Twitter Banter: the new league of its own in South African Football

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By Mahlomola Martin Lefupana


The football season has just begun, while the transfer window is still open and clubs are looking to make some late additions to their squads. The fans across the country are taking to social media, especially Twitter and Facebook to keep updated on the latest news, score updates, but there is a growing trend to bash each other of Twitter.

The South Africa football fans have taken Twitter by storm, causing upheaval and often leading to football trending at number one in Twitter daily trends. This, I would argue benefit the game. In the world where competition for attention is increasingly growing, football continues to enjoy its status as the biggest and passionately followed sport characterized by high emotions and bashing of losing teams, Twitter has certainly find home in football.

For majority of football supporters reading this, I would bet they quickly run to Twitter or even Facebook when their rival team loses, take for example Orlando Pirates three nil lose to Supersport United in the league game last week Wednesday, this exacerbated by dramatic departure of their coach and another one nil lose to Highlands Park in the MTN 8. For many, the first thing they do is to bash, put all sorts of MEMEs, this the fans do in delight of their rival demise or their own team wins.


Twitter is arguably the most influential social media platforms for South African football fans for engagement; only Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have more fans on Facebook than Twitter, the other 13 PSL club’s Twitter pages are bigger than their Facebook and Instagram. It is therefore, no surprise the Twitter influence on football; Twitter gives the supporters the opportunity to instantly express their views on issues and these views can easily be accessed by clubs. The Twitter influence is not only limited to PSL clubs, the GladAfrica Championship / NFD are known for their Twitter banter, where it has become a league of its own. Whether is Ajax Cape Town who master the art of poking, or TS Sporting ability to be comical yet serious, or Moroka Swallows reminding all and sundry that they are back in the professional level, there is never a dull moment on Twitter street of football in South Africa.


The micro-blogging social media platform, which users post and interact with message known as “Tweets”, might only be limited to 280 words but its influence its sports, especially football has blossomed into communication and marketing tool all clubs uses. Twitter is now more than just about Tweets and Hashtags; it is a platforms which clubs uses for growing their support-base, building football communities, strengthening relations and importantly communication and marketing. Twitter is one of the fasted growing platform for football clubs at PSL and NFD level, most clubs uses it to share updates of fixtures, live score updates, press releases, promote brands and market products. The platform has also created fans power, the fans voice are now heard.

Twitter is revolutionizing the way in which clubs engages fans. The level of Banter is something that has been taken to another level among the clubs and fans. The nature of Twitter Banter has resulted in unique and memorable experience for fans of football across the country. There is high competition for online micro-blogs, but Twitter is taking the cup for fans engagement in football. Although there is still need for improved content for most clubs on their Twitter accounts to accommodate fans from different generations, there are loads of positives. While clubs uses the medium for Banter, it is also present challenges and opportunities in equal measure. The growth of Twitter in sports has created compelling Hashtags, drove campaigns that captivated sports followers to triggers excitement for fans and enhanced brand awareness.

Crucially the goal of Twitter is to communicate and market club’s products and services. While it can be argued whether the Twitter Banter drive football fans into stadium, buy merchandise and consume related products, there is no doubt it keep supporters entertained.

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