In recent times, there has been huge debate over township football and its relevance in the modern game, more especially as it has started receiving acclaim. So much so that even television broadcasters have bought into the concept, displaying the unorthodox version of football on national television. Fans appear to share the same sentiments as the TV gurus. Unlike in the DStv Premiership, which, apart from a few high-profile games like the Soweto Derby, struggles to attract the masses in the form of bums on seats, these tournaments have managed to pull in crowds by the thousands, which has led to the suggestion that the professional side of the game could learn a thing or two from their informal counterparts, particularly when it comes to entertainment. Those who hold a contrasting view will argue that kasi football detracts from the modern game. That the skills displayed by the players hinder the development of South African football and are partially to be blamed for the lack of success of the national teams. That it renders the hallowed game of football into almost a circus. In light of this, the Siya crew spoke to a few stakeholders, from both the professional and amateur spheres, to hear their views on this debate.
What The Siya Crew Has Been Told…
Both township football and the professional game have developed expeditiously over the last three decades. The Premier Soccer League, thanks to its hoard of sponsors and the lucrative broadcasting rights, has become a multimillion-rand industry, while football played in the so-called dusty streets has become more lucrative in its own right, with more and more sponsors jumping on the bandwagon of what appears to be an ever-growing craze in the country. The Philly's Games, which for the last 32 years have been hosted in Tembisa, are the biggest of the township games, thanks to a partnership with broadcast giant SuperSport as well as its quarter of a million rand prize money to the winners of the competition. In December last year, in one of the matches which were televised by SuperSport, outrage surfaced after a team by the name of Isithembiso ran rampant against Phanda Phanda with a 6-2 win on aggregate, booking their place in the last eight, but drew attention when in a bizarre moment, their players all fell to the ground, allowing their opponents to score a consolation goal. The stunt sparked a huge debate online, with some hailing it for being original, while others labeled it unprofessional and a disgrace to the local game. The founder of the tournament, Philly Mathebula, has hailed the tournament for its ability to produce players for the professional ranks, with a number of established players past and present having plied their trade in the competition.
"Philly's Games has grown. I know we have about 19 players that have moved from the ABC Motsepe League to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. We also have about seven players who have moved to the PSL (topflight). In terms of the juniors, four of my own players from my development were in the U15 national team that was in Ivory Coast," he told the Siya crew. His sentiments are echoed by former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates defender-cum-midfielder Benson Mhlongo, who argues that kasi football should not be seen as an adversary to professional football but rather as an ally that provides players with an alternative platform to showcase their talents.
"This tournament made me. I played in 1996, '97, '98 and '99, and I only stopped playing (in it) when I got to the PSL. I'm very grateful. But look, when our boys play professionally, they are restricted in some areas. They are showing their skill in a limited capacity. But these games give them a platform to express themselves. This tournament used to be home to the ex-pros, who would come in the off-season and give us knowledge. Maybe that is why most of us as players made it in the PSL, but football and opportunities come in different ways. We can say that this is another platform for those who didn't make it or those who aspire to play professionally to showcase their talent and if you are not cut out for the PSL, you could be cut out to be a legend in the kasi environment, why not?"
What Are The Facts?
It can be argued that township football has contributed its fair share to the professional game. Last year, Doornkop Students Academy trio of striker Kgothatso Mathibe (18), wingers Slindile Nhlapo (17) and Sibongiseni Gabuza (19) were signed by Sekhukhune United after their impressive displays in the amateur tournament. Their teammate, Mfundo Vilakazi, was recruited by Kaizer Chiefs, where he has become an important part of their DStv Diski Challenge team. In years gone by, the likes of Teko Modise, George Maluleka, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Mhlongo, Manti Moholo, Mpho Makola, Thabo Nthethe, Lefa Hlongwane, Wayne Matle, Tshepo Rikhotso, Thabo Maloisane, Junior Khanye, Joseph Mhlongo, Tlakusani Mthethwa, Shaun Mogaila, Happy Mashiane and scores of others have featured in the tournament. Perhaps its most famous graduate is Mamelodi Sundowns lynchpin Themba Zwane, who hails from the very community the tournament started in, Tembisa. The 33-year-old has graduated from kasi star with Amarondol to become an integral part of both Downs and Bafana Bafana. Having now been crowned as an official ambassador for the tournament in recent years, he has hailed the impact of township football on the professional game.
