IT is now or never for Port Elizabeth‘s Bay United, as they begin their last lap of the season against Kaizer Chiefs tonight. Who would have thought that a side that started the season with such a luminous run of form would find themselves in the ominous position they are currently in?
Umlilo‘s worst nightmare, as captain Duran Francis admitted, is none other than themselves as the side have been one of the most inconsistent in the Premier Soccer League this season.
“Our biggest downfall this season has been the lack of consistency. We didn‘t play at the same level throughout the season. We won the games everybody expected us to lose, and lost the ones we were meant to win,” said the captain.
With a record of five wins in 25 league games, it comes as no surprise that the Port Elizabeth outfit finds itself in its current position – with only two of those victories having come under the mentorship of former coach Vladislav Heric.
Relegation would be quite a calamity, not only for the city that had not boasted a club in top-flight football in over 13 years (the days of Michau Warriors and Blackpool) before Umlilo gained promotion to the PSL last year, but to the entire province of the Eastern Cape.
Should United be relegated, the city would be a host for the 2010 World Cup without having a team in the national league. One would also hope that the new gem of the city – the Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 multi-purpose stadium will not become a white elephant for the next 13 years.
It is encouraging though that senior players like Francis, Cyril Nzama and Jimmy Zakazaka, together with coach Khabo Zondo, still remain optimistic about their chances of survival. However, truth be told, it will take more than mere optimism for the side to scrape through the relegation battle.
Umlilo‘s fate does not lie solely in their own hands as they will be keeping their fingers crossed that fellow strugglers Bloemfontein Celtic and Thanda Royal Zulu collect as few points as possible in their remaining five matches. The slightest slip-up by Zondo‘s men will almost certainly seal the deal, and make it impossible for them to bounce back and retain their PSL status.
“We owe everything to our supporters who‘ve been there for us from the beginning. Everything we do, we do it for them. We will not disappoint them,” Francis once told me.
At this stage, it is for more than just the supporters. The players should do it for themselves and the club. Their own jobs are at stake, and for many of the veteran players like Francis, Nzama, Patrick Mayo and goalkeeper Arthur Bartman, should the club be relegated they may never play another PSL match after the end of the season, as age is definitely not on their side.
A bigger blow would be the fact that a large number of the younger players who have shown much promise throughout the season, like Gareth Ncaca, Zamuxolo Ngalo, Vincent Khumalo, Siyabulela Songwinqi and Zakazaka, would be snatched away by other PSL teams which will force the club to rebuild from scratch should the side be relegated to the National First Division.
One would hope that Zondo‘s hard work over the past month will pay off and that the players will heed his call to fight to the end, collecting as many of the 15 points available in their remaining matches – for the sake of the club, the city and the province.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Latest soccer tragedy is timely warning to Fifa in the build-up to World Cup
2009/04/01 Soccer Fever, with Chumani Bambani
IT is never pleasant witnessing or hearing about a tragedy on the sporting field. Losing a game is not the end of the world. However, relegation from Premiership football will be considered a major tragedy for Bay United‘s faithful supporters and Eastern Cape soccer people in general should that happen at the end of the current Premier Soccer League season.
March 29, 2009, April 11, 2001, and April 15, 1989, could be meaningless days to some, but to others these were days that were covered by a dark cloud in football history.
Ivory Coast‘s emphatic 5-0 drubbing over Malawi at Abidjan‘s Felix Houphouet- Boigny Stadium was overshadowed by the deaths of 22 Ivorian fans and injury to 132 people due to a stampede.
This brings back bad memories of the deaths of 43 people at Ellis Park on April 11, 2001, during a game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. This was the worst disaster in South African sporting history.
Then there were the 93 people killed during the April 15, 1989, FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield‘s Hillsborough Stadium.
One should also not forget two of the worst stampedes in sporting history. One occurred on October 20, 1982, during a European Cup clash between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem where 340 fans were reportedly killed, and another during an Olympic qualifier on May 24, 1964, between South American arch-rivals Peru and Argentina when a late Peru goal was disallowed, which resulted in a riot that led to the deaths of 318 people.
These are just a few of the many disastrous incidents that have occurred in soccer stadiums and have remained etched in the memories of many soccer followers. These are incidents that need to be avoided at all costs.
The incident at the stadium in Abidjan brings to the fore the Ellis Park tragedy, which will surely make the soccer mother body, Fifa, keep a close eye on South Africa‘s capabilities of hosting the 2010 World Cup, as both incidents occurred as a result of overcrowding at the venues.
The excuse by our Local Organising Committee that the slow sales of tickets for the tournament “because South Africans are used to purchasing their tickets on match- day” could see similar incidents escalating during the tournament and the Confederations Cup. Football committees, especially in Africa, need to shape up.
