Player transfers among traditional foes weaken rivalry?

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Friday June 28, 2013 00:00

 

South Africans on the other hand have their own derbies between Soweto giants where Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs expect nothing less than a win for their sides in that match. Botswana is no exception. While in the past, there used to a fierce rivalry between giants Township Rollers, Gaborone United (GU) and Extension Gunners, Kgatleng giants Mochudi Centre Chiefs have in the past few seasons joined the fray. The Rollers/Chiefs fracas both on and off the field has become the order of the day. Like in other countries, these rivalries are what make football an interesting sport.

The rivalries bring supporters even closer to their teams and they become emotionally attached not only to the colours that their teams wear, but they also become emotionally attached to their players. Players in turn are expected by the same supporters to remain loyal. They are expected to take arms in rivalries and any form of transfer to a rival team is seen as a major betrayal. In Europe, few players have done that; the most notable being that of retired Portuguese midfielder, Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid at a record fee. Once a darling of the Catalan side, Figo was immediately labeled a traitor, igniting the already fierce rivalry between the two Spanish giants. Carlos Tevez did the same when he dumped Manchester United to join city rivals, Manchester City. Man United fans called him all sorts of names, not just because he left their team, but because of all the other teams in Europe, he chose their rivals. All the time these kinds of transfers take place, it takes months or even years for supporters of the concerned teams to forget. The return to the match venue where such player used to be a darling is never a pleasant one.

This used to be the case even in local football circles. The likes of Phineas 'Jiki' Maimela in the 90s shocked many Rollers' supporters when he joined Extension Gunners. The rivalry between the two sides was fierce. Only Maimela and few other players would move between two rival sides. GU supporters would never think of Diphetogo Selowane in the 90s joining Rollers, while Rollers supporters would not imagine Tshepiso Molwantwa in the red-and-white shirt. It remains the same in Europe or even in neighbouring South Africa with regard to the transfer of players between two rival sides, but the norm seems to have changed here.

While the rivalry on the field remains, the movement of players between the sides has become so normal. In the last eight years, it has become so difficult for supporters to remain emotionally attached to their players because of the frequent movement of players. Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the last seven years have managed to get the likes of Joel Mogorosi, Sekhana Koko, Boniface Makolo, Amos Godirwang, Itayi Gwandu and coach Rahman Gumbo among others. Rollers have also been able to sign Koko, coach Wesley Mondo and Tshepiso Kgosiemang from Magosi. Currently, the two sides are heading for a boardroom wrangle over the transfer of winger Galabgwe Moyana. Long serving Rollers striker, Onalethata Tshekiso is also said to be heading to Magosi.

Rollers have not only frequently exchanged players with Chiefs, but they have also lost or gained players from their traditional rivals, GU in the last couple of seasons. The likes of Thando Moreki and Gwandu have both moved from GU to the opposite side. GU on the other hand managed to lure the likes of Gabriel Bokhutlo, Tshepo Molefe, Tebogo Sembowa and Gaopatwe Seosenyeng among others. 'Locally it would be a waste of money to buy your team's replica with a printed name of your favourite player in the team because you never know whether he would still be at your team the next day. It would be suicidal for a supporter to expect loyalty from players these days,' one football fan once said.