Elasto Kapowezha has been with Moroka Swallows (formerly Swallows FC) for five years now and has played many roles behind the scenes that some may not be aware of. He has proven to be a man that the club trusts to fulfil certain responsibilities and he has never been afraid to raise his hand when the Dube Birds need him the most. He was, however, at the centre of some controversy a couple of months ago when former Swallows coach Steve Komphela came out publicly to call him out for the delayed registration of Burkinabe midfielder Roland Sanou, who was eventually registered for the second half of the campaign, after the departure of the experienced coach. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane, Kapowezha gives details into his title and role at the club, while talking about how he is able to convince players to join the club, despite the negative media coverage that sometimes surrounds the club.
Tshepang Mailwane: Hello Elasto, thank you for making yourself available for this interview. A lot was said recently about you and your role at Moroka Swallows, following the exit of Steve Komphela a few months ago. Please give us details about what your role at Swallows is…
Elasto Kapowezha: How can I put this? It's very broad when looking at what one does and where it all started. It might require me to go back, where I started at the club as a team manager in 2019. A team manager is someone who would form part of the supporting staff to the technical team and players. You are there to make sure that all the logistics are in place. You make sure things are in place when there is training, match preparation, travelling…all that fall within the duties and responsibilities of a team manager. So, that's the basic team manager's role, to make sure you are there to provide and support the technical team and the players' needs, whether it's matches or training. You make sure they are taken care of. I always say that when you are a team manager, you are at the coach's mercy. For me, things did change over a period of time.
TM: What is your title as we speak?
EK: I was appointed the General Manager of the club at the beginning of this season. It's almost like you identify certain qualities an individual has and ambitions of what one wants to do. Then, it informs your superiors that there is more that this can bring to the club, rather than just limiting this person to those basic responsibilities of a team manager that I just mentioned. You end up being given these extra responsibilities, where for example you might be assigned the task of speaking to a player we want to bring to the club. A team manager normally doesn't do that. So, I found myself being given these extra responsibilities because of what I was demonstrating. It culminated in me eventually being appointed General Manager. It is an acknowledgement for the work one does for the club, where you stretch yourself and do that without so many expectations. Just becoming somebody the club can make use of.
TM: There was an issue raised by Komphela about the delayed registration of Burkinabe midfielder Roland Sanou in the first half of the season. What was the issue there and what role did you play?
EK: I think there were no issues. There are no issues with registration of players at Swallows. I am very much involved in the players that get registered at Swallows. They would come through me, and I would work with whoever that I am working with at the club to make sure that the right documentation is submitted. So, with Mr Roland Sanou, the issue at the time, which was picked up by myself, is that the permit came back with Swallows FC as the name of the employer. I realised that there was no way we could register this player under Swallows FC because we've moved away from Swallows FC. We are now trading as Moroka Swallows Football Club. I picked up that there was an error on the part of Home Affairs, and I straight away said: "There is no way I am going to submit a permit like this". We had to reapply, and I said it does not matter how long it takes, as long as I have the right documentation to be able to register the player. That's what happened. It took time, but it was worth the wait because you've to make sure the documentation is above board when it comes to the registration of players.
TM: Was that properly communicated with then coach Komphela, because he spoke about it in public and sounded displeased with the whole situation of Sanou?
EK: I don't think one would want to speak specifically about what would have happened in that moment with coach Steve. I want to talk about the work that I do and how I deal with coaches in general, without talking about my relationship or how it was with coach Steve. What I am prepared to say is that, with any coach, you would have that kind of communication. There is no way you could have a player training and the coach is unaware of what is happening, if he is registered or not. Generally, you would be discussing those matters with whichever coach.
TM: Did you ever feel like you were being blamed for Swallows' problems, especially with so much that was being said in the media?
EK: No. What was in the media is something that's there for public opinion. Most of the time it's not factual. I feel that whatever is being said in the media is far from the truth in terms of what is really happening at the club. I've never felt like I am being blamed, because I would say blamed for what? It's not the full truth as to what exactly is happening. People might not even understand what the role of a general manager is. But I never felt blamed because it's just people who don't understand what I do at the club.
TM: You speak of the full truth. What's the full truth of what was happening at Swallows, particularly during the time when there were alleged strikes over monies?
EK: It would be difficult for me to speak about those issues. I wanted to speak about my involvement and my role. The club has to be given that opportunity and, as I am speaking, the club will be able to come out at the right time to set the record straight on their part. At the moment, it's the club that will get that opportunity to be able to speak, but it's not in this interview where I can go into details about what transpired. I am not the right person. I will speak about myself and the role I have at the club.
TM: What role do you play in the recruitment of players?
EK: I form part of a collective where things are discussed, especially from the technical team who would make recommendations. Once the club identifies a player they want, via the technical team, then my job is to make sure I go into the market. Sometimes a player is wanted by two or more clubs, so you have to use your skills in terms of trying to bring that player to your club. You need to use your connections and everything that you can to make sure you deliver. I am very much involved in the club.
TM: With negative stories in the media about money and player strikes happening at the club, does it make it even harder to convince players to join Swallows?
EK: It's a yes and no. It's about how you sell your vision to the player. It is how you present your case to the player. I was able to speak to a player like Keegan Allan. There were a few other clubs that wanted him and at times it's better paying and bigger clubs than Swallows. I feel that there is always something you must bring to the player when you are speaking to them. You must show him things people might not see. There is always that selling point that I have when I am talking about the club to the players. It's not everything that players read in the paper that's negative. We had Monnapule Saleng on loan. From Swallows, he went back to Orlando Pirates, and he became a hot property. We had (Tshegofatso) Mabasa who came to Swallows, where nobody wanted him, even after playing in the COSAFA tournament. He comes to Swallows and revives his career. Now everyone wants Tshegofatso, and he is at the top of the rankings in terms of top goal scorer. Those are the kind of stories that you would sell to players who have doubts about joining Swallows. It's not about everything they read in the media.
TM: Maybe just give us an example of what you'd say to a player…
EK: I would not be able to give you everything because I am still going to talk to players. I can't reveal my secret because it might be used by other competitors. It's something I've had, talking to players when they come to the club and really looking at where they are. You must also look at where the player is. He might be at a low moment and then you bring that hope to that individual and show them players that have come here and have gone onto bigger and better things. Swallows is not a club where you come and end things. You should look ahead.
TM: Where do you think Swallows ranks in terms of player salaries in the PSL?
EK: With the PSL, it's not like overseas where these things are discussed openly. It becomes difficult for us to know what Golden Arrows is offering a player. Yes, we deal with agents who would tell us. But an agent is an agent. He might tell you that Black Leopards is offering 10 times more than what you are offering. So, you never know. But you also don't want to make it a tug-of-war based on the money because you might say that the clubs that offer the highest must always get the players, but that's not the case. There are other factors that you need to bring in and not necessarily look at how much you are going to get. It's not so much about the money. You might not get the platform we are offering compared to a club that has more money. We work within a budget. There are times when you approach players, and you have an idea as to how far things might go because you would have done your research.
TM: Thank you so much for your time, Elasto.
EK: I am grateful for being given the opportunity. Let's touch base again.
