Agent Zero’s plan to revitalise Alex football
ALEXANDRA – Tumelo 'Agent Zero' Shai believes a Top 8 competition for the senior's league in Alex football could be the right tonic to revitalise soccer in the township.
Tumelo Shai, better known in the Alex football fraternity as Agent Zero from his playing heydays, has plans to inject excitement into the Alex football league.
Shai said the seniors league had lost its sparkle as there was nothing to play for among the teams that were perennial underachievers and this tended to discourage them, ‘whereas if we could introduce a competition within the glory of winning the league, it could ignite some excitement’.
The Tzaneen-born lad, who owns a club in Alexandra named Agent Zero, said he had plans to persuade the powers that be in Alex football to consider introducing some form of Top 8 competition within its senior’s league so that perennial underachievers could have something to fight for.
“My team is one of those under-achievers in the senior’s league and I feel the time is overdue for a competition along the lines of the Top 8 of the Absa Premiership to be introduced.
“If introduced, it could save as a huge incentive for those teams who struggle to win the league as they too will have something to play for, besides the ultimate prize of being crowned league champions,” Shai suggested.
Other incentives that Shai suggested should be adopted included honouring coaches and club owners for the role they played in ensuring these children were off the streets and doing something productive.
Meanwhile, the secretary-general of Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, Mafika Morajane reacted with caution to the suggestion of a Top 8 competition for Alex senior’s league.
“The issue of the Top 8 competition has always been on the agenda of the association. Last year, with the help of local businessman Muzi Msimang, we injected R20 000 into that league as one of the efforts to make it as competitive and attractive as it can be for clubs.
“We shall continue to look for and welcome innovative ways from anyone in a bid to improve the league but all this is dependent and will always remain dependent on the financial muscle of the league or the opportunity of a sponsor,” Morajane said.
“Dreaming is allowed but without a financial backer, dreams will remain what they are… just dreams.”
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