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I think I'm falling in love with SA football

I think I'm falling in love with SA football

Posted: 2010-08-24 12:15

Recently I’ve noticed some subtle changes in my footballing life. I suspect it started when I began attending World Cup matches back in June, and ever since then it has slowly been infecting me.

You’re probably wondering what I’m on about, so let me explain. Ever since I can remember I have been what some would call a “die-hard” Liverpool supporter. I started following the Reds some time back in 1998 if I’m not mistaken, and was mesmerized by the club’s history, passionate supporters and special players like Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp (my first Liverpool idol).

In following Liverpool’s adventures over the years, I have become somewhat of an English Premier League fanatic. You know the type that can recite the names of all the players from of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Everton or Aston Villa without breaking a sweat.

There’s quite simply no League that compares to the English Premier League in my humble opinion. Sure, La Liga has the world-class superstars like Ronaldo and Messi, and two of the giants of world football in FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they just can’t match the Premier League for passion and entertainment.

I started a blog two years ago called SA Football Fans, and despite what the name might suggest, 90% of my blog posts were about the English Premier League, not the Premier Soccer League. I blogged about South African soccer as well, but very rarely, and it would always feel like a chore. Something I had to force myself to do.

I never watched PSL matches from start to finish, but made sure that I never missed a second of a Liverpool match. That’s what I grew up with, and the stigma that local football was crap had been imprinted into my head from a young age.

Recently though, I’ve started to get more into local football. It started with the Telkom Charity Cup and carried on with this past weekend’s MTN8 quarter-final matches. I think that it all started back on the 12th of June though, when I began my 2010 World Cup journey by covering the France v Uruguay match at Cape Town Stadium.

It was quite an experience and when the World Cup ended it left me longing for more LIVE action because, believe me, watching a game on TV does not come close to watching it LIVE at the stadium.

I don’t think I will be able to cough up the R15 000 required to make the trip to Anfield to watch my beloved Liverpool play anytime soon. How many of the “die-hards” have actually been to England to watch our teams play? Not many I would guess. Yet it only costs about R40 to watch a local football match.

The mistake I think many fans make is that they compare the quality and standard of play in the PSL to that of the English Premier League. We don’t have your Wayne Rooneys and Steven Gerrards here in the PSL, so why would you expect the quality to be on par?

However, I did witness some great moments during this weekend’s matches, which I’m sure would not be out of place on an English Premier League highlight reel. There was Katlegho Mphela’s eloquent chip against Ajax Cape Town that would have made even Fernando Torres proud. Then there was also the Stevie-G special from Isaac Chansa in the match between Pirates and Santos on Sunday, while not forgetting Knowledge Musona’s peach of a free-kick that looked every bit as good as any you’ll see from the likes of Frank Lampard or Cesc Fabregas this season.

I’m still passionate about Liverpool, that will never change, but I feel as if my love affair with the Premier League may be coming to an end, replaced by a deep desire to learn as much as I can about the local game.

I’m not saying you should burn your Man United shirt and start boycotting the EPL, all I’m saying is give local football a chance; you may just end up enjoying it.

By Ashraf Stakala
Subscribe to Ashraf’s blog at This Is Football

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whateva: 2010-08-24 13:09

I hope the performance we saw on TCC and Supa 8 carried on 2 league. Most important is that strikers scored i hope we will start 2 c more than 20 goals frm our strikers.

leponapona: 2010-08-25 16:59

Ashraf Stakala shame on you,by the way where are u from, liverpool? pathetic article indeed,unlike u we have been following psl soccer u just had an interest in SA soccer only know?

we have been enjoying SA soccer for years now stop embarasing yourself in public just delete this hagwish u have posted here nx.

ModimoWaBolo: 2010-08-26 10:59

Welcome home Ashraaf..how was the cold in BLIGHTY.Support starts at hoem, in football and in life.Local is lekk..u know the rest.

jabu: 2010-08-26 11:09

Ashraf, thanks for your honesty

Ashraf: 2010-08-26 15:08

@Jesus (hehe)
I'm from the Beautiful Mother City.
I've always had an interest. I remember Cape Town Spurs . I just never showed much interest, but thats changing now.

pina: 2010-08-26 19:54

jesus really has a problem, ashraf thanx for taking interest in our diski and with the new seasonkicking off m sure there`s plenty more brlliant moments u`ll get to enjoy

Kabo: 2010-09-29 09:59

Ashraf thank you for your article. I am a boy aged 16 and i have fallen in love with the psl ever since relocating to this country. I like the big 5 leagues of europe and i follow them very much. The only chance i got to watch my european icons at the stadium was during the 2010 world cup but in the psl, my role models are at my door step which is good and far more( if not equally) compelling to me. The psl might not be world class in terms of the gameplay but the professionalism and the facilities(of course) here is world class and i love it..