Hope FC must be careful that they do not shoot themselves in the foot and become just another laughing stock of the football fraternity – as the decision making from their hierarchy thus far leaves a lot to be desired.
Hope’s promotion to the National First Division in its debut season under Dylan Deane has caught everybody by surprise, including themselves.
Deane has taken a franchise from say roundabout R500 000 and turned it into a R15 million entity in under just 10 months and elevated their status within the pro ranks.
But that does not mean that rash decisions should be made! Should it? For starters, it was highly unjustifiable to axe Deane following an historic first season in the ABC Motsepe League.
To put Deane’s feat into perspective, the mighty Santos, the only side from Cape Town to have won a PSL title (2003), has been struggling for the last decade to get out of this Second Division league so, it is not easy at all which makes Deane’s feat remarkable.
Deane also recently released a statement of his own which contradicts that of Hope’s following his release from the club where he indicates that the club’s decision came as a “surprise”.
It’s actually ironic that Deane got axed as his success was built on consistency in their debut season, and now the status quo gets shaken up. Why?
Why would you want to rock the boat unnecessarily by going another direction when there is already a winning formula in place and a platform to build on? Why?
Another aspect which is likely now to unfold and cause further unsettlement after the departure of any coach, is an exodus of players.
Who is staying and who is going? Hope already announced on Wednesday that they have scooped up a talented youngster in Selwyn Stevens. They do move fast, hey!
Be that as it may, as much as one does not agree, one has to respect the decisions made by Hope’s hierarchy.
The other issue that needs some clarity is where does Sea Point Swifts still feature? If any? Was the whole idea not to create an avenue for players?
Look, it’s believed that Swifts received some football equipment and apparel which is obviously much appreciated but bear in my mind. Swifts is not a charity case!
And let’s not forget that Hope could never have been in this position if it wasn’t for Swifts who allowed the sale of Oriented Birds to swiftly take place. From where one stands, Hope is actually the one that is indebted.
It was also initially believed that the investors, who had links to the area of Bonteheuwel, had a vision to uplift the century-old Swifts and Metropolitan LFA. which had sadly declined over the years for various reasons.
Needless to say, there was a great sense of excitement and optimism when news broke that Swifts will be back in the Second Division after nearly three decades, not just from football lovers in Bonteheuwel but many across the Cape Metropole.
There were expectations that it would be a venue for talented players from the club and Bonteheuwel area and that they would be given preference.
But Hope’s decisions thus far, coupled with the direction taken already shows there is no hope of any of this ever materializing and truth be told it is a shame!
And as cliche as it sounds, if one does not respect the game, it will humble you!
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