Africa is our home too

Golden touch. . . Tout Pouissant Mazembe of DR Congo are African champions for the fifth time.

LAST weekend when most of South Africa's soccer public was obsessing over the Soweto Derby, between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the semifinals of the domestic cup called Telkom KO, a bigger cup story in Africa unfolded without much notice in SA.

That's not unusual for SA, but this time someone powerful and influential has spoken. The chairman of both Orlando Pirates FC and SA's Premier Soccer League Irvin Khoza attended the final match in Lumbubashi last Sunday, when Mazembe beat USM Alger of Algeria 2-0 to take the title on 4-1 aggregate. The enthusiasm for the game in Congo has clearly revitalised Khoza, who this week warned South Africans to take Africa seriously.

He's right. It does not make make sense that African football champions are crowned and yet up to 80 per cent of football followers in SA do not know about such a big moment, and yet we call ourselves a soccer nation.

This blog has always preached this verse, that the fortunes of SA in international football rely on our progress on the continent. How do we succeed in Africa when we know so little, and show scant enthusiasm, for the continent we belong to? It is is up to everybody involved in the game to change this attitude; from clubs, players, PSL and SAFA officials, the media and fans.

I asked a soccer writer why SA media made so much noise about the Chiefs-Pirates match, when very little or nothing at all was said about the biggest fixture on the continent last week. He said the Soweto Derby is what the people want. I said he is guilty of overfeeding the people the staple they think is good for them.

Congratulations are in order for The Crows, who are now $1-million (R14-million) richer. The biggest prize however for Mazembe for winning the African champion is the lucrative ticket to the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan next month. There they will bag another $1-million for finishing last in Japan, 6th; or $5-million for winning the tournament ahead of River Plate (Argentina and Conmebol), Barcelona (Spain and Uefa), America (Mexico and Concacaf), Auckland City (New Zealand and OFC) and Japanese champs still to be determined.

How come South Africans do not wish to be here?

Best wishes for Bafana Bafana in Benguela later today. World Cup qualification is crucial, even though we still struggle in the CAF Cup of Nations. Rise to the occasion boys.

And as for others back home, please don't start with me asking where is Benguela. The madness must stop now. Read. Africa is our home and we should love it properly.

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Rest in peace Zet, thanks for the good times

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