Patrice Motsepe publicly declared, a couple of years ago, that Sundowns would play their part for the country by providing Bafana Bafana with outstanding players for the World Cup. However, what has happened is actually the exact opposite because they have become the place where footballers’ careers die.

The club’s policy of willy-nilly buying any player that is talked about has resulted in a bloated squad of players, bought without strategy. As a result, once promising players such as Thando Mgomeni and Manqoba “Shakes” Ngwenya have been wasted and their economic value has plummeted. Continue Reading

Kaizer Motaung has done very well as a soccer entrepreneur by starting and growing Kaizer Chiefs into arguably the biggest soccer brand in the country. The same applies to John Comitis who owns Ajax Cape Town.

He’s built this club into a sustainable long-term business with fantastic infrastructure. Patrice Motsepe is a mining entrepreneur who has not shown any acumen in sports despite his noble and very grand intentions.

For Patrice, Mamelodi Sundowns is like a sideshow which he is not giving the attention it needs to be really financially successful. He is just throwing money at it with very little strategy. Then there is Dieter Bock who bought Moroka Swallows and is only seen once or twice a year at the club’s prize-giving ceremonies. Continue Reading

South Africa is indeed a land of contrasts. Sections of this country are third world and others are first world. The country has just joined an elite group that have had the privilege of hosting the FIFA World Cup – no mean feat at all. Our football enjoys sponsorship which is way above the level of any other African country, despite lagging behind rugby in this regard. Definitely, light years behind Europe, but heading in the right direction all the same.

There is one serious pre-season revenue stream that only Al Ahly of Egypt gets to enjoy on a regular basis, thanks to their recent successes in the CAF Champions League. I’m referring to prestige friendlies. Real Madrid is headed for the 2009 edition of the Peace Cup – a tournament a couple of our clubs have been to – where they will play the likes of Sevilla, Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais amongst others. Continue Reading

Kaizer Motaung has not yet communicated his rationale behind the appointment of his club’s new Head Coach to the press Continue Reading

The business of soccer, like life in general, is dynamic with continuous improvement required to face new challenges. Continue Reading

Over the past year a hectic fall in commodity prices saw soccer club owners like Patrice Motsepe of Mamelodi Sundowns FC lose Continue Reading

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will result in anticipated injection of about R21.3 Billion into the South African economy. Tourism will be able to cash-in on the 3 million or so visitors that will come to the country. Stadiums, airports, road and networks will be upgraded. Continue Reading

Jomo Sono was an iconic player in his day, but he has failed as a soccer business leader. To put it bluntly he doesn’t have the nous to turn Jomo Cosmos FC into a viable and cutting-edge soccer brand in the long-term. Continue Reading