I
had taken a decision more than three years ago that I will resist all the
temptation to comment on sporting matters through this blog. This was after I
showed sports journalism my back and I thought it would be wise to use the blog
for other issues affecting the world. But one newspaper headline on Sunday and
several radio and TV reports on Monday morning regarding the Nedbank Cup match
between defending champions Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars prodded me to
shelf that decision, just this once.
The
newspaper headline screamed: “Stars stun Pirates in Nedbank Cup last 16 match”
while the electronic reports blindly towed the same line. The implication here,
especially for those who either did not watch the match or did not have the
recent background of both outfits, is that Pirates were somehow expected to
easily triumph over Stars. That’s the simplistic face value explanation but
there is a technical argument on whether Pirates were really the favourites or
otherwise.
While
the debate is not scientific, bookmakers would most probably have told you
before this clash that Pirates were the underdogs – purely based on current
form and climate. If the discussion is then elevated to history and commercial
fibre, then Pirates would then obviously tower over the “ruralitarian” Stars.
I
must also state upfront that I don’t hold any brief for Stars nor its coach
Steve Komphela but I think this is one match in which both the team and mentor
deserved some modicum of respect and due credit - before and after.
For
starters, Stars came into the game as a stable team pegged 5th on the PSL log,
six points adrift from pace setters Mamelodi Sundowns. A counter argument would
be that Pirates are second on the standings with two points superior to Stars.
Granted.
Another
“ammunition” from my side would be that Stars dimmed Pirates and claimed
maximum points in their first leg of the league in Free State last year. Others
would argue that Pirates won all their cup matches last year. Fair enough.
Stars
have had the same coach since the beginning of the season. Pirates are in
turmoil because they “suspended” their coach Julio Leal over a week before this
match. Caretaker coach Augusto Palacios was baptised with a 3-0 drubbing by
Santos before redeeming himself with a 3-2 win over Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs
in a league derby.
One
of Komphela’s charges, little-known Edward Manqele is a joint top scorer in the
league alongside veterans Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows) and Katlego
Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns) with 10 goals each. Pirates boast Benni McCarthy
with seven goals as one of the league’s leading goal machines.
And
if its worth any mention, this is the same Ea Lla Koto who have had five
dubious refereeing decisions given against them this season. Two of their clear
goals were disallowed when they played SuperSport United in their
season-opener, another one against Platinum Stars before another daylight
robbery against their provincial nemesis Bloemfontein Celtic. When they came up
to play Chiefs in Joburg, ageing Arthur Bartman handled outside the box but
that went unpunished. Of all these heists, Manqele was castrated not once, not
twice but three times!
So
if Stars are to mop up all the spilt moo juice, they’d be sitting at the summit
of the log with 45 points and Manqele with 13 strikes under his belt. But hey,
the referee’s decision is final in football.
The
Komphela that is being denied the credit he deserves is the same one who
rescued Stars when they were languishing in the wrong end of the league grid in
the 2008/ 09 season. He came in and Ea Lla Koto were 4th at the end of that
campaign, a performance that encouraged Platinum Stars to lure Komphela to the
North West.
All
I am advocating for here is that let praises be heaped on those who sweat for
it, especially local coaches. We are normally quick to extol foreign but shady
coaches. Some of them have later been exposed as nothing but charlatans, mostly
from the Balkan states and other obscure places around the world, with nothing
but basketball or some such comedic backgrounds.
Komphela
and his Stars are shining bright for now and let us reflect that without any
doubt of contradiction.
By Amos Manaanyetso
(Former
Sunday World Sports Editor)
Original story: http://goo.gl/ADepQ
