Former PSL club boss Pat Malabela has detailed what he says is the biggest problem in running a football club in Limpopo, and unless it improves, clubs will continue to struggle.
Limpopo currently has three teams in the Betway Premiership – Magesi FC, Polokwane City FC, and Sekhukhune United, although the latter is based in Gauteng and only travels to the province to play. Magesi FC are currently in a battle to keep their status in the top tier. To date, no club from Limpopo has ever won a Premiership title.
Three clubs from the province, Black Leopards, Baroka FC and Venda FC, are also participating in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Gomora United from Gauteng have also relocated to the province and are playing in Malamulele.
LIMPOPO CLUBS IN BOTH PSL DIVISIONS ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF RELEGATION
Of all the clubs based in the province, none of them has a main sponsor. However, the top three Premiership teams received R1 million from the Limpopo Tourism Agency [LTA] annually.
Malabela, who previously owned Dynamos FC, says that until Limpopo clubs receive financial backing from both the government and the private sector, they will continue to struggle.
“You see, our province needs a lot of investment when it comes to sports,” Malabela told FARPost.
Black Leopards against Kaizer Chiefs in Thohoyandou: Picture by FARPost.
PAT MALABELA IDENTIFIES THE BIGGEST ISSUE AFFECTING PROFESSIONAL TEAMS
“The biggest issue in the province is that you need to have people who understand what football does in society. Our province has teams that are in the Premier Division and First Division, but all of them are struggling.
“I am talking from experience because I was there. I cried loudly, but no one listened until I decided to sell. So you need a lot of listening from the political side. So there is no political will in our province to make the clubs survive. If only there could be political will, our teams in the province could survive. If you look at KZN, [the government] supports the teams [in the province],” he explained.
Malabela added that it would be a sad day if clubs such as Baroka and Black Leopards, with so much history, could be relegated to the SAFA amateur League.
“It would be a great loss. But at the same time, you need these municipalities to understand that we take our hard-earned and family money to invest in football,” added Malabela.
“Not to benefit anything, but for the sake of the communities we live in. The problem is that we like undermining ourselves, which is why we will always struggle. We must be celebrating teams in Limpopo as our own.
“But those teams, whether it’s [David] Thidiela, Pat [Malabela] or Khurishi [Mphahlele], they are bringing a lot of good things to the province and need to be supported. They need to be given financial backing by the province.”
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