WeeklySA_AdminHERITAGE: Moroka Swallows new mentor pledges his selflessness and commitment while asking for a bit of “Bamboo tree patience” from die-hard supporters
By Ali Mphaki
Whenever Steve Komphela takes to the podium he is like a bird in full flight. Unstoppable. He wings his speeches via philosophical anecdotes delivered with linguistic finesse and panache as befitting a former pedagogue of repute.
Komphela was once more at his element, dribbling his way into the hearts and minds of the ever fickle but die-hard supporters of the club once known as the “Mighty Birds”.
This was at the Kopanong hall in Dobsonville, Soweto, on Sunday when the new Moroka Swallows head coach was in a meet-and-greet meeting with the club’s supporters who had braved the cold weather to attend in droves
Also in attendance was club chairman David Mogashoa, though conspicous by his absence was another head honcho Panyaza Lesufi, who is also the Premier of Gauteng.
A man who can speak more than 15 languages fluently which include some Turkish languages – having played and lived in Turkey for several years – Komphela had the Swallows supporters eating from his palm.
Conscious of his audience and the importance of their full understanding of his message, a hallmark of a good speaker and true leader, this time around the eloquent Komphela was waxing lyrically in Sesotho.
Likening Moroka Swallows to the rebirth of the eagle, as per chair Mogashoa’s earlier remarks, Komphela said: “Moroka Swallows has been there.. waiting and waiting and watching…
Nonyane ena bantse ba entsha masiba ba itsumola babatla ho e bolaya entse e tlolatlola.
Ha o hlothola lesiba lena, ho hlaha le leng. Ha o hlothola lesiba le leng ho hlaha le leng..,” to some rapturous applause. (Loosely translated it means despite plucking its feathers trying to kill it the eagle’s feathers keep on growing).
For a team like Moroka Swallows to succeed, Komphela added, it must have its own assets.
“The responsibility which Moroka Swallows and its supporters have taken is to secure the future of the country by developing young players (and) by also giving opportunity to people who will make the club have its own assets”.
Throwing another curved ball to the audience: “A nation gets better when its elderly plant a tree whose shade they know will never enjoy”.
A round of applause. The former coach of erstwhile Bloemfontein Celtic, Golden Arrows, Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns co-coach, was however under no illusion as to the task ahead turning Moroka Swallows fortunes around.
Pledgding his loyalty to the maroon and white brigade he cautioned he was not at Moroka Swallows to “work for his children complete his contract and go home”, but to be part of the club’s rich heritage.
He was all praise for the die-hard Birds followers for their “resilience and faith”, but was not about to wrap up his talk before going into “extra time” without a further anecdote; the protracted time it takes for a Bamboo tree to grow.
“It takes five years to grow. The first five years is the faith.. for the strength of the Bamboo treeis in the roots.
Its a process,” he said. Whether Birds fans will wisen up to Komphela’s crack philosophy is another matter.
What matters is what happens on the field of play, kick starting the 2023/2023 DStv Premiership campaign away against Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale, KZN, Saturday 15hrs.
Swallows also have a Top 8 date against Sundowns lurking. Its up to Komphela and his charges to ride the storm ahead.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO WEALTHY SAUDI ARABIA
MONEY TALKS: The desert kingdom league’s financial power has “changed the market” for transfers forever
By Sports Reporter
BBC Sport understands leading Premier League clubs have been told the Saudi Pro League has set aside funds to turn the country into a football force over the next 10 years.
Four of the leading Saudi Arabian clubs were taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund in June.
Liverpool have already been affected by players moving to Saudi Arabia, with midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho joining Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad respectively. Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has left Bayern Munich to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
The 31-year-old scored 12 goals in 38 games for Bayern in an underwhelming season despite initially impressing.
The Senegal player was also involved in a physical altercation with Leroy Sane in the Manchester City dressing room after losing a Champions League game.
Reports suggest the German champions have recouped most of the £35m they paid Liverpool for Mane a year ago.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said the former Southampton player – who has signed a four-year deal with Al-Nassr – had not had an “easy year” since moving from Anfield.
They are part of a growing group of players to make the switch to the country, with Brazil forward Roberto Firmino having signed for Al-Ahli after his Reds contract expired in the summer.
Al-Ahli have also signed Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy from Chelsea and winger Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City.
Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, have brought in former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, ex-Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Portuguese forward Jota from Celtic.
Al-Hilal, who made a world-record £259m bid for Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, have signed Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves from Wolves and Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea.
Latest news is that Al-Ahli agreed a deal worth up to £30m with Manchester City to sign winger Riyad Mahrez.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klop has said the Saudi Pro League’s financial power has “changed the market” for transfers and elite clubs “need to be aware of what is happening”.
Liverpool were not planning to sell Henderson and Fabinho and, having already seen James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita leave the club at the end of their contracts, have lost five midfielders on a permanent basis this summer.
“It is already influential, for us, for sure. We will have to learn to deal with it, and that’s what we do,” added Klopp.
Klopp further bemoaned as “not helpful” that the transfer window is open nearly three weeks longer in Saudi Arabia than in Europe.
The transfer deadline in Europe’s top leagues is on September 1, while Saudi Arabia’s runs until 20 September. It means the Middle East country’s clubs can still add to their high-profile signings this summer when European clubs cannot.
“It is massive, in the moment,” said Klopp on Saudi Arabia’s influence.
“Uefa or Fifa must find solutions for that. But in the end, at this moment, I don’t know exactly what will happen.” Man City mentor Pep Guardiola agrees. “Saudi Arabia has changed the market,” said Guardiola.
“A few months ago when Cristiano [Ronaldo] was the only one to go, no-one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league.
“In the future there will be more and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening.
“Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we could not say ‘don’t do it’.”
City agreed to sell Mahrez in a deal worth up to £30m while Allan Saint-Maximin is set to become the next player to leave the Premier League for Saudi Arabia when he joins Mahrez at Al-Ahli.
