Rollers caught off the ball
Sport
Award winning Coach, Nikola Kavazovic is faced with a serious danger of losing control of the Township Rollers dressing room following his latest rant with some senior players at the training ground this past weekend.
Rollers sources have revealed to WeekendSport that attacking midfielder, Lemponye Tshireletso together with defender, Mosha Gaolaolwe exchanged harsh words on Saturday as the team reported early to commence preparations for the next season. According to sources, players are furious with the way Kavazovic addresses them, particularly with regards to issues concerning their contracts. It is also believed that the coach’s outburst with the often low lying Tshireletso became the latest straw that broke the camel‘s back, no wonder the player himself stormed out of the training grounds.
Information gleaned from the sources indicates that since winning two domestic championships, the coach now wields unmerited power such that he is even trying to control the players’ salaries. Tshireletso will be out of contract at the end of June and there is growing fear that Kavazovic might influence that he (Tshireletso) does not get a contract extension. Given the ever widening rift between the coach and the player, Tshireletso is however seen as an important player Rollers would not risk losing.
The instrumental player refused repeatedly to honour a reconciliation meeting organized instantly by Rollers President Jagdish Sha over the weekend, sources claim. Further, it is said, Tshireletso wants the coach gone or he will have to jump ship. Gaolaolwe is also reported to have taken the issue to heart. As others, the former BDF XI defender feels Kavazovic should stop poking his nose on matters that do not concern him ― specifically their salaries.
However, there are sources who claim to thoroughly comprehend the coach’s strategy. They say the Serbian is eager to play a role in helping the team cut costs―a development Rollers financer, Shah approves, being a business man he is. Sources further say that the coach’s latest move is informed by hundreds of Pulas the team has lost in paying two contracted players whom Kavazovic deemed surplus to requirement. Both players, foreigners, Mthokozisi Msomi and Tshepo Matete are no longer with the club. Each was reportedly earning close to P25 000.
Township Rollers on one hand has to be careful when dealing with contractual matters of players. This is the same issue that risked former Rollers Coach, Mark Harrison‘s job when he decided to cut players’ winning bonuses. It is advised that even Kavazovic, despite his measure of success at the club, might be on his way out. While this crisis is secretly maintained, the cracks at Rollers keep on growing. The club’s longest Secretary General, Khumo Masonya has also tendered his resignation but declined to discuss his sudden move.
Rollers coach could not answer his phone as this paper was going for print, but club media liaison Phemepheretlhe Pheto admitted that the team was knocked down by internal bickering. He however accepted that the club management has talked with involved parties at all have kissed and made up.
“Yes it is true that we had internal problems this week, but I can confidently tell you that we have since came to the bottom of the matter. We have sat down with our coach who has unreservedly apologised to Tshireletso and rightly admitted that the player is an important part in Rollers setup,” he said. Pheto also confirmed that indeed their Secretary General resigned but has since over-turned the resignation following fruitful discussions with the management.
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AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”