Roger Links (pictured), like so many former Cape Town Spurs legends, former administrators and fans, are understandably gutted and appalled following the relegation of its National First Division side to the amateur ranks.
Needless to say, it was a double whammy for Spurs after their ABC Motsepe outfit was also relegated to the proverbial ‘graveyard’ league of the Hollywoodbets Third Division.
This travesty, coupled with another – that of Cape Town City which also got humbled by dropping down from the PSL to the unforgiving First Division. Let’s hope that these two entities do not become a distant memory like the People’s Team, Santos, who since its relegation in 2012, has sunk even further into the football abyss.
This is why Links, also a former Battswood defender who kicked on (pardon the pun) in his career and turned pro with the original Spurs between 1989-1993, says there is a way out of this mess.
“To turn your back on them is no issue but there is a deeper connection that cannot be discarded, despite the fact that Cape Town’s top club bosses have failed the football public of the Mother City,” said Links, who was the driving force behind the success of the now defunct Old Mutual Football Academy.
“Firstly, I have to say that I’m deeply disappointed that Cape Town doesn’t have a team in the PSL anymore (Stellenbosch FC in Cape Winelands) and I think that is very sad. I speak as a football-loving person – and yes, our community loves football. So, I’m very disappointed that another team is relegated and again it’s very disappointing.
“From a Spurs perspective …listen, you’ve got a responsibility… you’ve got a club, but the bigger picture is that you have a community that you also have to serve … So, if you’re letting the club down you’re also letting the whole community down. So, we have now been deprived of what I call a treasure which is Cape Town Spurs. The name alone had lots of value in our community. When you changed the name (from Ajax Cape Town), I think the club should have identified and connected with the fans whom they serve.
“Listen, there are still a lot of people out there that support Cape Town Spurs as the brand resonates with them as it meant something to them, you know. I mean my dad is still talking about it and the history, so I think we missed the boat there.
“Secondly, you need to get coaches that catch that value and spirit of what Spurs is all about. Look, I don’t know the gentlemen (running the club) but I don’t think they have carried the heart of what Spurs meant and really means to the community. I think they are just lost…. they lost that fire. I think they’ve lost ever since they lost the name of Ajax because Ajax Cape Town meant a lot to lots of people.
“So, when they did that switch they kind of lost that whole kind of vibe they had going. and that’s why I’m so disappointed with where Spurs are today. Also, the fact they made away with the famous badge with the eagle also left a bitter taste. Listen, that said, Spurs still attract a lot of the good young talented boys and still have some value in the community. But what’s going to happen now with our talented youngsters and also with Cape Town City going down to the NFD?”
“So, the real winner here is Stellenbosch FC as they can now have the pick of them and this is where we are losing out. Where do the rest of the boys go? So, it is very sad that two of our clubs don’t play in the top ranks anymore – and the thing is that it will be so difficult to get back. And it’s like you said, they are so successful businessmen but yet they seem to every time fall short and it’s even going to be more difficult unless they change the whole way of looking at and running their business – and that is my opinion,” Links further added
The former Bafana Bafana defender is now appealing and rallying the former Spurs legends along with local businessmen with a passion for football to “step up.”
Links explained: “We’ve got highly successful people within our communities and I think they must also step up. They can’t just sit on the fence and say ‘Nah, this football thing isn’t working. They have to put the money where their mouths are and serve a larger community. They are successful in the businesses they run.
“We did it back in the day with Mother City but I don’t think they were even kind of prepared for what was given to them in Mother City and they didn’t run it properly. There are people around with expertise to run it successfully. So why can’t we as a community, where we have a lot of people who are running successful businesses and sitting in positions of influence… why don’t they just come together and buy a franchise or invest in some entity that will take us to a place where we belong?
“Regarding Spurs and CT City and how the leadership has managed the club, I think that it is important for them to look beyond just the perspective that these clubs are just businesses. That formula has been proven to be unsuccessful. I believe that if that continues these clubs will only go further and further down. In order to achieve the success that Spurs and City ultimately should be, they need to surround themselves with the proper people…
On a more positive note, there might still be a possible return on the cards for Spurs as they are currently in a two-horse race to acquire the status of the First Division outfit Pretoria Callies.
