Is jersey 10 losing panache?

GU's number 10: Kgololo Kgogobi
GU's number 10: Kgololo Kgogobi

Traditionally, the player who dons the number 10 jersey is the man who makes things happen in the middle of the park. He is generally acknowledged as the heartbeat of the team. But a seismic shift appears underway in local football. Mmegi Sport correspondent MOMPATI TLHANKANE argues that the respected jersey is fast losing prestige

In the beginning, football jersey numbers were meant for referees to distinguish players on the field. Permanent numbers allocated to each player were first introduced at the 1954 World Cup.

But as time went by, it became more than just a number printed at the back of the shirt. It changed to the significance attached to a certain player.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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