Jomo finds his scoring boots, again
Sport
The last time Moemedi ‘Jomo’ Moatlhaping won the Golden Boot was in 2010-11 season. The then red hot striker scored astonishing 30 goals even though they (goals) fell short of helping his then team Mochudi Centre Chiefs win the championship title.
Seven years later, it appears, Jomo, like the phoenix, has risen from ashes. In fact, his blistering form has caught the headlines again. As things stand, the former Zebras striker has positioned himself on second spot of the scoring charts with 16 goals, a brace away from leading scorer, Thatayaone Kgamanyane of Gaborone United. And now even in the midst of Jomo’s remarkable scoring onslaught, two stark facts stand out.
Jomo actually had copious chances over his barren first half of the season to hit the net as regularly as he is now managing, and had he done so, this would be shaping up as the most prolific goal performance of his already historic career at the age of 34. Despite the now ridiculous fact that Jomo managed a paltry 6 league goals by mid-January, his current 6 goals in 6 matches leaves him about a millimetre short of the goal average he produced 7 years ago.
However, this aggressive, proud and ambitious man has taken reality and bent it to his will so often that it is always important to add context to achievement rather than just adding it to a burgeoning list. It's not enough to simply laud Jomo; his work merits examination.
As the league fails to produce quality players, he can still be drafted back into the Zebras fold to help the situation.
It remains to be seen whether he can in the remainder of this season produce the 25 goals he requires to beat his own goal record in a single season. At the very most, he can in 7 matches, but that he has just notched 6 in his last 6 is no more than an anecdote. The context is that for more than half of the premier league season, even when he was scoring less important goals for his club Sharps Shooting Stars, this imperious striker looked like neither his left nor right boot knew what his head was doing or saying.
This is the same player who has not simply mounted an extremely strong case that Sharps Shooting Stars may win their first ever berth for Mascom Top 8 qualification – but also has a chance for yet another call up to the national team which is suffering from startling low levels of confidence, coordination, definition and assurance. Looking back, it is indeed remarkable for Jomo Moatlhaping.
Of course some of his goals owe a lot to superb "silver service" from his teammates. The main dish is beautiful and appetizing partly because the delivery from kitchen to table is exceptional. If you savour how, in recent weeks, players like Monageng Thaele and Langa Mabule have served their team leader, then no-one can deny that Moatlhaping has been given passes, crosses and even spot kick, open-goal opportunities that are meat and drink to a man of his excellence.
Top scorers
Thatayaone Kgamanyane 18 goals
Jomo Moatlhaping 16 goals
Orebonye Mongae 15 goals
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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.”
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