A lack of heroes on pitch has seen Cape football lose its soul

THERE was a phrase in the 1980s that went something like this: If Maties rugby is healthy, so is Western Province rugby and subsequently, so too, the Springboks.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

It never quite transcended to football, but considering the last Bafana Bafana team to win AFCON back in 1996 boasted stalwarts such as Mark Williams, Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse and Andrew Tucker, who all hailed from the Cape, there is a discussion to be had.

And it just so happens that Bafana are currently enjoying their most successful period since the heady days of '96 whilst Stellenbosch FC are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Betway Premiership. However, Stellies’ success should not mask the degeneration of professional football in the Mother City. Cape Town Spurs’ potential second successive relegation to the ABC Motsepe League — the national third division - where they will join another fallen Cape giant Santos, pending an arbitration case, is an abomination. Equally, Cape Town City’s anxious wait to see whether they will be involved in the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs is another catastrophe. A major city such as Cape Town cannot afford not to have a professional club in the elite division.

It is integral for the youth to have a home team they have aspirations of representing one day.