During his playing career, Jabu “Shuffle” Mahlangu was as unpredictable as a taxi driver on a congested Johannesburg main street. You never knew what he was going to do next. Whether he would hand out a shibobo to Lovers Mohlala, score three goals against Jomo Cosmos, or grant himself paid leave without informing his employers of his location.
That was typical Mahlangu for you, but he was still a darn fine footballer and a game-winner when he wanted to play. Unfortunately, he spent the majority of his career switching clubs and battling his problems, which is why people attacked him this week instead of constructively analyzing his perspective.
This week, the child prodigy from Daveyton was once again in the news. He led a movement and ignited a heated argument.
His comments regarding Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in the PSL polarized the South African football community. Mahlangu, who is not known for his wisdom, stated on social media that there must be financial fair play in the PSL since the Brazilians were signing all of the players and destroying Bafana Bafana.
This topic has been whispered about on trains, in bars, shiranyamas, and even in office hallways. They were not as bold as Mahlangu to declare it aloud in public, and whether Mahlangu is correct or incorrect is a subject for another day.
Everyone can feel the Sundowns’ domination; it is obvious. They have won the previous five league championships and have already won 13 consecutive matches, cruising to another league championship. In terms of points, second-placed Richards Bay are closer to the bottom side than they are to log leaders Sundowns, such is the disparity between the two.
Perhaps the inquiry should be, “What are the other clubs doing besides being led to the slaughter like lambs and hoping for financial parity in silence?”
Financial integrity is a component of the solution. Aside from what occurs on the field — the recruitment of fantastic players, bringing in superb coaches, and unearthing outstanding prospects from scouting and academies – clubs must discover innovative ways to step forward.
Major organizations, such as the Chiefs and the Orlando Pirates, must be bold and proactive when negotiating sponsorships. The flagship sponsorship agreement they negotiated with mobile giants many years ago is insignificant for clubs of their size. It is time they raised the stakes and pursued billions of rand.
In 2015, Irvin Khoza attributed the imbalance to the artificial economy, stating, “The reality is that we do not have club owners with vast finances. Unfortunately, the way the market has evolved has produced an unsustainable artificial economy.”
“Unfortunately, these club chairmen who have done so much for so long to defend this business are not reaping the benefits of their labor. This false economic system has produced destructive forces. I cannot afford it on my own. Others earn more than I do. If other clubs can accomplish this, we wish them luck since we cannot compete. We cannot fault them.
“We hope that those individuals will still be here in twenty years. It will not be proper if they arrive and leave the market in such a state. Therefore, in Europe there is constant discussion of financial fair play. This is why I respect individuals such as Jomo Sono, Mike Mokoena, and Veli Mahlangu. They have sacrificed family money for football. It is not about your wealth, but what you do for the nation. At the time, Khoza told me, “Everyone can buy a Mercedes-Benz, but not everyone can buy intelligence.”
If we continue to lament the “artificial economy,” there is no chance of catching up to Sundowns. The Brazilians will remain dominant until King Mswati III abdicates.
»Mahlangu’s ‘financial fair play’ assertion will not end Sundowns’ dominance«