"Yeah, to be honest, you must understand people from kasi, that's what they want to see. You know, I think the guys, sometimes they must give them (the fans) what they want to see. At the same time, they must play to win the game. I think they must just vary those two. I think what is happening (the showboating) is happening only this side but not the PSL and professional side, but I think what is happening this side, people from the kasi, they want to see these things happening, they get excited when they see it. That's why they are attending these games because they want to see that. So, that's why I'm saying the guys need to vary their game. There are moments where they need to be business-wise. There are moments where they can relax, try to entertain the fans. I think now there's an advantage for the guys, you know the games are being televised from game one to the final, but that time, we needed to be in the final to be on TV. But now I think that they need to use this opportunity to showcase their talent," Zwane told the Siya crew in a recent interview.
Mhlongo, who has been selected as the 2023/24 ambassador, while carrying out his duties as a head coach for Soweto Super United, has encouraged PSL scouts to use the games as a potential place to discover talent and unearth raw talent, which could benefit not only the league but the national team as well. "If we go down in the history of the Philly's Games, (you had Gabriel) 'Ninja' Mofokeng, Seuntjie Motlhajwa, Gerald Modabi, the late 'Black Jesus' Scara Ngobese. I, myself, am from this tournament. So, what does it say? You do find talent in these tournaments and it's up to the scouts to come and watch (the games). If they can't come in person, it is televised on DStv, it is worth trying to see what you can find," he explained.
Following in the footsteps of 'Mshishi' is the prodigious talent that is Xolani 'Blackberry' Nkala, who, after being spotted playing kasi football, has turned out for the likes of Pretoria Callies, M-Tigers, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and, more recently, JDR Stars, who campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Like many others, he has a burning desire to display his God-given talent on a bigger platform.
Nkala told this publication, "I feel like there is an opportunity for us to express our talent, even on the professional stage. I still pray every day that one of the biggest teams sign me and I can express how kasi football can be played on the professional stage with skill. I pray that whoever has the ability that I have and gets the opportunity to play professional football, they should always encourage the young ones to do more. Perhaps we don't do enough and we don't have the opportunities that they do (have). Switching between kasi football and the professional game has been difficult because when you reach that stage, you meet different people, different structures and you do things professionally. You train different to how you would ekasi, but you need to adjust as soon as possible as there are foreign coaches, foreign players. So, you need to adjust and know how they play and what the coaches want. It's different to kasi football where you just play without structure and express your raw talent."
The Story Behind The Scenes
Philly's Games holding its own
"Philly's Games will be playing the same time as the DStv Premiership, EPL and all the other leagues. Generally, where Philly's Games used to sit from a scheduling perspective and how we got involved is that the DStv Premiership in December would be over and because of South Africa's football culture, Philly's Games became an obvious choice to become involved in. The work that they have done thus far has gotten us to this point where they have their own space amongst all the other football that we've got," MultiChoice senior Sponsorship Manager, Tshepiso Sathekge, said about the games continuing despite the ongoing elite division season.
Plans to expand even further
"We've already expanded. We are going national now and after national, we are going into the continent. Remember, now we are that (Kasi) Champ of Champs, it's a big success. Champ of Champions brought in all these kasis, now we need to go and play in Cape Town and Durban, then we have now the whole country's Champ of Champs, then we have African Champ of Champs. This is why we want to go set up there, then when we have the real Champ of Champ, it will be Ellis Park or it will be FNB. But we are still in the process. All we are looking for is the muscle. We can talk big, but we need the muscle because you need quite some money," Mathebula told Soccer Laduma in an interview published in edition 1308 about the plans for the tournament.
Watch This Space
With kasi football as we know it continuing to grow in size and its lucrative stature amongst its professional counterparts, you can expect the game to warrant its own place on national television in years to come, particularly the Philly's Games, which continue to blaze a trail. With the game growing from a commercial aspect, with it comes significant increases in remuneration and rewards for the players, which, like Futsal in Brazil and Europe, could become an alternative platform for players to showcase their talent to the masses even if they do not make it to topflight football in the country.
