One could have easily been fooled into believing that Saturday’s Coke Cup Final at the Athlone Stadium was an official Democratic Alliance (DA) event.
There were so many Councillors present, that a DA caucus meeting could have been called. Whatever their motives – ulterior or genuine – I’m pretty sure the 10 000 plus fans present were appreciative to see that local councillors such as Anthony Moses (Subcouncil 14), Mzwakhe Nqavashe (Subcouncil 14), Alderman Antonio van der Rheede (Subcouncil 11), Patricia van Der Ross (Subcouncil 6), Rashid Adams (Sub council 14), Charles Esau (Subcouncil 4), Angus McKenzie (Subcouncil 15) and Rhynhardt Bresler (Subcouncil 2) connected with their voters and enjoying the most loved sport as well as the biggest amateur competition in the country.
It was evident from their interactions in the VIP Lounge with the officials of Safa Cape Town and others that Councillors do have a role to play outside the realm of politics.
Which begs the question: is it not high time that these Councillors galvanize and rally together to ensure that the Safa CT, the biggest sporting organization in the country, return to its rightful place, the Home of Cape Town Soccer in the Athlone Stadium?
No Bones with Jones understands that the motion to reoccupy the Athlone Stadium needs to be put forward by Safa CT if they were to get the ball rolling to return to their base at the Athlone Stadium.
And for the record, this should not be seen as a privilege or gift from the politicians, but as their duty as it is the Cape soccer body’s rightful place.
There is now equally a responsibility on these councillors to make sure this can come to fruition.
Safa CT was kicked out of their Athlone home in January 2019 due to zoning issues, as well as health and safety concerns and since then, they have been like nomads from pillar to post – they had a short stay at the Cape District Football Association in Wynberg and then moved house to the Rygate LFA where they have settled and are currently still operating from.
Subsequently, there were protests held from those opposing the City’s stance, but the latter was hellbent on not playing ball.
But let’s not delve too much into the past and look ahead.
Given the fantastic spectacle witnessed on Saturday in front of the partisan crowd, along and with the who’s who in the zoo all present, there is probably no better time for them to engage with the necessary role players to make this happen.
This will also be a test for our Councillors to show how serious they are about sport – and especially football in the Mother City.
After all, it is the beautiful game that – in its limited capacity – tries to ensure the youth has alternatives and possibly to fulfil their lifelong dream of becoming the next big thing in Cape soccer – and not becoming just another statistic.
And just as the finalists shone at the Coke Cup spectacle on the day, now it is time for the Councillors time to reciprocate and to do the right thing!
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Top article to get the ball rolling.