Fri May 24 09:41:47 SAST 2013
Fri May 24 09:41:48 SAST 2013

Swallows' fairy-tale season a bright spot

May 24, 2012 | Sello Rabothata | 26 comments

SO MUCH has happened within the football fraternity lately that one should be excused for feeling like a mosquito in a nudist camp.

Siyabonga Nomvethe

 The phenomenal turnaround that the team experienced this season is the stuff of which fairy tales are made 

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That then means we are going to have a potpourri of organised ideas and issues to look at and try to make sense of.

The good news should perhaps take precedence over the sad and bad.

Congratulations are then in order for the mighty Orlando Pirates for successfully defending their Premier Soccer League title and completing another treble in successive seasons.

You guys deserved it as you were simply the best.

Everybody knows that the true champions in football are those who win the marathon that's called the league.

Victory in cup competitions is just a bonus and a sometimes necessary distraction from the main course.

While it is said those who come second are actually the first losers, Moroka Swallows and their followers would be the first to deny this after turning their fortunes around in such a dramatic manner. They could be winners of the team of the season if that award still exists.

The phenomenal turnaround that the team experienced this season is the stuff of which fairy tales are made.

From being relegation candidates last season to a near championship-winning run this term makes Swallows the team of the moment and shows what good planning and strategising mean and can do.

The PSL end-of-season awards are upon us and it is going to be interesting to see how they pan out on Sunday. My money is on Swallows' staff to sweep the boards with the sensational and ageless Siyabonga "Bhele" Nomvethe probably completing a clean sweep in the individual player awards.

He has already spoken to his bank manager about the top goalscorer prize, which he won at a canter, proving once again that age is nothing but a number.

He was rewarded with a Bafana Bafana call-up by head coach Pitso Mosimane for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and Botswana next month.

All the "returnees", those from teams abroad like Benni McCarthy, Tokello Rantie, MacBeth Sibaya, Kermit Erasmus and so on really went a long way in also making the PSL one of the best in the world. The resurrection of players like Lerato Chabangu, Joseph Makhanya et al also inspired.

The sad part is that Jomo Cosmos were once again relegated to the National First Division after just one season in the elite league. Jomo Sono has promised to be back sooner than you can say "comeback", and this time with a beefed-up technical team. Jomo Cosmos played some good football this past season and that contributes to his argument that in three months they will be top of the log.

While Ezenkosi seem to be too good for the NFD they seem to be out of their depth in the upper league - and that is what Sono has to address in order to survive the hurly-burly that is PSL football.

Coming to the bad news, the spat between the Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs chairmen and SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt and chief operations officer Jose Ferreira is not good for football.

The windfall that the two clubs received from sponsors Vodacom must be lauded for its good intentions. Football needs such financial injections into the league and especially into the clubs.

On the other hand, United's concern may be right in that the sponsorship may tip the balance of the scales in favour of those with financial muscle as in Spain with Real Madrid and Barcelona, where the third-placed team in La Liga, Valencia, were a massive 34 points behind.

Just a thought.

The cellphone company's action must also be seen as a challenge to other companies. There are 14 other clubs out there. Any takers?

Comments

Fri May 24 09:41:48 SAST 2013 ::
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May 24, 2012

RIBCAGE101

BUSINESS FIRST THEN PLEASURE, IT DOESNT MAKE BUSINESS SENSE SUPPORTING AND SPONSORING TEAMS THAT DONT DELIVER YOUR INVESTMENT. BUSINESS 101

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May 24, 2012

SWEETYK

I think and feel the writer (Sello Rabothata) is a Pie-Rat fan welldone with that praise well said.
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May 24, 2012

McLoving

Great article Skhalo! you said a mouthful my outhi.
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May 24, 2012

Mafu'theNkukhu

May the best marketeers win all the sponsors...
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May 24, 2012

McLoving

Sowetan is running a poll.Do you have Izikhothane in your area?
Can somebody tell me..What is Izikhothane ..what's that ?
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May 24, 2012

Publc2

McLoving
Sowetan is running a poll.Do you have Izikhothane in your area?
Can somebody tell me..What is Izikhothane ..what's that ?
================================================

I wish I can help but I also don't know.I ended up voting "NO" lol
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May 24, 2012

SWEETYK

@ Sowetan

I want to explain to McLoving gore dikhothane ke eng. Pls dont block my comment a gona tlhapa moo.
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May 24, 2012

Publc2

SWEETYK
@ Sowetan

I want to explain to McLoving gore dikhothane ke eng. Pls dont block my comment a gona tlhapa moo.
=============================================================================

@SWEETYK

Please help sweety pie!
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May 24, 2012

5SKIPAS

Well I'm a Bucs card carrying member, but I think SuperSport guys are having a point. Injecting millions of money in 2 teams won't help improving our standard of socca here in SA e.g Bafana Bafana performance. Imagine a situation were competion is btwn the 2 teams jst bcz dey are able 2 loot all de talents from other teams bcz of enough resorces (money) dey hav. We don't wish 2 c wat is happing in Spain where competition is btwn 2 teams n de rest jst add numbers.

Well I'm not saying Chiefs n Bucs shud be disadvantaged bcoz of other teams no..... but companies shouldn't be encouraged 2 do dumping on 2 teams out of 16. And who's job is dat (improving PSL)? Answer: The PSL mngt.
Who's PSL mngt??
Answer: The very same guys who money is being pumped into their teams.

We need strong competition in PSL, n it cnt be btwn 2 teams. Strong league means all team team are strong enough n well resourced to take one other head-on. Not btwn fringe players and their Heros/role models.

LET NOT BE BIAS AND JUDGEMENTAL, Guvin Hunt n Ferraira are having a points. Companies shud b encouranged to invest in sports. We cnt afford to have companies who doesn't give back to community/ de needy.

What are CellC, Virgin Mobile, Sandard Bank, FNB, minning sector and other business doing 2 de community apart from giving jobs (jst bcz dey cnt operate without labour)?
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May 24, 2012

mfanomncane

Sorry Nomvethe this is squad not Swallows you won't score
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