October 28, 2003
By Lucky Sindane
JOBURG soccer supporters are fanatic about their teams, and justifiably so, since the city has some of the best teams around - with current log leaders Wits University and the PSL cup holders Pirates both based in Johannesburg.
Discussions in the local watering holes on the prowess of players, the decisions of referees and the coaching abilities of various officials reach are often intense, never boring.
"Not only have the Joburg soccer teams got immense passion for the game, but our supporters are unrivalled," says director of social development for the City of Johannesburg, Bongi Mokaba.
With the arrival this week of the Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) delegation to investigate South Africa's ability to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup bid, the interest in the beautiful game is set to rise to a more intense level. Fifa inspectors touch down in Johannesburg on Thursday, 30 October.
Weekend games at Ellis Park Stadium, the home of Kaizer Chiefs, are always packed with the vociferous crowd dressed in the partisan gold and black. At neighbouring Johannesburg Stadium, home of the Bucs, officially called Orlando Pirates, the supporters are no less enthusiastic.
And when the match is a city derby between Chiefs and neighbouring Orlando Pirates, the atmosphere becomes almost tangible, with the black and white skull-and-cross-bones flags competing with the bright yellow of the Chiefs supporters. Horns and drums drown out any sounds of referee whistles or instructions down on the playing field.
Every one in the city has an opinion on local soccer, with children copying their heroes in mini-games in local parks. On every corner in every township youngsters can be found kicking around homemade footballs. "When you go to the townships you'll find kids calling each other to go and play diski using a tennis ball or rolled up plastic bags as a soccer ball," Mokaba says.
"Our passion for soccer shines through," she says. "It is a clear indication of the passion for soccer in Joburg", the City director adds.
"About 6 000 primary schools participate in the Chappies Little League and many are from Joburg," says Mokaba, adding proudly that Johannesburg "has produced many stars like Jomo Sono, Kaizer Motaung, Chippa Moloi, Marks Maponyane and many more".
While youngsters dream of emulating their footballing heroes, the real soccer stars continue in their ceaseless bid for glory.
It's early days but the challenge to top the Professional Soccer League ranking is hotting up. Currently holding the top position is Johannesburg team Wits University, 15 points away from Chiefs, who have a game in hand. Moroka Swallows, another Johannesburg squad, is in third position.
Chiefs' number one supporter, Saddam Maake, surrounds himself with Chiefs memorabilia - his house is in the gold and black colours. Dressed in his team's scarves and wearing his trademark outsized glasses; Maake is more than ready for the Fifa delegation's visit. "I think we deserve to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup," he says. "South African football is very exciting."
While expressing national pride, Maake can't help but remark on his team's performance so far this season. "Kaizer Chiefs have performed very well up to this far. Whatever trophy we win this season we'll take that as a bonus - our aim is to win the league."
In a letter to Fifa President Joseph Blatter in support of the country's bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, President Thabo Mbeki says, "in democratic South Africa we are best equipped to present a safe, joyful, significant and memorable World Cup".
He adds: "We want, on behalf of our continent, to stage an event that will send ripples of confidence from the Cape to Cairo - an event that will create social and economic opportunities throughout Africa."
And Joburg is ready to play its part. It boasts the head-quarters of South African soccer, the flagship Soccer City, officially known as FNB Stadium, which can hold a capacity crowd of 94 000, as well as the international venue of Ellis Park Stadium, with a capacity of 60 000.
Other local stadiums are somewhat smaller, but no less well serviced with top rate facilities. The home grounds of some of Joburg's top soccer teams have been identified as training venues for the 2010 World Cup - Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Milpark Stadium in Braamfontein and Makulong Stadium in Tembisa are among those named in the bid document.
"We have good infrastructure, good planning and it will be politically correct to let South Africa host the 2010 soccer world cup," says Kaizer Chiefs public relations officer, Putco Mafani.
While the current PSL season is underway, cup fixtures on the soccer calendar loom large. Four of Joburg's top soccer teams, Jomo Cosmos, Moroka Swallows, Kaizer Chiefs and Wits University, are among those set to battle it out in the Coca Cola Cup, now entering the quarter-final stage.
And in the recent SAA Super Eight Jomo Cosmos took the honours in a fiercely contested Joburg derby with Swallows.
The Coca Cola Cup quarter-final between Chiefs and Cape Town-based Ajax, at FNB Stadium on 1 November, will be one of the highlights of the Fifa delegation's visit, with the match promising to be a nail-biting thriller.
While support for the 2010 bid is booming, a voice of caution comes from Orlando Pirates' human resources manager, Bheki Khathide, who warns that fans need to "do the right thing" and make sure that their behaviour in the stands is exemplary.
"While the Joburg teams have performed very well this season, we (the fans) haven't. Fans throwing missiles on to the field will reduce our chances of hosting the World Cup," says Khathide. His sentiments are repeated by Kaizer Chiefs public relations officer, Putco Mafani, who says there are fans out there that are giving a bad impression of football by throwing missiles to the field whenever they are not happy with the outcome of a particular game. "They will reduce our chances of hosting the World Cup," says Mafani.
But Mokaba is optimistic. The preparations are in place, she says. "Now it is up to the people of our country. The Fifa delegation is coming to see if the people of South Africa are ready."
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