VUVUZELA MU NTABWE: Yesterday, renowned sports writer, Joseph Kabuleta analyzed the Cranes performance at #CHAN2014 thus: Before you dismiss Uganda Cranes as the ultimate heartbreak champions, spare a thought for them. And for a little perspective let’s look across to South Africa. The South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) is said to be the 5th highest money-generating national championship in the world; presumably behind the English Premiership, German Bundesliga, Spanish Liga and the Serie A in Italy. Top players in the South African league earn in the regions of $15,000 a week and have a plethora of promotion contracts with top brands that increase their net worth. The South African public venerates and pampers its football stars. By contrast, very, very few Ugandans would name the Cranes team that started against Morocco and say which clubs they turn out for. Bafana Bafana and their long suffering fans spared nothing in an effort to win the CHAN at home, but they also find themselves in the dump heap after the group stage. Like Uganda, they finished with 4 points, having won the first game (and raised the hopes of their fervent fans), drawn the next and lost the last. So what right have we to act aggrieved when our pity-worthy, haggard and underpaid footballers limp to a defeat against a Moroccan team, most of whose players turn out for the giant Raja Casablanca club that reached the final of the recent FIFA World Club championship and lost only 2-0 to mighty Bayern Munich. The only reason this league-less country even managed four points is because those players were auditioning for professional contracts at South African clubs. Even if they are not ‘spotted’ many will stay over and try to get into lower league clubs or University teams. I would be shocked if the return flight has any more than a handful. There is nothing to come back to. DO YOU AGREE?
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:44:57 +0000
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