A solution depends on your situation
G’day
There’s a very interesting situation in the log standings, which is the only thing most teams can fight for this season, with the Nedbank Cup to be contested by Chippa United and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC next weekend. Don’t forget that the winner will play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, which will be a boost for our domestic league. Bloemfontein Celtic were there last season, with TS Galaxy a year before, and all these teams were making their debut in the continental showpiece, which is good for South African football.
The more newcomers we see in these competitions, the better it is for our league. It means there’s growth rather than having the same teams dominating, like it is the case in some countries where only two teams are dominating, The game has evolved and gone are those days where there are pushovers in the league. I’m saying this boldly because it gives me goosebumps to see Chippa and TTM booking their places in the Nedbank Cup final. Who would have thought? I mean, TTM exchanged their status twice within a year, their off-the-field problems are well-documented and the coaching merry-go-round at Chippa has always caught a lot of people’s attention, yet these two teams are the best two when it comes to the Nedbank Cup. At some stage, there was so much confusion around TTM, not knowing who was in and who was out. There was so much controversy surrounding both teams, but look at them now. They seem to have sorted themselves out and it shows in their application on the field.
There are mandates that help to guide you and these mandates will tell you when you have to change things around. You need to get your house in order if you have a vision and plan for your team. You can’t just talk about it, you also have to complement that talk with action. The powers that be at the DStv Premiership are doing their part in terms of improving this league and the onus is on individual clubs to play their part. With all the problems experienced since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the League has gone out of their way to ensure that the member teams are supported wholeheartedly and that’s why our league remains one of the best in the continent and even the world. When you look at the top and bottom of the log, it is a dogeat-dog kind of an affair. Things are really tight and there’s still a lot to play for.
On KZN teams
I’ve been fascinated by KwaZuluNatal teams this season. I mean, they are raising their hands to be counted among the best. The last time a KZNbased team won a trophy was when coach Manqoba Mngqithi’s Golden Arrows swept Orlando Stadium with Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 final. Now you look at Arrows and AmaZulu FC, contesting for league honours and, as humble s their coaches r e, they’ve een amazing. t is good to ee individals and teams rowing within outh African ootball. We eed people o understand hat for this to happen, it is not a matter of being pushovers, but it is all about doing what you have to do. A solution depends on your situation and it is only when you analyse your situation that you find a solution. If you look at TTM, Chippa, Arrows and AmaZulu, surely there’s something they’re doing right for them to be where they are. It is crunch time and we are about to experience something that we normally get to see at the end of the season, so soon. In the next two weeks, we will all have a clear idea of what is going to happen come end of the season. It is a very exciting time for football supporters and we will all be sitting on the edge of our seats in anticipation of what will happen. To think AmaZulu were second from bottom to second at the top now is just unbelievable! Umona phantsi (Jealous down), let’s face the truth and give credit where it is due.
These guys earned everything they’ve won so far and it is by no fluke that they are where they are. They looked for solutions and found them. You look at Arrows, without any big-name signings, and they’ve been unbelievable. The two coaches, Mandla Ncikazi and Benni McCarthy, their respective technical teams, players, management and everyone associated with these teams all deserve a pat on the back for a wonderful job done so far. This is going to be a season to remember for some, while others would really like to forget anything that has to do with this campaign but, like I said, the solution depends on your situation. You’re the only one who can get yourself out of your situation. This is going to be a bumperto-bumper situation with teams fighting relegation while others are giving Sundowns a run for their money at the top.
Interestingly, the same thing is happening in the lower tier, the GladAfrica Championship. Any team in the top five can win the championship and I’m also happy that the PSL made it a point that this division gets its own sponsor and games are now televised. It has been a while since I last heard of any irregularities in that division and that can only mean one thing and that is the improvement. All the teams are treated fairly and this is great for South African football and, once again, the powers that be are really doing a great job and we have to applaud them.
On Nedbank Cup
The winners of this season’s Nedbank Cup will be donating a stateof-the-art Multipurpose Sports Complex for a school of their choice, just like Sundowns did. We have to give credit to Nedbank for such a wonderful initiative that will go a long way in improving our game. This is one competition that gives a lot back to the communities because they give even amateur teams an opportunity to compete against professional teams. There are so many players whose lives were changed through this competition and the beauty about it is that the game is a winner, at the end of the day. Just so you know, I will be dissecting coaching and becoming an elite player in my next two columns. I look forward to it because there are a couple of questions I would like to pose and I’m sure you will all enjoy it.