South African Football needs to do better.

As evident in my previous post, which I hope you have looked at, I have a genuine love for the game of football. With all the issues in the world having something as exciting as this is a joy. However, like many forms of entertainment there are many issues that I have found. In this post I’ll be speaking on South African football. My love for it, and why I feel SAFA is going to be the death of the beautiful game in this country. So strap up and enjoy the ride.

The South African Football Association is the governing body and ruler of all things that pertain to the football in my country. An association that merged 3 different associations in 1951, the South African African Football Association, the South African Bantu Association and the South African Coloured Football Association. This is the football association that in the least, you would expect to have the best interest of the game and those who answer to it. I have a few questions, what is SAFA doing? When are they planning to take the cries of the South African public seriously? Do they expect us to trust their judgment, to trust them without any question?

I ask because how does a team that was a pillar of hope and excitement for many of us, a team that we all loved and enjoyed, a team with its own identity, how did this team get to this position? Did they think that getting us the World Cup would be enough, the hope for jobs, financial prosperity, did they think that this would be enough? Honestly, how did we get here?

As much as I have all these questions it would be remise of me if I didn’t ask the same of the actual team, and the team I speak of Bafana Bafana. When did the team move to this lacklustre, uninspiring space? When did it seem like the supporters had more joy and pride for the team than those who were selected to play for that team. This is never to doubt the abilities of these players. I know the talent is there, I believe in them individually, the leadership and anchor that is Itumeleng Khune, from the likes of Eric Mathoho, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Andile Jali etc, who are not only veterans of the sport at this point, but athletes who are fan favourites, that people have put their trust into making sure they make us proud.

Now we as supporters could be putting a lot of pressure on them, an unfair amount of pressure that maybe they can never live up to. To be honest I can accept it. Maybe they aren’t as talented as I expected them to be, maybe they aren’t able to mesh well as a team, maybe there are a lot of expectations that they couldn’t live up to. Even with that, it is extremely hard for me to accept it.

When did we stop looking at the talents that our players possess and use that to our advantage? When did we start to look at the influence of the outside world to dictate to us what our identity as a football team is. I know the answer might be we never had an identity, maybe we always looked to South America or Europe, to find our identity.

One of my biggest issues is wondering why our players do not play in other parts of the world? Why did it take Jali to reach 24 to go to Europe, one of the more promising and exciting players in this generation, was just about to enter his prime and moved at that age? Is it because as a fan I believe that maybe our players are extremely good, but maybe not good enough to make it in the major markets? Another point I’m not willing to accept. Listen I haven’t seen us produce a Messi or Ronaldo, but if they aren’t being developed at such a high level how are we able to see if they even have a chance? On the bright side we have: Thulani Serero, Keagan Dolly, Bongani Zungu, Kamohelo Mokotjo etc. who are playing in Europe. So there is hope, the talent and abilities are there.

Even though I have many doubts, I am genuinely disappointed in the entire organization from the top to the bottom. Jesus Christ do better. We want to be excited again when the next Bafana game comes up, and SAFA, when you don’t feed the consumer what it wants and pays for, they will stop caring, stop supporting and all progress will be in vain. I love my country, my team, I grew up in hope that we will get better, and even with all the issues I have hope that we will.

This is part of a 3-part series that I am compiling, next up I will be back on my women empowerment shit. I will be asking questions on why we have neglected Banyana Banyana, they to need our love and support. So stay tuned. Check out my twitter: @_LeratoMadlala, and my Facebook: Lerato Madlala.Thank you for the love, please don’t forget to leave a comment, and share the posts.

Peace and Love. Leh xx

Football is Life... For women to.

The beautiful game, a connecter of different cultures and languages, a sport that connects the world. Soccer. Football. The greatest sport in the entire world. I love this sport, its beautiful, I love being a consumer of the game, from the players, the teams and the game itself.

I started loving the sport because of my family, my uncles but mostly because of my aunts. There has never been a moment where the women in my family have been looked at as less of a fan than my uncles. There has never been a moment where their opinions in regards to the sport have EVER been in question, and that has helped my growing passion and love for the game.

However, as soon as I move into public spaces, where clearly people don’t realise that the views and opinions of women matter, and probably some of the very same women would run circles around them. I move into these spaces and realise not only is my opinion shut down, but it is automatically dismissed. Now naturally, I am usually not the type of person to speak too much about a lot of my passions, in particular at the start of me getting into social media, however I am no longer holding back, and that means a lot more people are going to start getting comfortable, and think that I need their opinions.

I recently listened to a podcast (Inner Hoe Uprising), this had Blerds (Black Nerds), and how women have to continue to prove their worth, and fandom to their male counterparts. A lot of gems were said, however the male guest on the show decided that he would say that for him (or specifically him and his male friends), he would HAVE TO, test women on their knowledge of blerd culture he says he does the same for the men, but that was never in question.

My question has always been, what is the point? Why does someone else have to prove their worth to you? Who made you the authority on fandom? My issue with testing people on something that should bring you joy, is that your stupid questions, and dismissals can suck the fun, and joy from that person. The expectation from me is never to change the mind of people. You only have to fucking understand that people just want to stan for Cristiano or Messi, go to the Soweto Derby, and fan girl for our faves as well.

I have learnt to never take the BS anymore, I will continue to stan, and argue with my uncles about why I think CR7 is the GOAT, I will stay heartbroken forever as an Arsenal fan, and I’m just going to love the game that I enjoy with my family. And if you have any questions about the validity of my fandom, then you can kiss my ass.

Peace and Love.

Leh xx