The playing field has been levelled in SA

Our football has evolved to a point where there are not many smaller clubs anymore. It is only by the name of a club that we can call it a big club, but when it comes to implementation on the field, most of the teams seem to be playing at the same level.

I am saying this on the back of Free State Stars and Maritzburg United qualifying for the Nedbank Cup final after beating Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively.

These are teams that are in the top five in the Absa Premiership and it is no fluke that they are where they are and have both reached the final. Earlier this season, these two teams were challenging for the championship, which gives us an indication that the gap has decreased between the perceived small teams and those referred to as giants.

This gap is closing – we have seen over recent years when it comes to cups. I did expect that at least one between Chiefs and Sundowns would make it to the final, but unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it – it did not turn out that way.

Take nothing away from Sundowns and their technical team, but Fadlu Davids did his homework. Sundowns are at the top of the league and everyone has been paying close attention to them and their style of play, and that for me is how Fadlu got the upper hand against Pitso Mosimane’s team.

The elephant in the room, however, is what happened in Moses Mabhida Stadium in the aftermath of Chiefs’ 2-0 defeat against Ea Lla Koto. I strongly condemn destroying property and injuring security personnel. I am not taking away the supporters’ right to protest when their teams are not performing – but it needs to be done in a more dignified manner. What we saw in Durban was totally uncalled for.

This is something that has been my concern when you see teams underperforming and fans begin to get agitated. I don’t know where this barbaric culture stems from but it is not something new. If my memory serves me well, there was a time in my playing days at Orlando Pirates when the fans burnt seats in the stadium. Back then, however, the situation was easier to control and manage as opposed to what we see now.

Lately, it is starting to become a trend and it is a problem that goes beyond football – I feel it is a societal issue because something identical has been happening in Mahikeng in the political climate. Our society at large needs to be cleansed from this kind of behaviour and it has to be condemned.

Another thing that makes it easy for supporters to continue behaving in this manner is because these cases go unaddressed or unpunished for a long time.

Take a look at the case involving Pirates in their game against Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld where

a similar incident happened. It took forever for punishment to be handed down against the offenders.

If those cases were being resolved quickly and harshly instead of a slap on the wrist, it would go a long way in rooting out this problem. As it is now, people realise they can destroy property all they want and they are aware that they are not going to be punished.

Lastly, I want to touch on the resignation of Steve Komphela as Chiefs coach. In so doing, I feel he has taken responsibility for the performance of the team.

I don’t think his resignation came too late although his players have been performing poorly.

Although the coach has resigned, I don’t think it will help the club in identifying the problem.