It’s cup weekend in the PSL, with eight Nedbank Cup matches taking place across the country. In my opinion however the most important match on the weekend is the CAF fixture between Black Leopards and FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo from DR Congo. But as is the norm, the South African soccer public – and media – will act like contests in the domestic competition are more crucial than the international fixture to be hosted in Giyani tomorrow.
Already, judging by the few discussions from people around me, radio sports bulletins and newspaper coverage of the weekend ahead are already treating the Leopards game in the Confederation Cup as an afterthought.
That’s where SA football falters, with its stubbornly inward-looking attitude. We are desperate to have our league affirmed to be among the best in the world and yet we do not care about CAF competitions. If we really want to be among the best then our hearts and minds should be in Giyani this weekend. And those who can travel to the venue, especially the neighbouring towns in Limpopo, should go and make some big noise on behalf of SA football.
Leopards are the only SA team remaining in CAF competition this season, and their involvement should not be reduced to club interest as SA’s reputation is at stake here. Giyani stadium must overflow, to make a bold statement that we are big on this game; that no visitors will come here and do as they please and that Leopards’ victory is SA’s victory.
We have had several embarrassing moments in the past, when visiting teams easily outnumbered PSL clubs in support. You can imagine their glee, as they taunt our exaggerated sense of importance. Well, as we have seen with the mighty fall of Orlando Pirates in the Champions League, we still have a lot to learn about international football, and a long road to travel through Africa to achieve that.
After Pirates were eliminated in the preliminary round by little known Angolan side CRD Libolo, it was clear SA football don’t know how to play at this level, despite the resources we enjoy. To add salt to injury, Pirates tripped in the preliminary round, which means they still needed to go past Libolo in order to join big name clubs in the first round.
That we have to start with other underachievers in the preliminary round is on its own an indictment on SA football. Initially our top two teams in the league would qualify for the Champions League, and go straight to first round and wait for strugglers to come through the preliminary round. The 4-2 aggregate defeat by Pirates can be interpreted to also mean that we are even too weak for the prelim.
So, one more time, let’s shake off our misplaced pride and focus on important things to improve our standing in Africa. Lupopo are here, and their other claim to fame is that they are cross town rivals of TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi city. In the last three years Mazembe qualified twice for the Fifa Club World cup, by virtue of winning the Champions League. Apart from rooting for Leopards to win, tomorrow we must also continue to learn why certain things are just not right about our football.
This lesson was taken to new heights when Libolo beat Pirates 3-1 in Port Elizabeth a month ago. Sadly, not many acknowledged the superiority of Libolo in the application of both basic technique and strategy. This should explain why we have virtually become a non-factor in Africa. Even if we may not all be in Giyani tomorrow, the least we can do is to pledge support for Leopards and wish them well, for SA’s sake.
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