Sedibeng (Vaal) has a rich untold football history on and off the field!
To start with Dr Ramathesele, Dr Victor Ramathesele born in Small Farms in Evaton and was part of the Bafana-Bafana ‘Class of 96’ that was crowned the AFCON Champions in 1996. He was not just a team doctor but part of decision making which saw Bafana-Bafana lifting the AFCON trophy for the first time. Dr Ramathesele is one of our own from the dusty street of Small Farms before he rose to the fame.
This is one of the things that as the region we don’t know because of our ignorance. Sedibeng has contributed a lot in the South African football, on and off the field, but our football history is not documented like its politics. And often when we talk about football, we only refer to football administrators and soccer players who put this region on the world map but forget those who also played part in the development of our football such as teachers, journalists and doctors.
Dr Ramathesele’s name will always be mentioned whenever anyone talks about the Bafana-Bafana Class of 96 because of his role in the team. But little has been said and written about him in this region because some of us know little about him. In fact, Sedibeng is a ‘superpower’ of South African football for all these years producing the top football administrators, players, and referees.
Books have been written about the Vaal Uprising but what about the history of Vaal football? TOUCHLINE still remembers when former Safa President, Dr Molefi Oliphant suggested this to me, that there is a need to write a book about Vaal Triangle football history. TOUCHLINE believes that Ntate Oliphant is the relevant person to lead this project, as a former player, teacher, principal, director of education, SAFA Vaal President, SAFA President and now SAFA Lifetime President.
Former Kaizer Chiefs great, Simon “Bull” Lehoko, Augustine “ Mthakathi” Makalakalane, Aaron “Mbazo” Mokoena, Steve “Chippa” Lekoelea, George Thabe, Knocks Matjila, Naithan Flaum, Sipho Nkumane, George Tladi, Jonas Nhlapo, Mahlomola “Taylor” Mokoena, Sipho Nkumane, Ishmael Maseli, Patric Mphulenyane, Paul More, Martin Chakane and the clubs’ chairmen or so called ‘bo Preza’s must form part of this football history whenever anyone decides to write the book about Vaal’s football history.
Some of the legendary amateur and professional clubs the also need to be mentioned in the book include A-Z FC, Transvaal Jumpers, MB Rangers, Parktown Rangers, Real Sweepers, Evaton Home Sweepers, Evaton Ocean Stars, Junior Rovers, Birmingham Rovers, Rustervaal Blues, Rustervaal Saints, Meyerton Swallows, Iscor Nation, Naughty Boys, Zone 7 Lions, Evaton Blackpool, Stone Breakers, Evaton Arsenal, Zone 3 Cosmos, Bush Bucks, Holy Birds, Early Birds, Blue Waves, Home Defenders, Mighty Terrors, Matlama FC, Evaton Real Madrid, Republic Promoters, Rainbow Juventus, SUBS, Small Farm Excellence, Vaal Killers, City Ramblers, Evaton Old Boys, Vereeniging Old Boys, Milton, Double Action, City Stars, Two For Joy, Black Rhinos, Continental, Sharpeville Pirates, Crocodile, Mighty Stars and Transvaal X20 FC to mention but few.
These above-mentioned teams form part of the rich Vaal Triangle football history. Before the political demarcation, we had Evaton Local Football Association, Sebokeng Sub-District Football Association and the Sharpeville Local Football Association. Those with good memories will remember in those days Evaton Football Association would select the best squad from all Evaton teams to compete against the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos at the Zone 7 Stadium.
Dr Ramathesele’s story has brought lot of memories how much this region has contributed to South African football. Ntate Oliphant indeed there is a need for us as a region to write a book about our contribution in the world of football. For example, one of our own, Makalakalane was the first South African player to go overseas where he spent over ten years.
TOUCHLINE challenges those who know Vaal Triangle’s football history to come forward to contribute to this project.
