Roger Fortune, newly elected president of Heideveld LFA, has barely settled in his new role, and he’s already made his presence felt with a positive impact by growing this union which has had a somewhat troubled past.
No Bones with Jones has been informed that four new clubs, YMO St. Lukes, Green Dolphin FC, Police FC, as well as a women’s only club for now in Purple Hearts FC, have all been registered as new members for the upcoming season.
Police FC, who has strong roots in the Overberg region, also makes a welcome return to football after being dormant for two seasons. This brings the total number of clubs at the LFA to 15.
Fortune, along with his new administration in Gwappie Esau (vice), Cheslyn Collop (secretary) and Justin Heyns (treasure), will have the task of taking this LFA to newer heights. It must also be noted that the LFA’s former president Ian Pakoe who wasn’t nominated at all, sneaked in at the back door and was accommodated in the position of a second vice president.
Fortune stated he is confident that with his “competent” executive members things are looking good for the football community of Heideveld, as well as the broader society.
“Look, one cannot get back what was there all those years ago,” Fortune explained to No Bones with Jones. “But we can certainly strive for that as times have changed, generations have changed and that’s the one thing we have to keep in mind. It’s more now fighting against ill-disciplines and the gangsterism stuff off the field, you know.
“It’s now to try and motivate these kids to try and play sports rather than to stand on the corners. We are living in a society in Heideveld where there isn’t anything else for these kids.
“So, this is what we want and the sport is obviously there as a tool for them to get out of that mindset of every youngster must become a gangster and that is the main thing for us at the moment as we are striving for our youth,” Fortune added.
Fortune, one of the LFA’s most successful coaches to date, also noted that besides transformation of their new administration, a big focus will also be placed on making football competitive again.
“Therefore, we encourage more new clubs to join us as we want to make this league more competitive,” said ‘Mr Big,’ as Fortune is commonly known. And also, to see more teams coming through like Young Pirates and Goal50 who’s in the third division and then we have the Sasol League team in Heideveld Ladies.
“Police FC also has a ladies’ team and then we also have the other ladies’ team joining. So, it’s not only empowering our youth but also women’s football and to grow that as well,” said Fortune.
Fortune, a popular and imposing figure at the LFA due to his success on the playing field with Pirates, revealed he has given over the baton to equally competent coaches at his beloved club as well as his assurance that restoring the credibility of the LFA remains high up on his agenda.
Fortune explained: “Look, I have to be honest and admit that I always said I want to be in coaching and not politics. Even when the late Job Petersen, Mr. (Charles) Jongbloed and the Keysters passed away, I always said I wanted to coach and I didn’t want to get involved in politics. But then again, why must there be politics in football?
“Now, it is obvious to work on the outside and get the structures right for our kids to play in the best leagues with the best structures – and that is why I came in to honour their call as well,” Fortune concluded.
