Rollers galactic attitude will destroy football
Sport
Township Rollers is once again team of the moment in the current transfer window, their obsession with singing superstars is unmatched, just seven months ago they signed several others. They are not letting down again this time, but are all the signings necessary, obviously they cannot field all the players. A lot of young talent is made to rot on the bench with fans denied the opportunity to witness their skill and the new talent.
It was not surprising at last weekend’s Kabelano spectacular when fans, including those of Rollers kept asking about the lanky jersey number 4 attacking midfielder who mesmerised the crowd with his touches. What they didn’t know was that “Jersey number 4”’s name is Letumile “Ramadan” Molebatsi and that he has been with Mapalastina for the whole of last season after moving from Notwane.
Coach Mark Harrison should now and then introduce a whole new team as he did at the Kabelano finals, just so that the hidden names come to the fore!
Molebatsi is one of the few players at the Rollers camp who have had little to no game time, but as testimony from last weekend would have it-he is quite talented. What of the others who are yet to be fielded, one would wonder.
Rollers has stockpiled so many players they probably don’t know where to put them any longer. The problem now is that the already established players will always get fielded, of course. Surely they signed all the players based on their skill and talent. They should consider using their tried and tested players for marketing activities and give the others a chance, that way it’s a win-win for all.
So far Township has acquired former Supersport United captain, Mogogi “Manchester” Gabonamong and Galabgwe “Gululu” Moyana from rivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs. As if that was not enough, they also went on and signed ex Sankoyo Bush Bucks captain and defender Modiredi “Zokora” Matengu together with the Briton striker Carl Finighan to reinforce the team ahead of the new season.
Meanwhile the team is expected to finalise the negotiations with goal minder Kabelo Dambe, while they already have three goalkeepers, also should Joel “Fire” Mogorosi fail to find a team in South Africa he is expected to rejoin them too.
The arrival of Gabonamong will automatically mean Lawrence “Tico” Majawa will face some uncertainty in his play time, despite his impressive showing ever-since his arrival at the club. Majawa was able to give popa shape and protect their always wanting backline, he has proven to be one of the disciplined anchor men in the league.
Nevertheless, the Malawian international is reported to be on the want list of Gaborone United since he is uncertain about his future with Popa. The same thing is expected in the midfield especially in the wings.
Motsholetsi “Viva” Sikele’s Kabelano hat trick was a hint to the new coach but judging by the available options in the position he may just fall out of favour. The Lobatse born player together with Kobamelo “Swere” Kebaikanye have every reason to be insecure because of the dynamics at the camp.
The arrival of the Masunga born Moyana and the prospects of Lotlhakane born Mogorosi together with the silky captain Sekhana “Chicken” Koko is likely to leave them disadvantaged because the management will want them to play as they command huge salaries, so they will have to match their billing by playing.
As for the young talents of Sikele, Kebaikanye, Tapiwa “Navara” Gadibolae and Gofaone “BDF” Tiro who is expected to hand off jersey 17 to Moyana, they will end up as wasted talent the country could benefit enormously from.
The other disaster looming in the goalkeeping department would be Dambe joining the camp next season. Already there is Noah “Top-dog” Maposa, Mwampole Masule and Keagile “Skhenza” Kgosipula. The arrival of the Tutume goalkeeper will in paper mean Kgosipula is out while the battle is expected to intensify with the remaining trio.
Kgosipula has been in the national set-up and now is the perfect time for him to play in the elite league. The only solution will be for him to go on loan, but the problem would be if he loaned to a first division team. The likes of Simisane “Inspector” Mathumo, Otlantshekela “Ntsoni” Mooketsi, Thato “Yellow” Bolweleng and Kaone van-Der Westhuizen are also likely to have a tough time securing fist team berth.
Michel Pillar is another victim in waiting, but the team should at least loan these young players to teams where they can have game time rather than leaving them fallow, and eventually to fade due to lack of game time.
However the ball is in Harrison’s court to juggle, maybe he will be able to alternate the players consecutively and still reap positive results like he did over the weekend.
Mapalastina lost the league last season simply because of having too many players. The players were not easily be managed and they failed to catch on to Madinda Ndlovu’s system. In the end there were some misunderstandings within the team with players like Kebaikanye demanding “new and better contract” because the new acquisitions were paid a lot compared to them. A repeat could be in the offing, and the team could eventually be divided.
Meanwhile, the team begins their campaign next weekend against BDF XI at the national stadium at 8PM.
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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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