Dear Chairman, please take note that this is not a personal attack on you but a piece of advice.

TOUCHLINE wants to take this opportunity to complement you for a job well done in the development of football since you took over as the Emfuleni Local Football Association Chairman for the past three years. There are a lot of positive developments taking place in the association as seen recently with the launch of the junior league sponsorships, congratulations are for securing the sponsorship.

But having said this, Dear Sir, TOUCHLINE is of the view that a few of us understand the true meaning of development even though we are involved in the development of football. My understanding is that the development of football is not only taking place in the field of play but beyond that. TOUCHLINE find it very strange that the league has insisted to start with the Super League season disregarding that the players are busy with their final exams. The truth is that parents have invested in these players as much as the clubs have also invested in them. These are the leaders of tomorrow, apart from playing football.

Dear Chairman, please note, for the past two years it has been a stressful year for learners with their studies having to be interrupted by COVID-19. TOUCHLINE suggested that the league start after the exams, but I was told that there is no way the league would start behind the schedule. I thought education was part of development especially at LFA level. But it seems TOUCHLINE was wrong to assume that education is one of top priorities for the development of football.

I was left with egg all over my face for suggesting that the league start after the exams to give these players a fair chance to concentrate on their exams without worries. The Gauteng Development League has come to conclusion to give players a chance to concentrate on their studies. The problem with our local leagues is that their programme is not in line with the school calendar, that is why the clubs experience this situation. TOUCHLINE challenges you and your committee to look into this matter unless you don’t value education.

TOUCHLINE “smells” take it or leave it attitude from the association for insisting that the league starts even though the clubs pled to start after the exams.

But having said this, TOUCHLINE also challenges you to consider education as part of development because not all these players are going to be professional soccer players. We also need educated football administrators like the previous football administrators such as Dr Molefi Oliphant and Leepile Taunyane who were academics.

In conclusion, Drear Chairman, my plea to you is to make education your top priority for the sake of these youngsters or else we will lose them.