We've all said what could be said about the Mpho Makola six-month ban or kanjani ?
Okay, maybe not all of us, because I haven’t read anything about what the players have had to say about it.
The players make up most of the actual football industry.
You actually need 22 of them for a match to happen after all mos, so when are they going to take control of their own issues and show that they can influence whatever happens in SA football?
Players have played the victim for way too long and as a result, have lost control of football matters and are failing to flex their muscle on the decision-makers out here.
Decisions are made and consequences of those decisions affect the players most, yet they are the last people you hear say anything, besides a few off-the-record rumblings to those they know.
I’m not sure if it’s a fear of being victimised or just plain dumbness and acting sheepish?
When coaches Cavin Johnson and Benni McCarthy were fired, you almost immediately you heard and read about Pitso Mosimane expressing his disappointment about it and having a go at clubs who choose to hire foreign coaches instead of sticking with local guys.
So why are the players not saying anything about the latest hot debate that saw “Bibo” Makola banned after he pushed and used vulgar language against a referee?
COACHES FRATERNITY: Benni McCarthy had support. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
The suspension practically ends the Cape Town City midfielder’s season, which is not exactly great for a 33-year-old player who was signed for two years.
And City have come out with a statement showing their support for their player and challenging the decision, referees and PSL structures.
They even went as far as to highlight that “Bibo” is a family man “with a wife, kids, and debit orders like the rest of us” which is a sign that things could be worse for the player.
If the decision stays, City have every right to turn around and cut the man’s contract “for disciplinary reasons” even after showing support. Are the players going to wait until that happens to say something?
Football is a business and nobody wants to pay a guy who doesn’t play for six months you know.
Why are they not signing a petition and raising the issues that could affect their colleagues and possibly themselves?
Who must now stand up and raise these concerns for them?
SIMILAR CASE: Shakes Mashaba. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix.
According to former Moroka Swallows player and now a veteran journalist Walter Mabeba, back in the NPSL days, former Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba got into trouble for a similar incident as Makola.
In fact, Mashaba went as far as slapping the referee named Eric Can in a match between Swallows and Wits University (now Wits) at Milpark Stadium back in 1979 and was also suspended for six months.
However, after players came together and decided to lodge an appeal on his behalf, the sentence was reduced to three months and Shakes went back to lead the Birds.
So, ek se jou, yes you current players, nithini nina(what do you have to say) about all this now that you know you can do something to change the situation for your fellow player?
Are you going to sit there and wait for other people do things for you?
Maybe that’s the reason many of you struggle to adjust to real-life situations when you stop playing, but that’s a topic for another day.