While the community of Bushbuckridge, which has produced some of the finest PSL talent, celebrate the promotion of Kruger United to the elite League, it’s disappointing that they will never get an opportunity to watch their club at the Thulamahashe Stadium.
The club, founded by Bongani Wati and Basil Khoza in 2023, has made history by being the first club from the Kruger National Park gateway to secure a spot in the South African top league.
They were formed after the duo purchased the SAFA ABC Motsepe League status of Caroline FC. It only took eight months before they gained professional status through the SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs held in Upington in the Northern Cape in 2024.
It took only two seasons for the Bushbuckridge-born club to ascend to the biggest league in SA and secure a status worth between R40 million and R60 million.
SOME OF THE FINEST PSL TALENT TO COME OUT OF BUSHBUCKRIDGE
Over the years the rural area of “Bush” with around 133 villages has produced players such as former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Mike Manzini, ex-Orlando Pirates and Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego, Rhulani Manzini [AmaZulu FC and Chippa United], James Mayinga [Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns], Vuyo Letlapa and Bright Ndlovu [both Sekhukhune United] and Seun Ndlovu [Chippa United], to name just a few.
One would have expected the area which has contributed massively to football in the country would be rejoicing in having a team play in their backyard. However, they will have to wait for a long time as their only facility, Thulamahashe Stadium, doesn’t meet the required PSL standards to host a Betway Premiership or a Motsepe Foundation Championship match.
This is why the club has, for the past two seasons, been forced to host home matches at Kanyamazane Stadium outside Mbombela.
IS IT NOT WORTH RENOVATING THE THULAMAHASHE STADIUM TO HOST PSL MATCHES?
The pitch at the Thulamahashe Stadium currently has artificial turf, which is not allowed in professional football. But one would have thought that after the promotion of Kruger to the professional ranks in 2024, the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality would have seen the need to renovate the venue to meet the required standards, not only for football reasons.
We live in an era where Municipalities across the country do everything in their power to bid for domestic cup finals or Bafana Bafana matches because they understand the economic spin-off that goes with hosting football matches.
I personally witnessed how parents [vendors] helped their children further their studies through selling at the Thohoyandou Stadium. How hospitality establishments around the area would benefit from hosting matches, not just big matches. I have seen how businesses blossom in Seshego when Magesi FC hosts PSL matches, how the Lebowakgomo community and businesses benefit from having Baroka play their home matches in the village.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE FOOTBALL TO LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES
Imagine how the Thulamahashe Mall, which is just opposite the stadium, Guest houses and lodges, Tourism through the Manyeleti Nature Reserve and the Kruger National Park in the area would benefit from hosting PSL matches.
I am not ignorant of the fact that it costs a fortune to convert a stadium from artificial turf to a natural pitch, but with all the factors mentioned above, I am sure the municipality would benefit from more than just the R15 million said to be needed to renovate the facility.
The fact that the Municipality remains mum, sees nothing wrong or has no sense of urgency to renovate the facility remains a concern. But one can only hope that sense quickly prevails and we witness professional football in Bushbuckridge for the first time in our lifetime
I will be the first to drive along the R40 from Polokwane to Thulamahashe to witness such a historic moment, if it ever happens.
RELATED STORY: Kruger United seal Betway Premiership automatic promotion