PLFA Gala Dinner 2018 – Done and Dusted

The much anticipated PLFA Gala Dinner 2018 has come and gone.

The event took place on the 27th of October 2018 at the Atteridgeville Community Hall as have been originally planned. The Chairperson of the association would like to thank the Executive and the Organising Committee members for their undying passion and commitment to make this happen. Ms Sheila Lehabi (pictured on the left), the Vice Chairperson of the association, whose idea it was to host this event, and whose project it was to make it happen, deserves a high level of recognition in taking the association through this journey. It was a first for the association, an experience that will be cherished for years to come.

Sheila has been with the association for more than 30 years. She is the longest serving executive committee member, served with many Executive Committees that came and went without tiring. She not only serves football, but also Sports Council structures, also for more than 20 years without tiring. We are pleased to have walked this journey with her in the making of this event a reality.

The event was however not without disappointments and Shortfalls, which we profusely apoligise to those who supported us through and through.

As the event was planned, the intent was clear, it was to be a fund raising activity. So who better get involved in raising the funds other than the association’s own members? The association initially planned that at least 50% of its members will buy at least one table each, and the rest would buy at least two seats. This is due to the economic pressures experienced in our society, otherwise 100% of our members would have been compelled to by at least one table. When the date of the event approached, seeing that support from the members was not coming through, the EXCO reviewed its expectation, and requested that all members buy at least two seats to the event. Only a few members responded to the clarion call, leading the event to have more outsiders than the actual members, a point which Mr. Sebapu made during his speech at the event. This is the primary disappointment. The EXCO has learnt some serious lessons out of this and will apply those in getting the next event to be well supported, at least by its own members.

The association did not succeed in getting the MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture in Gauteng to attend. This was requested through the ANC locally, but did not materialise. It is the association express requirement to get important stakeholders such as the MEC to understand the struggles of sporting organisations at grassroots level, but to also see the types of intervention that we employ in order to develop societies through football. That way it becomes easier to engage and be supported on critical initiatives that are community building in nature.

We also could not get commitment nor rejection from the bright son of Atteridgeville, The Jammer, Mr. Bob Mabena. As such he did not attend.

And then we have the aspiring young person, Khulekani Skosane, the former Secretary General of SASCO and vibrant member of the ANC Youth League, who committed to attend the event and give a message of support from a Youth perspective, but did not make it. So was Mr. Moloko Matlala, who was to be the Programme Director, and so was the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, who was was to give a message of support in relation to the City itself. The association however appreciates the professionalism that the Mayor displayed in, two days before the event, sending an apology citing unforeseen circumstances.

Mark Fish, the face of the association did not attend despite his commitment not only to attend, but to also help the association market the event. Mark did request that the event be postponed as he foresaw that there might be poor attendance due to the Soweto derby that played on the same day.

Coltrane Munyai from Supersport United also did not attend. However he had informed the association in advance due to the club’s commitment at Mbombela on the same day.

With all of these negative aspects, the event managed to forge ahead and enjoy the support of the locals and esteemed football leaders.

Mr. Simon Sebapu came and graced the event. Mr. Sebapu is well know among Pheli football people. He used to be the President of Gauteng North Football Association (GNFA) before it was incorporated into SAFA and renamed SAFA Tshwane, as we now know it. He has also served in the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) and represented well. Mr. Sebapu is currently the Honorary President of SAFA Tshwane where he continues to provide really valuable and good input through profound experience. At the event, Mr. Sebapu expressed pride and sense of joy in being associated with an event of such a nature, and provided the message of Support.  Here are some of the points he made:

• Currently most PSL clubs use foreigners for attacking positions. When the time of national teams comes, these players then go back to their countries and continue to score goals for their countries, and in some cases, against South Africa, leaving South Africa vulnerable on the continental and world stages;
• It is important for local leaders of the game to not only sit in offices, but go to the grounds and keep their fingers on the pulse. This gives them the understanding of the issues better, which improves the ability of dealing with the of the challenges with speed and accuracy;
• There were old ways of managing football at the time, and there are new ways now. However, the focus should still be running football. In the past, there was no use of computers, today there is, but it seems as though football was managed better in the past than today. People need to focus on football, not on themselves, or mafias.

 

An then came the moment all have been waiting for, that moment when Ms Ria Ledwaba speaks and everybody listens.

Ms Ledwaba showed comprehension and understanding of the issues being experienced at the LFA Level. She showed appreciation on the attempts that PLFA is making in facing these challenges and pledged her willingness to support the association’s initiatives to realise its vision. Here are some of the points that she shared with the house:

• Indeed football is the most popular sport in South Africa in terms of numbers (following), however, Cricket and Rugby are the most successful in terms of finances and efficiency. These codes are well supported by business, whose support can still be linked to race and preference;
• It cant be understood why Bafana Bafana’s performance is not consistent. For instance, winning 6 – 0 against Seychelles on the first round, only to draw with them 0 – 0 with same three days later. Bafana perhaps does not understand that every time they qualify for World Cup for instance, they enable SAFA to benefit grants from FIFA in hundreds of millions, money which could be channeled to development. Perhaps there needs to be intervention that provide the team with such vivid understanding of what the country losses when they lose.
• SAFA’s vision is for Bafana to rank in the top 3 in Africa.
• Women football in South Africa is not doing that bad. Women Football ranks number 50 in the world, and number 3 in Africa. The ladies have already qualify for the ensuing African Cup of Nations. SAFA’s goal is to have them reach the finals so that they qualify for the World Cup.
• The budget for the ensuing women African Cup of Nations has been increased from $15m to $50m, which is some excellent news.
• The people who serve in the Executive Committees of SAFA Structures are volunteers. They do not get paid for that. This includes the President, Danny Jordaan. It also includes people at the LFA structures. So people need to understand that the elected leadership is here to serve the people, and must be engaged as such so that their services can be aligned.
• There is a Legacy Trust that is the resultant of the World Cup 2010. This money is managed through a board that includes Ms. Ria Ledwaba, President Danny Jordaan, and FIFA representatives. This money is not for SAFA, but for Football. The main focus is for development, primarily education. LFAs must acquaint themselves with this fund and request the necessary help as it is there for them.
• There is appreciation that PLFA has two women in its EXCO. This is great. Women have and continue to struggle to find their space in football, and this difficulty is created by men. Even getting an Article in the Constitution to require that at least one woman be elected as the Vice President was not an easy one.
• There is also appreciation that PLFA’s leadership approach in its vision is align with SAFA’s 8 pillars of success.
• Appreciation was shown in the fact that an LFA is raising funds, and not only depended on SAFA Grants.

 

All in all, Ms Ledwaba showed appreciation on the event and its intents, although cautioned about the importance of time, and keeping to it.

Phelindaba Local Football Association appreciates the support from Ms Ledwaba, Mr. Sebapu, Hammanskraal Local Football Association, the Shongwe Family that bought two platinum tables, the Atteridgeville Legends, including the Materpieces himself, all those who were present to support the event. What is left for the association to do is to make it happen.

 

END