Alarm bells are ringing as Mamelodi Sundowns considers selling their ABC Motsepe League feeder side, M-Tigers, a move that could have far-reaching implications for the development of young talent.
Concerns are mounting that this move could close a crucial pathway for young players, potentially depriving them of the chance to hone their skills and reach their full potential.
Interestingly, prominent figures in SA football, including Jomo Sono, Thabo Senong, and even former Sundowns player Cassius Mailula, paint a clear picture of the vital role the ABC Motsepe League and feeder teams like M-Tigers play in the development of young talent.
THE ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE: A CRUCIAL STEPPING STONE
Jomo Sono, a respected voice in SA football, emphasises the importance of the third-tier of South African football in preparing players for the rigours of professional football.
He notes the league’s ability to “toughen up players” and highlights the superior standards compared to the DStv Diski Challenge [DDC].
“The ABC Motsepe League prepares players better,” said the legendary Sono. “It helps toughen up players. The challenges that the players face there toughen them up.”
He further highlights the league’s ability to produce PSL-ready talent and its higher standards compared to the DDC. “There’s a lot of players that move straight to the PSL. For instance, Sekhukhune United have just taken my left back [21-year-old Vuyo Letlapa]. I strongly believe the ABC standards are stronger than the DDC.”
Former national Under-20 team coach Thabo Senong describes the ABC Motsepe League as “the highest level of amateur football in South Africa”, offering young players the mental toughness, tactical consistency, and physical challenges needed to succeed at the professional level.
Senong also points out the historical significance of the league in providing a pathway for players to the NFD and even PSL.
“The ABC Motsepe league is very important for finalising the development of young talents in South Africa,” he told FARPost. “It is still the main source of players to the National First Division.”
He emphasises the league’s demanding nature and its contribution to player development: “Our junior South African national team used to get players that were well prepared mentally because of the ABC Motsepe League.”
The former Amajita coach also notes a concerning trend and advocates for partnerships. “Unfortunately we are witnessing a decline that dropped to between 5%-7% of players from the league graduating into the Betway Premiership because PSL teams are now purely focusing on their DDC teams,” he noted.
“In my opinion, it is advisable to encourage teams to consider having links or partnerships with ABC Motsepe franchises because of the additional elements received in the final phase of development that is training to win…”
M-TIGERS A PROVEN TALENT FACTORY
The success stories of players like Cassius Mailula and Percy Tau, who honed their skills at M-Tigers before making their mark in the Mamelodi Sundowns’ first team, further underscore the importance of feeder teams. Keegan Dolly, Thabang Sibanyoni, Themba Zwane, Kwanda Mngonyama and Paseka Mako also had stints at M-Tigers.
Mailula is on record as crediting his time at M-Tigers for shaping him into the player he is today.
The newly signed Wydad Casablanca attacker spent two seasons at M-Tigers before he was recalled to the Masandawana senior team.
“For me to go to the ABC Motsepe League was actually good,” said Mailula in a previous interview. “The coach that helped me to see this as an opportunity for growth is coach Godfrey [Sapula]. He is the one who actually brought me to the club. Sapula is one person that actually believed in me and saw the talent in me.”
“He told me that you might not be doing well there in the first team because it is tough, ‘come here and work hard and grow from what you experienced from the DStv Diski Challenge team’.
“I think it has shaped me into the person that I am and the player that I am. It has shown me that I have to have a lot of strong character and humility to respect the game because it’s not easy, but it’s tough. Going there [at M-Tigers] was actually a great opportunity for me because I was able to understand everything.
“Things that are happening in the ABC are not easy; it’s actually a tough league. To play two seasons has actually helped me a lot. I will always be grateful to coach Godfrey for helping bring confidence in myself and to tell me that it doesn’t matter which league I am playing at.”
Senong’s experience with the South African Under-20 national team also highlights the value of M-Tigers. In both the 2017 and 2019 FIFA Under 20 World Cups, several players from M-Tigers were included in the squad, a testament to the quality of talent nurtured by the team.
Senong plucked the likes of Khulekani Kubheka, Malebogo Modise, Thendo Mukumela, Keletso Makgalwa, Thabo Moloisane, Siphesihle Mkhize and Promise Mkhuma from M-Tigers for the 2017 and 2019 editions.
Given the evidence of the ABC Motsepe League’s and M-Tigers’ contribution to player development, Sundowns’ decision to sell the team appears to be a short-sighted one. The move not only deprives young players of a crucial platform to develop their skills but also potentially limits the club’s access to a steady stream of homegrown talent.
As Jomo Sono aptly puts it, the challenges faced in the ABC Motsepe League “toughen up players.” By selling M-Tigers, Sundowns risks missing out on the opportunity to develop players with the mental fortitude and resilience needed to thrive in the highly competitive world of professional football.
The sale of M-Tigers is a decision that Sundowns may come to regret. It is a move that seems to contradict the club’s long-term vision and could have a detrimental impact on the development of future generations of South African football stars.
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