What this means for Vaal football – three teams in the ABC Motsepe League?
Local youngsters will now prioritise competitive football under SAFA structures.
For the first time in a long while, the Vaal region will have three teams competing in the ABC Motsepe League, which was formerly known as the Vodacom League.
This development suggests to Zakes’ Sports Corner that football is returning to the Vaal Triangle.
SAFA decided not to relegate any teams in the league.
This change means local youngsters will likely stop idolising informal community football, known as kasi football, and instead dream of playing in the ABC Motsepe League. Boipatong FC and Ben 10 FC have joined Young Pirates FC to bring the total number of local second-division teams to three.
Boipatong FC and Ben 10 FC gained automatic promotion after finishing as champions and runners-up, respectively, in the SAFA Sedibeng Hollywoodbets Men’s Regional League.
Their promotion came easily because SAFA decided not to relegate any teams in the league, choosing instead to add six teams and split the league into two streams. Consequently, these teams bypassed the usual promotion play-offs and went straight into the ABC Motsepe League.
What does this mean for Vaal Triangle football?
This shift means that informal kasi football will no longer be the top priority for young players.
While many of these community tournaments have been popping up recently, Zakes’ Sports Corner believes they can delay the progress of local football. Young players often mistakenly believe that these informal tournaments are better than playing within official SAFA structures.
Youngsters will now prioritise competitive football.
Zakes’ Sports Corner does not doubt that having three teams in the ABC Motsepe League is expected to change this mindset for good. Local youngsters will now prioritise competitive football under SAFA structures, which is a positive step made possible by Boipatong FC, Ben 10 FC, and Young Pirates FC.
These are exciting times for football in the Vaal.
While there is nothing wrong with playing in community tournaments, they should be reserved for the off-season and festive periods rather than taking up the entire year.
