WeeklySA_AdminFERVOUR: As the three-way race for the English Premier League crescendos to a tense finale next month, South African fans indulged with foretaste of British football mania…
By Jacob Mawela
This season’s hotly-contested English Premier League (EPL) trophy – currently on a Southern African tour – made a surprise stopover in Soweto on Monday, whipping up a storm of excitement among dozens of ardent fans of the league.
And, thanks to sponsors Castrol, scores of residents from Africa’s biggest township got a taste of the hallowed English culture at a jamboree at Soweto’s Maponya Mall graced by Nigerian soccer legend Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha.
The British automotive lubricants pulled out all stops in laying out the requisite razzmatazz replete with the ‘holy grail’ of the British football world, with the centrepiece brought to the shopping centre’s forecourt under heavy guard – for the full glare and admiration of onlookers and local fans of English Premier football.
A designated area inside the mall – festooned with props in Castrol and premier league colours and logos – heaved with sporting fervour punctuated by a Soweto-based ball juggler’s demonstration of township football wizardry.
Activities for the day included jiving contest, merchandise giveaways, a tete-a-tee between the football kingpin and Jozi FM sport presenter Themba Tshabalala capped by a photo opportunity at which members of the public, alongside the prized trophy.
The two engaged in a discussion ranging from the footballer’s decorated international feats to his affinity with South Africa.
A cameo by musician Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse added to the magic of the occasion as he also shared his experiences in the world of music.
“I feel at home here, I’m so happy to be here in Soweto,” gushed the Nigerian icon who, in response to a question seeking to gauge his skills against Brazilians football dynamos Ronaldinho and Neymar, declared – sans a hint of braggadocio – that “I’m better than them!”
Regarding how he managed to fit into European playing approaches of direct football, he unhesitatingly responded, “I’m one of those who stuck to the African style of play.”
And in the aftermath of his country’s women’s national team defeating their South African counterparts for a berth at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games – and in addition to the longstanding rivalry between the two countries – he intoned, “I’ll have to apologise for my people.”
Fielding a question from a reporter as to which club in the present three-horse race – betwixt Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool FC – will win the 2023/24 season EPL, the erstwhile Super Eagle was rather cagey in his response: “I’ll leave my cards open.”
Leading up to the EPL final match on May 19 2024, the Trophy Tour will move to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The 50-year-old Okocha now spends most of his time engaged in ambassadorial work, which has him travelling around the world on promotional appearances.
