TOUCHLINE will forever advocate for the development of football in this region. Call me a self-appointed Minister of Football if you may, but I’m of the opinion that we don’t deserve a professional football club in this region. Let me expatiate, when Vaal Professionals Football Club (Setla) was still campaiging in topflight football, we, the Vaal community failed it, we failed to save its soul. We were happy to gather at the Zone 11 Post Office to go and watch Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns while Vaal Pros’ played in front of empty seats. The only time we would fill the local venues to capacity was when ‘Setla’ played against the very same above mentioned clubs. In those days, clubs were surviving through gate takings, and you can imagine how much Vaal Professionals made from gate takings unless they played with crowd pullers such as Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates. We are nothing but hypocrites! We want a professional football club, but we can’t support our two teams that campaign in the ABC Motsepe League, namely Orange Vaal Professionals and FC RESA. How so? I recently took this debate to my social media platform, and there was a mix of reactions. Some agreed with me while others disagreed. Some believe that Vaal Professionals’ downfall was due to a lack of marketing. I respect their opinion since football is a game of opinions, and I value theirs. Vaal Professionals was the pride of Vaal, marketing or not. Some of the families were surviving through selling plates at the gate of Kwa-Masiza Stadium or Zamdela Stadium. Some parents were paying university fees for their children with the money they made by selling plates. There is so much that needs to be changed in this region if we are serious about a professional football club, and I dare say it, change of attitude and change of arrogance is needed! To those who participated in the discussion to find a solution TOUCHLINE appreciates your input, especially “Sofe Sofe”, who happens to be one of the former great footballers that played for the now defunct Sebokeng Real Sweepers. We need discussions like these to take our football forward. The Zone 7 Stadium is finished because the community gave themselves the venue’s material. If our own community destroys our own facilities where do we think the youngsters will play? I rest my case! Yours truly Self-Appointed Minister of Football. ZN.
