the thousands of their fans, the team are now an entity that will soon be forgotten as they ply their trade in the amateur ranks.

Unlike Swallows, the People’s Team cushioned the blow by spending a few seasons in the National First Division before getting relegated to the semi-professional ABC Motsepe League this season.

I am sure you can still recall the heart-warming stories that were

Sibongiseni Gumbi

written as the Lions of the North made their way back into the elite league last year. It was a glorious moment. One could only imagine how the feeling was for those who had been loyal supporters of the team back in the day. And having attended one of their matches during the promotion play-offs last year, I saw the excitement and passion the people of Tembisa showed for the team.

It had been years since the township last had a top-flight team and it was a big thing not just for the township but for the region to have a Premiership team yet again. I can only imagine their disappointment if the axe were to fall on their beloved Lions.

I don’t even want to imagine how life would be without the sounds of Siwelele whenever Phunya Sele Sele play. Those fans create the best atmosphere. It doesn’t matter whether their team is winning or losing, they just sing and dance in the stands – which I much prefer to the sound of the vuvuzela.

Ea Lla Koto is one team where losing would be another chapter ending. I remember the days when their fans would really ring the bells especially when their team were on attack. I think the meaning of their nickname was among the first words of SeSotho I learnt.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that if the other two teams were relegated it would be less painful. We have all come to love the Chilli Boys and their trigger-happy chairman Chippa Mpengesi. No boss has fired more coaches than he has.

A friend was joking recently that seeing the season was almost over and he had not fired anyone, he sent Dan Malesela on special leave for two weeks just to appease his listless soul.

And then there are Bakgaga and coach Kgoloko Thobejane. We would miss his comments if the team were to go down.

I just wish all of them the best of luck. By 5pm we should have one who will be playing in the NFD next season, and one who will get a second chance at salvation through the play-offs.