By the time you read this article, Township Rollers supporters would have been coerced into making a decision they themselves do not know or understand. The word they use there is investor! Look, Orlando Pirates last had elections in 1992.
In this election Irvin Khoza was elected into the position of chairman. Khoza then knocked on doors of several companies and was told point blank that the business community would not associate with (1) a club that burns stadia (2) a club that is owned by the public/society. Khoza immediately privatized Orlando Pirates and is currently the sole owner of arguably the greatest soccer club in South Africa. Khoza has put his trust in the highly knowledgeable Peter Mancer at PSL level, and street smart Floyd Mbele at the club, and a host of professionals. It is that simple. Kaizer Chiefs, whom everybody in Africa wants to copy, was privatized at formation in 1970 – having been formed by Kaizer & friends. In 1997, for strategic reasons- Kaizer Motaung sold 40% (reportedly for R300 million) of his stake to PRIMEDIA to help him broaden the international image of the club through this media company. Secondly PRIMEDIA’s investment would help Kaizer set up a magnificent club village in Naturena – a club house that beats and matches many European standards. In 2011, Kaizer publicly announced the buying out of PRIMEDIA. Kaizer Chiefs is now owned by Kaizer Holdings 100%. Motaung is not apologetic about the protection of that brand, it is highly protected, highly successful. The family kids who work there have gone to the best schools in the world.
Kaizer employs only the best professionals in the industry. Royal Bafokeng Holdings owns Platinum Stars FC 100% through King Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi of Bafokeng who oversees the club through the board he has put in place.
This board is a board of experts in sports science, administration, law and finance. There is one or two professors there, not malope le ditsala as is the case in our local game. Pretoria City, now Supersport United is owned by Koos Bekker through his Naspers conglomerate. On the board is chairman Khulu Sibiya, a prominent businessman who has also played football for Orlando Pirates, in operations is the shrewd Stanley Matthews and respected strategy guru Imtiaz Patel amongst others. The structure is solid, it is durable because only expertise is valued. These are the reasons why these clubs are highly successful. Ajax Cape Town was in a devastating power struggle that nearly relegated them a few years ago when the two Greek families; the Comitis and the Efsthatiou were involved in a multi-million rand court battle at the Western Cape High Court. The Comitis then left football to look after their company, Famous Brands. A historic institution called Moroka Swallows has now relegated to National First Division. That is not all. They are currently in a financial mess and are about to relegate further down to the ABC Motsepe league. Leon Prins and a squad of minority shareholders have been at loggerheads over ownership of Swallows for over a decade. The sword has finally fallen on that memorable brand. Swallows is a disgrace today. A billionaire called Aziz Kara once came into football, put his family and a crowd of wrong friends in charge of his club FC AK, the club immediately disappeared into oblivion. For as long as our clubs remain in the hands of society, we will be faced with a monstrous task of transforming football. Sam Sono was clearly ahead of us. His modus operandi was smart, owned a club SATMOS – he was responsible to himself, his investment had to give him returns. Gilika and Gilport should be doing the same. You see it must work otherwise his investment will go to waste. If we don’t change, we will continue to play football for fun in Botswana.
Barclays will continue to promote the English league in Botswana and even send its superstars to promote its interests here while our league is in chaos. FNB will continue to donate a paltry P20, 000 cheque to a tournament in Tonota while they have a stadium built at R5 billion in Johannesburg. They will see no point in sponsoring Rollers or Gunners because they are consumed by power struggles, uncertainty and chaos. The model Rollers should adopt is simple; take the club away from the fans in an honest, genuine manner that seeks to change football. Do not defraud supporters. Football is business, give it to the people who can put money into the club and await investment returns. The returns in football are not gate takings. Whoever comes into football because of gate takings and league victory is a fool.
Orlando Pirates makes about R400 million a year, half of that comes from merchandise. This is what Khoza says. He spends R8million a month running the club! It says Rollers etc must seriously look at the way they are run, the jerseys they sell, the image they portray, the requests they make to corporates, the investment made in youth development because a significant amount of money should be made from selling players, players from the age of 10 to 25 preferably. Since 1997, Ajax Cape Town has made over R100 million from selling players to overseas markets alone! Now if Rollers is going to decide on a model, and not privatize the club they might as well forget about transformation into professional football. The same applies to Centre Chiefs who are also in a monumental power tussle with society. Gunners is no exception as seen from the last weeks. Gaborone United is also involved in a major court battle. If these clubs do not become better the league will become worse, games will be postponed, buses will break, referees will not pitch up, and players will go on strike. The league should also intensify its message that clubs should privatize as a matter of urgency. But the league must also debate the issue of reducing clubs to maximum of 12. I have said the league, together with the above mentioned clubs should collectively lead smaller clubs into Promised Land.
