Mogorosi's move is a reminder of changing times

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday January 28, 2011 00:00

 

He would show me his distorted drawings of Madinda Ndlovu, the flying winger who mesmerised opponents down the flank with his dazzling pace. There was Rahman Gumbo who had just arrived from cross-town rivals, Eagles and Mercedes 'Rambo' Sibanda who was idolised by Highlanders' fans. These were our heroes and never, at any given moment, did it cross our (and their) minds that they could join old enemy, Dynamos.

It was unthinkable! I recall when Highlanders' legend, Peter Ndlovu, was asked which club he will turn out for on his return from a successful stint abroad. 'Dynamos?' one sports journalist asked. 'They will kill me in Bulawayo if I do that,' was Ndlovu's answer. His blood was black and white, the colours of Highlanders. However, the same Ndlovu betrayed Highlanders' fans when he announced recently that he was coming out of retirement, not to join his boyhood club, but some obscure First Division side in Harare.

The world over, it had become nearly a taboo for players to move to traditional rivals.In South Africa, Orlando Pirates' fans feel soothed if a player joins Mamelodi Sundowns rather than blood rivals, Kaizer Chiefs. It is almost eight seasons since Jimmy Tau made a surprise move to Chiefs from Pirates and since then no other player has made a direct switch. He was labelled a sell-out and a player who had grown accustomed to Pirates' signature tunes had to endure piercing boos each time he touched the ball from the very same fans who previously hero-worshipped him. He was seen as a traitor.

One has to rewind to 2003 to find the last time a player moved between fierce Spanish rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Portuguese winger, Luis Figo made a daring move from Nou Camp to the Santiago Bernabeu and was subjected to a torrent of abuse from Barcelona fans. A pig's head was thrown in his direction when he returned to the Nou Camp.

Locally, I am told, at the height of the rivalry between Township Rollers and Gaborone United, no player dared cross the divide.

Big clubs will invade small sides for players, but in recent years the shackles have been broken. Clubs and players disregard the unwritten rule as the number of movement between traditional rivals increase.

Mochudi Centre Chiefs have risen to be regarded as a giant in local football. In 2008, they managed to win their first-ever Premier League and Coca-Cola titles. Their financial muscle gave them the courage to invade the market and emerge strong contenders in the last three seasons when they won a double and finished runners-up in two campaigns.

Such has been the force of the black and white outfit that some Rollers' fans have come to regard Chiefs as their fiercest rival.

Gaborone United (GU), despite winning the league in 2009, have largely remained a pale shadow of the club that rivalled Rollers in the 1990s. Since their demotion to the First Division, GU has never looked like a side capable of competing with the best.

Extension Gunners, the traditional crowd pullers, are now an ordinary side from Peleng. Fans tend to look at the past rather than the present when Gunners clash with GU.

This leaves the 'real' rivalry in local soccer to the fight for supremacy between Chiefs and Rollers.

Clashes between the two sides have been characterised by high emotions in recent times. The passion that has accompanied this fixture is phenomenal. This is the right ingredient for great soccer. The rivalry on the stands spills into the pitch, which almost guarantees fans some tense encounters.

With the liberal movement of players between clubs, new ground has been broken.

In Thabo Motang, fans did not just see a goalkeeper. They saw Township Rollers and what it represented. Therefore, moving away from the club was always out of the question for the player.

But in recent seasons, the Premier League has seen an upsurge in players switching to blood rivals. Without doubt, loyalty has been thrown out of the window. Highlanders, a club I fervently supported, has lost many players. It was nearly every player's dream to sign for Highlanders or Dynamos. But these two teams are losing players with alarming regularity.

Locally, it is still a progressive player's dream to turn out for Rollers, Chiefs, Gunners and TAFIC. But sadly, promises of 'living happily ever after' are usually not fulfilled.

Countless players have joined these clubs in hyped moves only to end up dejected. It is well documented that most Premier League clubs face financial problems. But fans will be left wondering how a player like Joel Mogorosi can switch from Rollers to Chiefs. At Rollers, Mogorosi has been unchallenged as the captain. Rollers are arguably the country's most followed club at the moment and is on course to defend the national title they won last season while Chiefs are 10 points adrift in the title-chase.

Mogorosi was seen as an embodiment of Rollers, fiercely loyal until he decided against renewing his contract. He served with distinction and was, until his sudden departure to Chiefs this week, Rollers' outstanding player this season. Rollers and Mogorosi rode turbulent times and celebrated together. But at the end of the day, the stomach set them apart.

Chiefs gleefully dangled a fat juicy carrot, which Mogorosi found hard to resist and off he went, leaving Popa fans heartbroken.