Ghetto fans keep the party rolling
Monday, June 17, 2024 | 50 Views |
The evidence was once again there for all to see as fans converged from all corners to create a carnival 'come and Ghetto your love' atmosphere during Saturday’s epic Orange FA Cup final between mining town sides, Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United. For neutrals, it wasn’t the ideal final as one would have liked to see the involvement of the so-called community teams. There were always fears that the uninspiring build-up to the final, coupled with a fixture featuring 'institutional teams' could have resulted in a low fan turnout. But Ghetto is fast re-modelling itself as the go-to-jolly-place for local football with the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, the epicentre of key activities, including the Zebras’ matches.
Multitudes made their way to Botswana’s newest football complex, despite the absence of the traditional crowd pullers, Township Rollers and Gaborone United. It would have been a dream final to say, have a home town team like TAFIC in the final. But teams only progress to the ultimate stage through merit and not on sentiment. The fans' presence on Saturday ensured that what could have been a yawn, turned into a colourful afternoon football jamboree, with the two teams playing their part in a spectacle that ended with Galaxy cementing their recent domestic dominance.
Yet, while this crisis ravages the communities, the administration is championing a major, resource-intensive legal reform and the establishment of a dedicated Constitutional Court. While the principle of strengthening constitutional justice is commendable, the timing is profoundly misplaced. When the President himself admits the government coffers are limited, every thebe and every moment of political capital must be directed towards the...