Former PSL club owner Pat Malabela says a Limpopo football indaba is necessary to address various issues, including divisions and the ‘silo mentality’ among club owners, which he believes have hindered progress in the province.
Malabela has not been involved in a professional football setup since his club, Dynamos FC, was sold in 2013. This has left the Mopani District and Giyani Stadium in particular without a professional club.
However, clubs like Jomo Cosmos and Casric Stars have utilised the facilities in previous seasons. Currently, Limpopo boasts six clubs in the PSL: three in the Betway Premiership and three in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Magesi FC, Sekhukhune United, and Polokwane City represent the province in the top flight, while Baroka FC, Venda FC, and Black Leopards—who are currently fighting to avoid relegation—compete in the second tier.”
Over the years, there has been a concern about the inability to compete or attract sponsors from Limpopo teams. While some have cited mismanagement and a lack of professionalism as reasons, Malabela says the issue goes beyond that.
The charismatic businessman declared that he agrees with those calling for a football indaba. “I will support that [Limpopo football Indaba] 100 per cent,” Malabela told FARPost.
FORMER PSL CLUB BOSS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF COMPETITIVENESS BY LIMPOPO CLUBS
The charismatic businessman threw his full weight behind the growing calls for a provincial summit, asserting that a unified approach is the only way to restore the region’s footballing stature. Speaking to FARPost, Malabela pledged his “100 per cent” support for a Limpopo football indaba, identifying the lack of synergy among stakeholders as a primary roadblock.
He argued that the province’s progress has been stifled by a “silo mentality,” emphasising that any meaningful solutions must begin with the collective cooperation and understanding of club owners.
“You need the understanding of football owners in the province to solve football issues. The problem in our province is that we have a silo mentality,” he told this publication.
“The reason why you see Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs being very strong is that there was a time when Pirates were being relegated. Kaizer [Motaung] then realised that if Pirates got relegated, there would be no Kaizer Chiefs. Even when he went to recruit Dr Irvin Khoza back to Pirates, it was when he realised that Pirates were dying and that, without Pirates, Chiefs were nothing. Then they worked together and look at those brands today,” he explained.
“So even in our province, you need some education for club owners in the province. People who run football clubs in the province have too much pride. You can’t talk to them. Some of them think they are very rich and no one can talk to them. When they are in the Premier League, they think they are there forever.
“As long as we still have the Silo mentality and compete among each other, we are not going anywhere. When I play Polokwane City, for example, the competition must be for 90 minutes on the field. When we finish, we can go drink together.
“That’s why I am saying I will support the football Indaba. The football Indaba in the province is needed. But it doesn’t need to be run by politicians or controlled by SAFA because they will want to dictate how we discuss these issues.”
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