Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of the year where we are all looking forward to spending the festive season with loved ones, putting our Two Feet Up like one of my colleagues has been doing all year long, taking it easy and recharging our batteries for 2024. This has been a very long and tough year. We all lost a lot, but we continue to fight the good fight. To that end, yours truly would like to wish everyone everything of the best in this Christmas season and that we all stay safe and make sure that we are all back together in January. Please note that, despite the season going on until December 31st, this is our last edition of 2023, as we will be taking a breather, with the first issue of 2024 hitting the shelves on January 11.
As per norm this time of year, no one wants to be left behind when it comes to shopping. Therefore, this native of Paterson, Eastern Cape has jotted down a few items that will be in his Christmas shopping trolley. Below is the list of important items targeted for this shopping experience:
Points for Spurs
This is a very important one because, if you live in the Western Cape, you will know what having three DStv Premiership teams coming from this beautiful province means to our people and the difference it has already made, halfway through the season, having options to watch and attend games. The best thing to happen to a football supporter is being able to go to the stadium as much as possible, rather than being forced to watch football on television. Having the Urban Warriors back means more trips to the stadium for the Mother City-based supporters. It also means more opportunities to be spotted for the raw talent this province is blessed with. However, their barren run of three points from 14 league matches is a serious concern and one hopes Ernst Middendorp's men will arrest their poor run and turn the corner soon. Failure to do so, sadly, will lead to their relegation back to the Motsepe Foundation Championship because they are running out of games and winning chances. Come the January transfer window period, the team from Ikamva will have to bully the market so that they bring in more quality and experience, as it was mentioned and lamented in this column a couple of editions ago. They can change coaches all they like, if they don't reinforce their team, not much is going to change.
Consistency at Pirates
Coach Jose Riveiro's charges must start 'buying' points on a regular basis in the second half of the campaign. No one can argue against their cup competitions form, notwithstanding the disappointing premature exits from the CAF Champions League and Carling Knockout – at the hands of Jwaneng Galaxy and Richards Bay FC respectively – as they've collected three trophies in one-and-a half seasons under the Spanish mentor. If there's one team that can go toe-to-toe with Mamelodi Sundowns, it is the Houghton-based outfit because they've managed to take the MTN8 away from the Chloorkop-based star-studded side, and even beat them in the final. However, what has become an Achilles heel for the Buccaneers has been their lack of consistency in the league games, where they've dropped points they shouldn't have. To think they are the only team to have lost against Spurs just sums up their level of inconsistency so far and the gap that exists between them and Sundowns. Having recorded a mere 25 points from 14 games is a statistic they only have themselves to blame for. Until they get their act together, Pirates will remain part of the chasing pack instead of challenging the Brazilians' dominance in the league.
A coach for Chiefs
Whatever the price, yours truly is willing to pay to get a permanent head coach at the Naturena-based club. This has to happen before the Afcon break so that there is ample time for the new manager to get to know his team and hit the ground running when the season resumes. The team hasn't had a permanent coach since parting ways with coach Molefi Ntseki, who took over from coach Arthur Zwane – having joined as Head of Technical and Youth Development. Halfway through the season, no one has taken over, with coach Cavin Johnson – incidentally having also joined as Head of Youth – taking charge on an interim basis while the club continues to widen their net in search of a suitable candidate. The wait has been too long and one hopes that Amakhosi, during the festive season, will be making a long-awaited announcement about the services of a new coach who will be making an immediate impact. Sundowns need strong competition from Bucs and Chiefs because these are two teams expected to provide competition to the Chloorkop-based club and South African football, at large, needs this team to be on top of their game. Also, coach Cavin has to go back to his original position because he is one of the specialists in nurturing the future.
Rest for Sundowns
Guys, the Tshwane giants have played more than 30 games so far this season, with a lot of criss-crossing the continent in-between. Winning the inaugural African Football League meant more fixtures for them, although they will be smiling all the way to the bank after their successful exploits. Coach Rhulani Mokwena's charges will certainly be in need of rest and they will welcome the much-needed Afcon break, although a number of their players will be representing their respective countries at the biennial tournament. That will give other players a chance to recuperate so that when the season resumes, they will have had enough rest to finish off what they've started.
Peace, unity and co-operation between SAFA and PSL
The long-standing squabbles between the South African Football Association and the Premier Soccer League have to, at some point, come to an end! This has been the big elephant in the room for our football for far too long! The poor working relationship between two of the most important bodies in our football has not helped anyone. No one has really benefitted because, as they say, when two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers! While the powers that be are consumed by their battles, they seem oblivious to the peripheral damage they cause. One hopes that one day we will wake up and have the two bodies singing from the same hymnbook! That's what SA football needs because the two have so much to offer and should be holding hands, rather than fighting. Thanks to the lack of unity, our domestic league is running until December 31st with some of our players expected to represent the country at Afcon two weeks later. Surely, common sense dictates that there should be a break between the last game of the season for the year and the time players are expected to report for camp, which is a couple of weeks before the main event. How does the national team coach, Hugo Broos, assemble his team and prepare them in such a short space of time? Both bodies flexed their muscles, but who suffers because of their squabble? The players and the country's team, Bafana Bafana! Representing the country should come with a lot of pride, but when players are not being prioritised, no one can point a finger at them when the "fit hits the shan"! The country has to come first and for that to happen, players have to be treated with utmost respect and made the priority that they are. These two bodies need to start seeing eye to eye for the benefit of our football.
Love and peace
One hopes everyone will be enjoying the festive season with their loved ones and that love and peace will prevail over this festive break. We see a lot of deaths on the roads because people over-indulge. We hope this season will be a different one, especially with so much DStv Premiership football on, and that people will be going to watch games at the stadiums. Please attend games to pass time and have fun with the family. Let us all treat one another with love and peace throughout this break, sharing the little we have with those who have nothing. Let us all keep safe and enjoy the festive season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cheers,
VeeJay
