KMKT champions return the floating trophy and shares achievements
"My ultimate goal is to gain a promotion to the SAB League."
The Kathorus MAIL Knockout Tournament (KMKT) champions Triple S FC officially handed over the floating trophy back to Kathorus MAIL (KM) following their success in the 2022 KMKT.
KM got an opportunity to engage with Lehlogonolo Mokatane, the founder and head coach of Triple S FC about the history of the club.
Mokatane said Triple S is an abbreviation for SjabUlile Secondary School. Initially, the club started as a school team in 2009 with two divisions – U13 and U14, which were later converted into a standalone brand.
He said it consists of talented school players who were not playing for any team in the township.
The U13 division won two tournaments in the same year the team was initiated. One of the tournaments was the school holiday tournament.
“The idea was that when the school goes to compete, I combine players from other teams in the township and school players that I train to form the school team. When I go to play I know that I have fit players,” said Mokatane.
He shared that the team started to grow after they were runners-up in the Metropolitan School Games in 2010. By then they had to go compete in Gqeberha (East London) as a school.
The concept of Triple S started in 2009 and a year later they qualified to compete nationally as the U16 division, he added.
“In 2011 we joined the Super League in Katlehong. We later moved to play the league in Eden Park where we played for five years from 2011 to 2016.
“While we were in Eden Park, our U17 won the league in 2012. We also won the 2015 top eight tournaments with the senior team and also obtained the third position in the league. We were voted the best team of the year in 2015.”
He said they returned to Katlehong in 2016 after the senior team completed the season.
“Following our return to Katlehong the U17 division won the league in 2017 and 2019. Our latest achievements were obtaining the third position in the 2020/2021 season of the Super League with the senior team and recently obtaining the title of the KMKT top eight.”
Challenges
He explained that the challenge the team faces is a lack of equipment for both playing and training, mainly soccer boots and shield guards.
He said they never had to buy kits because they were fortunate enough to have enough to win them in tournaments.
“Tournaments helped me. As a team, I do not remember having to buy a soccer kit. At first, we were using the school’s kit but after that everything we have we won.”
Another challenge Mokatane mentioned is the lack of support from parents and the community.
He said the team lacks support, citing that some parents show interest but it is minimal because it is only two or three parents that would come and watch their children play.
He further said if all parents supported their children consistently, firstly the children will be motivated and secondly, parents would maybe show interest in the team.
Some of them are working in industries where they can talk to their employer to get some sponsors, he explained.
“I think if they can come and see the struggle we face, that can change the concept of people assuming that when you run a team you are making money.”
He explained that he relies on former learners of SSS for transport as he can negotiate the fee because most of his players come from disadvantaged families.
Triple S currently has five divisions including U11, U13, U15, U17 and the senior team.
Future goals
Mokatane said they are ready to defend the KMKT in 2023, however, he would like to achieve greater heights with the team.
“My ultimate goal is to gain promotion to the SAB League. I cannot determine which year, but as long as I find myself there. But if I find myself in the Vodacom league I would be very happy because that would be a milestone achievement,” he concluded.
