Centre Chiefs: Things Fall Apart
Sport
There is something reassuring about Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ growing struggle to retain the core of the team in this pre season preparations. The thought is borne not of desire for Chiefs to fail or Township Rollers to succeed, but the simple wish to revive the struggle of winning back-to-back league titles revived.
As the Kgatleng giants have demonstrated in recent weeks, finishing first in one season does not necessarily make the exercise any easier the next time. BDF XI and Gaborone United may be obvious examples to the contrary yet in the 6 seasons since more money came into the game, with more lucrative league sponsorship deals, only two clubs have won the league with two or more years running.
The near monopolies of the championship enjoyed by Township Rollers from the mid-80s to 1990 and Gaborone United onwards may suggest that holding on to the title involves little other than updating a successful plot on a seasonal basis. Yet there was always much more to it than that.
The most significant setback this week turned out to be not the inconsequential skirmish at the Kgatleng outfit but the manner in which players and teams’ technical department is leaving the club.
The team however has not had pains and anxieties or any afflictions now. Chiefs are losing its most experienced players in Pontsho Moloi and Onalethata Thekiso due to retirement. The last thing Chiefs need is to be without Lesego Galenamotlhale because of wilting football interest. Tendai Nyumasi is reported to be flirting with Orapa United and may never ignore its pull. Speedy winger, Lemponye Tshireletso, the team’s leading top goal scorer is monitored by high paying Township Rollers, and if everything goes according to plan, a deal may be struck soon.
Another notable transfer is the one that involves slippery, Ayanda Molefhe who FC Galaxy has shown interest in. The player was quoted in some media outlets complaining about lack of game time at Magosi.
The coming season looks uncompromising for the team. For Centre Chiefs to fail when in sight of honours would be a rarity. For them to fail because of administrative shortcomings would be rarer still, yet to some extent, Chiefs have wished these problems on themselves.
Last season, Mike Sithole, the club past head coach, inherited and drilled an ageing squad that cracked whenever under pressure. But the coach admitted that it was given an extension by the arrival of Thato Kebue from Motlakase Power Dynamos and Arnold Mampori to tighten the midfield. Chiefs however bought them time to rebuild their defense but so far neither time nor money has been wholly well spent.
The experience of Pontsho Moloi is never going to be replaced straight away but should Chiefs have themselves so obviously in need of a figure of authority in front of goals? Mara Moloi has a massive physical presence but is no competitor particularly that money is a problem at Magosi.
But Chiefs spokesperson, Clifford Mogomotsi believes Chiefs are not in crisis and will soon reveal their strategy for next season.
‘‘We are still sorting ourselves out, make no mistake, this happens in almost every pre season but when the league ends we are at the top,’’ he said.
All the while the situation is beginning to resemble Chiefs’ vain attempt in yesteryears to complete the many seasons without a single recognized cup but if Chiefs suffer a double failure this time, most of the wounds will have been self-inflicted and the praise will be muted.
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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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