NFD tough terrain

THE dream of owning a team in the Premier Division is haunted by the nightmare that comes with running one in the National First Division.

“It’s very hard,” Themba Mafu, chairman and coach of Witbank Spurs, said. “The R380 000 monthly grants we get don’t even cover the salaries. It’s just not enough. So you have to find another avenue to cover the shortfall. More often than not, that means going into your own pockets as a club owner if you don’t have another stream of income. The costs of travelling and accommodation also take up a huge chunk of money. You had a situation where there were five teams from Cape Town (before Santos were relegated). That means you had to fly there five times a season. A team in the NFD spends R700 000 or more a month.”

To cut costs, clubs have to be inventive and put in a lot of cost-cutting measures that include one person doing more than one job. Mafu admitted that among the reasons why he also doubles as the club’s coach is to save money. His coaching background allows him to be able to do both jobs just like Jomo Sono at Jomo Cosmos.

In March, Ezenkosi highlighted the financial problems clubs in the first division face. As a cost-saving measure, Cosmos flew to the Mother City on the day they took on Cape Town All Stars. There was a mix-up at the airport that saw the kits and playing cards not arriving in time. Cosmos were fined R50 000 suspended for a year, while All Stars were awarded three points.

“What has kept me going despite everything is the love I have for the game,” Mafu said. “I have a dream of seeing this team in the PSL. It’s that dream and the love for the game that keeps me going despite everything.”