Chairman of the Brakpan Local Football Association (LFA) Phoko ‘Magic Feet’ Mokubung has confirmed that there is no set date as yet for when the men’s senior league, the Super League, will resume after it was also brought to a halt due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Professional and non-professional leagues across the country were all suspended at the same time last month after the South African Football Association (SAFA) announced the drastic measure as a means of trying to curb the spread of the deadly virus. On Monday, health minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the death toll had risen to 12 people while there were a total of 1 686 that were infected.
At the time of the league’s suspension, log leaders Amazababa and Jananda Stars were in a two-horse race for the title, separated by just three points with nine and seven matches to go, respectively, before the 2019/2020 season concludes.
”We cannot plan [for the league resumption] at the moment, as we see that there are new infections each and every day, the stats are going up instead of down and there are untraced people. So, for our own safety, we will stay home, tell our member teams to not go to the grounds to play or train until the President announces that it is over. So we cannot say that we will have completed [the season] by the end of June or whenever,” says Mokubung.
“Yes, it is disappointing but we have to follow the rules [of the national lockdown], but it is a blessing to some of the teams because they are going to recover. It is not a blessing to the number one team which leads the log because the players were ready and eager to take the league, (and) all of a sudden the league has got to stop, you see. Other teams are going to regroup now so as to be able to challenge for the league, so for us it is exciting because we want for that vibe to be there, that eagerness, that competition to be there,” he adds.
Mokubung also says he is happy about the improved numbers in the crowds for the league matches this season, over and above the disciplined manner in which this season’s teams conduct themselves.
“That’s what we want as an LFA; we want to remove people from the streets, from the places where some people do wrong things, so they can come to the grounds and watch the teams, watch the kids. So it is very much exciting and we are growing bit by bit.
“This year, at least, we’ve got 20 competitive teams, unlike last year when we had 36 teams but others didn’t honour their games. So when each and every team plays, you can see that this is competition so that’s exciting for the LFA.”
The LFA leagues are, however, still running without sponsors, including the age-group leagues, which Mokubung says makes life difficult.
“That is a challenge because we now don’t even know what to do; we knock on all the doors asking for sponsorships for the children, so it could be possible for them to get medals, so we can make for them certificates for participation … so we are still appealing to Kwatsaduza businesspeople.”
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