Meyiwa’s sad case has hit SA football hard
With the hype leading up to yet another Soweto Derby, I could not help but think of Wiseman Meyiwa, the young and promising Kaizer Chiefs midfielder who will never kick a ball again in his life.
In case you missed Meyiwa’s story, he was declared a paraplegic and will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life after he was involved in a car accident late last year.
Last week Chiefs called a media conference where they announced Meyiwa’s forced retirement. I have been working as a journalist for over 15 years and have been to many such events but this was the first time I have experienced such a sombre occa- sion.
When Bobby and the team doctor had finished, we were asked if we had any questions and for the first time, not one hand was raised. This usually happens when we protest something. But that day everyone was too overcome with emotion.
Earlier when we got to Naturena, we met his former MDC coach Arthur Zwane and we shook hands but he seemed odd. I remember asking a colleague “hhawu wasincisha amehlo nje namuhla uMangethe” translates to “why is Mangethe (Zwane’s clan name) not looking at us when he speaks to us today?” I understood later.
He must have been shattered. He had spoken highly of the young
Sibongiseni Gumbi
man and saw a great future ahead for him. They had formed an intimate relationship – a father-andson kind of relationship – while they worked together.
Here was a young boy we had watched go from the MultiChoice Diski Challenge ranks to the senior ranks and showing so much potential as possibly Bafana Bafana’s future midfield anchorman having his future taken from him in just an instant.
He had been to the Fifa youth World Cup twice with the Under-17s and Under-20s and the future looked so bright for him. He would have probably been one of the key players for the Under-23s when they start their Olympics qualification campaign.
He was too young. Now just imagine him watching from home as TV cameras and newspaper photographs show his team-mates in joyful mood as they prepare for the biggest game in the country – one which he was hoping to play a big role in one day. That must hurt for him.
There was an issue that Meyiwa’s case raised again this week as news broke that he will get a payout from a PSL disability insurance policy. What raised people’s emotions was that Chiefs will get half of the payout. Some people saw this as the club being greedy.
But the club has also incurred a huge loss. In reality, players are a commodity in the football business and when that gets damaged, the team incurs a loss. And if they insured that product, they must get compensated should it get damaged. It sounds cruel but it is reality.
Chiefs spent money on grooming Meyiwa and were hoping they would one day sell him to an overseas club and get some profit from the sale. What I am saying is that they are entitled to their cut and they should not be questioned or criticised for it. That would be grossly unfair.