The lengths that Safa Western Cape chairman Tankiso Modipa (pictured left) went through to try and justify his organisation’s innocence during the recent shambles at the Sasol League’s National Playoffs, was probably initiated through guilt.
Furthermore, this publicity stunt did Modipa and his organisation more harm than good as the province’s leader tried to exonerate themselves – but in retrospect it raised further questions about their lack of proper organisational skills.
The fact that the WC soccer boss even went as far as saying that national playoffs is already a success because UCT Ladies achieved their objective by securing promotion, is short sighted, insensitive and so egotistical.
This despite losing out to Ezemvelo Ladies from KZN during the final of Sasol League’s National Playoffs at the Loerie Park Sports Ground in Knysna on Sunday.
Let me make this very clear: UCT Ladies’ success was planted two seasons ago and this is the fruit of their labour. This does not speak to the role, or the lack thereof, from the WC’s side.
In fact it’s the coaching staff of Ahmed Parker, Shaquille Williams and Mark Kapman that is the main reason for the success with their UCT squad after winning their stream and playoff final for a consecutive time – only this time they went one further by gaining promotion to the HollywoodBets Super League.
Not to mention their two Coke Cup titles in 2019 and 2022. Needless to say, there is a potential third title when they face the defending champion Dangerous Heroes in the final at the Athlone Stadium on 26 October.
Another baffling comment the soccer boss made was when he publicly proclaimed that he wanted to give the UCT Ladies an advantage over the other provinces by setting them up for a couple of days earlier to “acclimatise.”
This to me just makes no sense let alone being unethical. If Modipa really wanted to help he would have made sure that the UCT Ladies don’t travel more than an hour, if any, out of Cape Town – but six hours in a bus and try and make it as if you have their best interest at heart, the kite ain’t going to fly!
It must also be noted that it is rather disappointing from the university’s perspective regarding the travelling as I don’t think they would allow their rugby players to travel such long distances and expect them to perform at their very best.
Was it also even worth it for them to have accepted the province’s offer to come down to Knysna a couple of days earlier to acclimatise?
I mean, the club nearly lost their whole coaching staff when they were involved in an accident en route to the Eden region.
And here is the other thing. Why was it that the Eden region again conveniently submitted the best proposal to host the playoffs – just weeks after they hosted the Second Division playoffs?
Also, where was Safa Cape Town’s input in all this? I don’t think enough was done from both these football entities to secure a closer venue for the WC champs.
Is it because it is run by Modipa’s right hand man in the province – Chris Tyhawana (pictured right) – who calls the shots in the Eden region? The irony is that the province is of opinion that it has done so much good work meanwhile there is so much unhappiness – the only thing is that none of its affiliates are willing to formally lodge a complaint for obvious reasons as this is always something that Modipa will elude to.
One must bear in mind that the Safa National issues the host province in between R80 000 to R100 000 to host the playoffs and the date was set way in advance already. How and why it went pear shaped is till the million-dollar question.
Just the other day the province’s chairman Modipa also had to put out fires on why certain teams in the Overberg region were promoted to the ABC Motsepe League’s Second Division under very controversial circumstances and this had
Modipa is also the president of the Overberg region and had the tongues wagging when he awarded Salim United, who ended sixth in their league campaign in the Overberg, second division status because they “met the criteria” according to the province.
Now here is the thing, Salim belongs to Martiens Konstabel, vice chairman of the Overberg region who also happens to be the father of Safa Western Cape’s Secretary Nadia Konstabel – just saying.
Four clubs, Ubuntu Spartans, Bitou Young Pirates, Langebaan FC and Blackpool FC, had to then play out in a mini-playoff campaign to determine the region’s other representative. All this while Overberg’s actual league Third Division champion, Bazuka United, was excluded from the competition.
Even during the mini-playoffs Bazuka was left to lick its wounds despite threatening legal action. This issue came and went.
Let’s not forget the drama with the goal posts at the Kay Motsepe National School’s finals in Saldanha Bay last year where it again exposed the province when it comes to the hosting and organising of events.
Just recently, the Western Cape Playoff Final between UCT Ladies and The Magic Ladies could not be played at the University of the Western Cape’s Stadium in Bellville due to the fact that the venue was allegedly not booked – the spectacle had to be played on one of the side fields and it became a watered-down affair.
The province’s secretary Chris Tyhawana went on record a couple of weeks ago when he stated that the sponsors had a workshop which was held in closer proximity of the side fields than the actual stadium hence it was decided to play the WC playoff-final on one of the side fields which was rather sub-standard to say the least.
Again, those running the show can see this for what they want to, but the fact of the matter is that everything is always unorganised, and it leads to a mockery taking the shine away from the actual spectacle.
It’s time everyone should be asking themselves some hard questions. “Are we really honest in our intentions and capacity as sport administrators, serving the game as vowed to when elected – or are we building little empires in order to get leverage for bigger things?
