I sit here writing this blog having had a discussion with my dad back home in England about my beloved team, Sheffield Wednesday. I support them because of him, he supports them because of his dad, and so on and so forth.
During my spell in South Africa (I've been here just under two years now) I've heard people talk of switching allegiances from one PSL team to another, from one EPL side to another, and to be honest it baffles me.
Don't get me wrong, there are some extremely loyal football fans in this country, both PSL and EPL supporters, but the idea that you can change the team that you support is a foreign concept to me.
I know I'm a Cowditor who, as Chiefs fans believe, supports Pirates, and to Buccaneers fans is Amakhosi, but honestly, in South Africa I have no allegiance whatsoever.
In England, in general, you support the team based in your city of birth. I was born in Sheffield therefore had a choice of Wednesday or Sheffield United. Due to my family being long-time supporters of the club, my choice was made before I could even talk.
Football fans are fickle, whether they're in South Africa or England or outer Mongolia, that's just a trait that we have. One week a player is the savior of our team, the next he's vilified and wanted nowhere near the stadium. It's the way of the football world.
However, whatever happens at your club shouldn't be able to change your mind about who you support. My boss for instance, Peter du Toit, grew up as a Hellenic fan. When they stopped being a professional outfit he didn't go out and find another team, he couldn't, he was a Hellenic fan and to then show allegiance elsewhere would be disrespectful to the club that he loved growing up.
I suppose all I'm asking for is a little bit of patience from you guys. So what if Pirates lost to AmaZulu, they're on a fantastic run in the CAF Champions League and are doing their supporters, and the nation, proud. Who cares that Chiefs have lost a couple of games this season, their last campaign brought home silverware that they hadn't won in years.
I'd love to see Capetonians supporting Ajax and Santos, guys from Pietermaritzburg backing only Maritzburg United and the whole of Polokwane getting behind Polokwane City…
I know that for now this is just a pipe-dream, it's not particularly possible because of the structure of South African football and other reasons, but for now I'd just like to see football fans in Mzansi, some of the most passionate in the world, to stick with their club through thick and thin… No matter how crap they might play sometimes.
Yours in football, Joe?
Soccer-Laduma journalist?
Follow Joe on Twitter: @YesWeCrann