Bay United‘s Jimmy Zakazaka, who represented Malawi during the Abidjan clash, said: “We didn‘t know until the end of the game that there were people killed.”
The main question that has been raised is why are high- profile matches allowed to take place at venues that do not meet the requirements?
Who must take the blame? Could it be Fifa, who are now calling for an inquiry into the tragedy? They were responsible for the game taking place at the venue in the first place. Or is it the police who provoked the panic by tear- gassing people who had nowhere to run?
None of these questions will bring back any of the 22 lives lost. Fifa, however, need to look at ways and means to ensure that our soccer stadiums are not turned into graveyards.
EASTER weekend will see plenty of soccer action in the Eastern Cape. A large number of local clubs are preparing for the Continental Tyre NASB Easter tournament as well as the Eleven Attackers FC Easter tournament in Somerset East.
IT is never pleasant witnessing or hearing about a tragedy on the sporting field. Losing a game is not the end of the world. However, relegation from Premiership football will be considered a major tragedy for Bay United‘s faithful supporters and Eastern Cape soccer people in general should that happen at the end of the current Premier Soccer League season.
March 29, 2009, April 11, 2001, and April 15, 1989, could be meaningless days to some, but to others these were days that were covered by a dark cloud in football history.
Ivory Coast‘s emphatic 5-0 drubbing over Malawi at Abidjan‘s Felix Houphouet- Boigny Stadium was overshadowed by the deaths of 22 Ivorian fans and injury to 132 people due to a stampede.
This brings back bad memories of the deaths of 43 people at Ellis Park on April 11, 2001, during a game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. This was the worst disaster in South African sporting history.
Then there were the 93 people killed during the April 15, 1989, FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield‘s Hillsborough Stadium.
One should also not forget two of the worst stampedes in sporting history. One occurred on October 20, 1982, during a European Cup clash between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem where 340 fans were reportedly killed, and another during an Olympic qualifier on May 24, 1964, between South American arch-rivals Peru and Argentina when a late Peru goal was disallowed, which resulted in a riot that led to the deaths of 318 people.
These are just a few of the many disastrous incidents that have occurred in soccer stadiums and have remained etched in the memories of many soccer followers. These are incidents that need to be avoided at all costs.
The incident at the stadium in Abidjan brings to the fore the Ellis Park tragedy, which will surely make the soccer mother body, Fifa, keep a close eye on South Africa‘s capabilities of hosting the 2010 World Cup, as both incidents occurred as a result of overcrowding at the venues.
The excuse by our Local Organising Committee that the slow sales of tickets for the tournament “because South Africans are used to purchasing their tickets on match- day” could see similar incidents escalating during the tournament and the Confederations Cup. Football committees, especially in Africa, need to shape up.
Bay United‘s Jimmy Zakazaka, who represented Malawi during the Abidjan clash, said: “We didn‘t know until the end of the game that there were people killed.”
The main question that has been raised is why are high- profile matches allowed to take place at venues that do not meet the requirements?
Who must take the blame? Could it be Fifa, who are now calling for an inquiry into the tragedy? They were responsible for the game taking place at the venue in the first place. Or is it the police who provoked the panic by tear- gassing people who had nowhere to run?
None of these questions will bring back any of the 22 lives lost. Fifa, however, need to look at ways and means to ensure that our soccer stadiums are not turned into graveyards.
EASTER weekend will see plenty of soccer action in the Eastern Cape. A large number of local clubs are preparing for the Continental Tyre NASB Easter tournament as well as the Eleven Attackers FC Easter tournament in Somerset East.
Latest soccer tragedy is timely warning to Fifa in the build-up to World Cup
2009/04/01 Soccer Fever, with Chumani Bambani
IT is never pleasant witnessing or hearing about a tragedy on the sporting field. Losing a game is not the end of the world. However, relegation from Premiership football will be considered a major tragedy for Bay United‘s faithful supporters and Eastern Cape soccer people in general should that happen at the end of the current Premier Soccer League season.
March 29, 2009, April 11, 2001, and April 15, 1989, could be meaningless days to some, but to others these were days that were covered by a dark cloud in football history.
Ivory Coast‘s emphatic 5-0 drubbing over Malawi at Abidjan‘s Felix Houphouet- Boigny Stadium was overshadowed by the deaths of 22 Ivorian fans and injury to 132 people due to a stampede.
This brings back bad memories of the deaths of 43 people at Ellis Park on April 11, 2001, during a game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. This was the worst disaster in South African sporting history.
