Bakoena Sports Blog

Mahlomola Martin Lefupana  Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are the only clubs in South Africa to have more than 1 million followers on social media. The three clubs are also in the top ten of Africa’s social media ranking, with Chiefs ranked fourth with more than 4.9 million, Pirates 5 th with 3.6 million and Sundowns ranked 9 th with 1.4 million followers. Whilst the PSL dominates the continent in terms of money league, the social media rankings are led by the North African clubs with Al Ahly Sports Club with more than 20 million followers, followed by Zamalek Sports Club with more than 10 million following and Raja Club Athletic with more than 5.1 million. The top ranking Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns in Africa’s social media ranking is not a surprise given their status in the continent, especially in the Southern Africa region. The clubs are regarded as the “Big Three” and have dominated South Africa football for the last 40 years and have earne

By Mahlomola Martin Lefupana   Sports, particularly football, has acquired the biggest currency in culture, politics, commercialization, marketing and entertainment in South Africa. The sports of football has in the last ten years or so cemented its status as the biggest commodity in South Africa in terms of participation, TV reach and revenue generation.       In the recent past, the idea of expanding Premier Soccer League (PSL) to have more teams has been widely discussed by football fans, pundits and media. The discussion around the expansion is always met with mixed reaction. Many have argued that with more than 57 million people in South Africa, the growth of PSL in the last ten years, the need for development and growth of the game, the idea of expansion from the existing sixteen in both the PSL and National First Division (NFD) is long overdue.   While the concept seem exciting on paper, there are real questions that needs to be asked: why the need for expansion of teams

Mahlomola Martin Lefupana Known as the most supported team in the Southern Africa, Kaizer Chiefs are planning to get back to the top position of South African football. The current transfer window provide proof that Chiefs want to get back to the top, with signing of quality players headlined by Samir Nurkovi from KFC Komarno in Slovakia, Lazarous Kambole from Zesco United in Zambia, James Kotei from Simba Sport Club in the Tanzanian Premier League and Kearyn Baccus from Melbourne City FC in the A-League in Australia.    Samir Nurkovic unvailing at Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena, Image:  Kaizer Chiefs Kaizer Chiefs have been one of the busiest team in the transfer market with more than 10 ten players confirmed leaving the club, while confirming new signing in the process. The club has spent multi-millions of rand this winter to bring some of these recruits. The club is still busy in the market with several players still linked to the club. The club has confirmed the sale

Mahlomola Martin Lefupana Century old stereo type that “Football is a man’s game” lies buried in the embarrassing coffin of shameful controversies that besieged the 20 th century. The future of football depends and belongs to women as players, administrators, leaders and supporters of the game.    Megan Rapionoe of the US celebrating World Cup win: Getty Image The growth of football in the 21 st Century owes much of its success to participation, attendance and viewership by women across the globe. In an era of satellite TV, social media, digital marketing and football being part of the bigger entertainment, women would not be denied the opportunity to be part of the sport of billions. The 2019 Women World Cup hosted in France have seen the highest recorded TV audience to over billion as projected by FIFA.  Whilst the has been improvement in TV viewership, stadium attendance, digital marketing and interest in the 2019 edition of the Women’s World Cup, these has been skew