How Beautiful is this Game?

Jo'burg, the city of gold. Finance capital of South Africa...home to the three giants of PSL football. Orlando Pirates FC, Kaizer Chiefs FC and [of late] Motsepe driven Mamelodi Sundowns FC... call it four and include even Supersport United

The lure of playing for one of these powerhouses continues to attract local [Cape-based] players. Of course the footballing ability of many of these Cape players cannot be questioned, which leads to the interest from the 'big boys' of the PSL. Couple that with an attractive financial offer, the probability of more recognition from SAFA and it seems a no-brainer.

If we have a look at the success rate or lack thereof of these players then we'd note that moving upstream isn't always the easiest thing. Big fish, small pond now having to contend with other big fish in quite a body of footballing water.

Casting my mind back a good decade, I recall the likes of Shaun Permall, Carlo Scott and even Thomrick October making the move inland...Permy and Scott enjoyed a reasonable time there, but were no sooner settled when they found themselves having to turn up for Vodacom outfits such as Battswood. Thomrick didn't have much difference in his experience.

There's lately been the likes of Thando Mngomeni, son of Thabo 'Rasta'...one of few to do damage at Pirates after coming from the townships, who after an exceptional spell for Santos cracked the nod of Sundowns in a season where the Brazilians signed as many as 11 players in the summer. That relationship didn't last long and he was on his way out. Kurt Lentjies is another example of a short-lived high followed by a humbling return to earth. Signed in a very 'rags to riches' way from Ikapa Sporting to Sundowns, but now finding himself running out for Maritzburg United.

Even more recent is the reality check given to former AjaxCT lad Sameegh Doutie who moved swiftly to the Buccaneers only to be off-loaded half a season later to SSU.

A catch 22 if ever I've seen one. There's always the desire to be bettering one-self and i'm sure this [and that lovely financial carrot] is what many have had in mind. Some of them no doubt just plain greedy and allowing this greed to blind the reality they soon will need to face.

I'm well aware that loyalty no longer has the prevalence in this sport. Players jump ship in a heartbeat to earn add one or two zero's onto their pay cheque...let the realisation then occur that coaches and club-owners are [now] no different. If you don't perform, you don't survive...and sometimes, even if you do, you may no longer be the flavour of the month.

Football is the Beautiful Game, however, it has given many a good reminder of how real this game can get.