Then there were the 93 people killed during the April 15, 1989, FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield‘s Hillsborough Stadium.
One should also not forget two of the worst stampedes in sporting history. One occurred on October 20, 1982, during a European Cup clash between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem where 340 fans were reportedly killed, and another during an Olympic qualifier on May 24, 1964, between South American arch-rivals Peru and Argentina when a late Peru goal was disallowed, which resulted in a riot that led to the deaths of 318 people.
These are just a few of the many disastrous incidents that have occurred in soccer stadiums and have remained etched in the memories of many soccer followers. These are incidents that need to be avoided at all costs.
The incident at the stadium in Abidjan brings to the fore the Ellis Park tragedy, which will surely make the soccer mother body, Fifa, keep a close eye on South Africa‘s capabilities of hosting the 2010 World Cup, as both incidents occurred as a result of overcrowding at the venues.
The excuse by our Local Organising Committee that the slow sales of tickets for the tournament “because South Africans are used to purchasing their tickets on match- day” could see similar incidents escalating during the tournament and the Confederations Cup. Football committees, especially in Africa, need to shape up.
Bay United‘s Jimmy Zakazaka, who represented Malawi during the Abidjan clash, said: “We didn‘t know until the end of the game that there were people killed.”
The main question that has been raised is why are high- profile matches allowed to take place at venues that do not meet the requirements?
Who must take the blame? Could it be Fifa, who are now calling for an inquiry into the tragedy? They were responsible for the game taking place at the venue in the first place. Or is it the police who provoked the panic by tear- gassing people who had nowhere to run?
None of these questions will bring back any of the 22 lives lost. Fifa, however, need to look at ways and means to ensure that our soccer stadiums are not turned into graveyards.
EASTER weekend will see plenty of soccer action in the Eastern Cape. A large number of local clubs are preparing for the Continental Tyre NASB Easter tournament as well as the Eleven Attackers FC Easter tournament in Somerset East.
IT is never pleasant witnessing or hearing about a tragedy on the sporting field. Losing a game is not the end of the world. However, relegation from Premiership football will be considered a major tragedy for Bay United‘s faithful supporters and Eastern Cape soccer people in general should that happen at the end of the current Premier Soccer League season.
March 29, 2009, April 11, 2001, and April 15, 1989, could be meaningless days to some, but to others these were days that were covered by a dark cloud in football history.
Ivory Coast‘s emphatic 5-0 drubbing over Malawi at Abidjan‘s Felix Houphouet- Boigny Stadium was overshadowed by the deaths of 22 Ivorian fans and injury to 132 people due to a stampede.
This brings back bad memories of the deaths of 43 people at Ellis Park on April 11, 2001, during a game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. This was the worst disaster in South African sporting history.
Then there were the 93 people killed during the April 15, 1989, FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield‘s Hillsborough Stadium.
One should also not forget two of the worst stampedes in sporting history. One occurred on October 20, 1982, during a European Cup clash between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem where 340 fans were reportedly killed, and another during an Olympic qualifier on May 24, 1964, between South American arch-rivals Peru and Argentina when a late Peru goal was disallowed, which resulted in a riot that led to the deaths of 318 people.
These are just a few of the many disastrous incidents that have occurred in soccer stadiums and have remained etched in the memories of many soccer followers. These are incidents that need to be avoided at all costs.
The incident at the stadium in Abidjan brings to the fore the Ellis Park tragedy, which will surely make the soccer mother body, Fifa, keep a close eye on South Africa‘s capabilities of hosting the 2010 World Cup, as both incidents occurred as a result of overcrowding at the venues.
The excuse by our Local Organising Committee that the slow sales of tickets for the tournament “because South Africans are used to purchasing their tickets on match- day” could see similar incidents escalating during the tournament and the Confederations Cup. Football committees, especially in Africa, need to shape up.
Bay United‘s Jimmy Zakazaka, who represented Malawi during the Abidjan clash, said: “We didn‘t know until the end of the game that there were people killed.”
The main question that has been raised is why are high- profile matches allowed to take place at venues that do not meet the requirements?
Who must take the blame? Could it be Fifa, who are now calling for an inquiry into the tragedy? They were responsible for the game taking place at the venue in the first place. Or is it the police who provoked the panic by tear- gassing people who had nowhere to run?
None of these questions will bring back any of the 22 lives lost. Fifa, however, need to look at ways and means to ensure that our soccer stadiums are not turned into graveyards.
EASTER weekend will see plenty of soccer action in the Eastern Cape. A large number of local clubs are preparing for the Continental Tyre NASB Easter tournament as well as the Eleven Attackers FC Easter tournament in Somerset East.
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