According to ‘Master’, as he’s better known to his peers, last year they did not perform well enough, after being elbowed out in the group stages of the annual Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge.
‘Master’, is a defender at Soweto All Stars team that is hard at work preparing to deal with the scar that was inflicted on them last year.
“Look mfowethu (my brother) its now or never. I personally think what happened last year was a rude-awakening and good lesson for us. This time around we’re leaving no stone unturned. We’re fit, mentally stable and ready to conquer what should be our glory,” he told this reporter exclusively during interview at the launch of a new kit held at Cha Pozi eatery, Soweto last night.
And it rained cats and dogs…
In my culture when it rains it’s a sign of good things; and good things indeed as the team from Zola, comprising of players’ from all corners of Soweto, received a major boost in terms of sponsorship’s from companies such as insurance Mi Way, apparel Licoc Sportif and nutritional Neolife.
This was the first time in a history of a Soweto club that, such a move was bestowed towards an amateur side, in that some of PSL clubs struggle to secure sponsorship’s.
Ours is just to help our youngsters and guide them in the right direction by, says jubilant Danny Kolobe, MiWay representative.
“Interestingly, we were approached by Lecoc Sportif to come on board because they saw a potential in these boys. And we did not hesitate to offer our services to the club because it meant a business move for us,” he said.
As expected Kolobe did not divulge how much was invested suffice to point out “for us it’s a longer term, with sustainable growth and also speaks our language of investing in grassroots sports development”.
It was not brought to our attention how long are the deals.
Renier Grobler an executive from Lecoc Sportif admitted that as a sporting apparel organization, it made economical sense to kit the boys, because the company operates business in areas these boys come from, a point that was also echoed by Brandon Masondo, Sales Director at Neolife Supplement.
For ‘Master’, who is also a skipper pointed out they’re more determined than before.
“For once football will be a priority from Saturday and throughout the tournament,” says the (22) who speaks highly of education than soccer.
Speaking of education, the bone-looking but resembling physique ‘Master’ has just finished writing his three -year tourism final paper this week.
“Education is everything to me and my family, so the rest will take a back seat, but on Saturday it will be a priority,” he said.
Put to him, if he’s aware there’s what is called sport tourism-he admitted it was for the first time he had of that –but will make a follow up on that matter, immediately after the tourney as a winning team.
“Come Saturday we’ll be a total different team from last year. We can’t let our sponsors down or kankani? “He gesticulated.
The launch was graced by my former coach and Kaizer Chiefs yester-years star reverend Vusi ‘Computer’ Lamola, Dj Cleo and Chiefs midfield maestro S’phiwe Tshabalala’s brother, who was accompanied by Premier Soccer League media liaison officer-the likeable Fhatuwani Mpfuni.
