There was a phrase in the 1980s that went something like this: If Maties rugby is healthy, so is Western Province rugby and subsequently, so too, the Springboks.
It never quite transcended to football, but considering the last Bafana Bafana team to win AFCON back in 1996 boasted stalwarts such as Mark Williams, Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse and Andrew Tucker, who all hailed from the Cape, there is a discussion to be had.
And it just so happens that Bafana are currently enjoying their most successful period since the heady days of ’96 whilst Stellenbosch FC are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Betway Premiership. However, Stellies’ success should not mask the degeneration of professional football in the Mother City.
Cape Town Spurs’ potential second successive relegation to the ABC Motsepe League – the national third division – where they will join another fallen Cape giant Santos, pending an arbitration case, is an abomination.
Equally, Cape Town City’s anxious wait to see whether they will be involved in the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs is another catastrophe.
A major city such as Cape Town cannot afford not to have a professional club in the elite division. It is integral for the youth to have a home team they have aspirations of representing one day. And it is here where I am going to borrow some golden nuggets from my former colleague, the Cape Argus football scribe and retired professional Rodney Reiners.
There are few who loved and devoted their lives to Cape football like Reiners. And his passion for it was often expressed here, as he regaled us with stories from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, particularly his affection for the original Cape Town Spurs and his beloved Santos.
Reiners would declare how Spurs, after seeing Rashid Khan “net a cracking goal,” was the catalyst that stimulated his adoration for the beautiful game. He also waxed lyrical about the likes of Danny Abrahams, Bernard Hartze, Neville ‘Athlone Ghost’ Londt and Bernie van Niekerk.
These Cape football legends were well before my time though, but I do feel a similar affection for the 1995 Spurs team.
Coached by Mich D’Avray, Spurs did the double by winning both the National Soccer League and BobSave Superbowl titles. It was some achievement, especially as they enjoyed a 33-game unbeaten run.
And whilst the team boasted some excellent Zimbabwean imports, such as central defender Francis Shonhayi and forward Ian Gorowa, the spine of the side consisted of Cape Town’s finest footballers such as Edries Burton, Matthew Booth, Bartlett and Arendse.
These were my heroes growing up. And allowed me to dream about one day playing on the hallowed Athlone Stadium turf. It may not have materialised, but it gave birth to a passion that has flickered ever since.
After attending the Western Cape derby at Cape Town Stadium this past Saturday, I could not help but ponder about the lack of heroes in our football today. Thulani Serero was in City’s blue and yellow, but the midfielder is a shadow of the player that drew thousands through the gates during his heyday in Ajax Cape Town red and white.
Cape Town football needs to find its soul again. I do not for one second believe that the talent has evaporated within the amateur ranks, but how this talent is harnessed has to be prioritised.
