The great Robert Marawa interviewed the new chairman of the board at the School of Excellence on his show, Marawa Sports Worldwide.
Now folks, the famed School of Excellence is as close as South Africa has come to a national football academy.
The legendary Steven Pienaar was among the earliest intakes at the football boarding school.
It was a melting pot of top young talent from diverse backgrounds.
You should hear Cape Umoya head coach Dominic Isaacs speak isiZulu ouens, it’s so awesome.
Isaacs was schooled with the likes of Dillon Sheppard, Brent Carelse and Rowan Hendricks, who would later become teammates at Ajax Cape Town.
LEARNER: Dillon Sheppard. Photo: SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX
Now you can only imagine how many childhood experiences were shared amongst these guys back then.
In fact, Hendricks, who is now a youth coach at Ajax, has credited the School of Excellence for his grasp of SA languages and a better understanding of people from different backgrounds.
This is a guy that has played in Germany and Russia way back, so his level of tolerance was tested to the limit.
The school has, however, since been marred by controversy and lack of accountability.
Things are so bad that the school does not even get credit for the talent it has produced.
The face of the Ke Yona talent search, Aubrey Modiba, is a former learner.
STELLAR CAREER: Brent Carelse. Photo: AUBREY KGAKATSI/BACKPAGEPIX
This is a guy who has made the most of the Ke Yona trials and has since moved from Mpumalanga Black Aces to SuperSport United and is now a full Bafana Bafana international. This is just one example.
The sponsors, Transnet, are concerned with the mismanagement and have threatened to either take over or pull out of the agreement.
My question is: Why are the players who have come through the School of Excellence system not speaking up?
Most importantly, why are they not giving back to the very system that gave them opportunities?
Clearly, the guys in charge are making a mess, the media is making a noise, but where are the former School of Excellence players at to rek their bek?
What are they saying about the situation?
Why are the current pro players not adding their voice and being part of the solution?
I’m saying it again, SA football players get a free pass when it comes to being held responsible and accountable to the football ecosystem.
It’s time that footballers realise that they are the main beneficiaries of the game and they should be the main contributors to sustaining it!