Getting shirty: ProSport International CEO Mike Makaab |
MEDIOCRE. Definition: Moderate in quality; ordinary. See synonyms at
AVERAGE.
[French médiocre, from Latin mediocris : medius, middle; see medhyo]
Thank you Mr Dick Shunary. So when I said last Saturday that I was
shocked the “mediocre Thabo Nthethe” had been selected to play for South Africa
ahead of Siyanda Xulu, I was a little miffed when THIS turned up, publicly on my
twitter timeline from Mike Makaab: “I'm
surprised at your comment about Nthethe Neal!”
Yup, five days after the event, Makaab chose to chew me out because I’d
described Nthethe as average. Born in Bloemfontein, the 28-year-old is a
seasoned PSL defender for Bloemfontein Celtic with 15 caps for Bafana Bafana. I
have no beef with Makaab’s client or his enduring role with the Siwelele.
I explained the tweet was aimed not at damaging Nthethe but to
illustrate my surprise at the decision not to use Siyanda Xulu at centre-back,
given that – like the controversially expelled Thulani Serero – he had been
flown in (business class, at a cost of over R60,000) from Russia for what might
have been a vital World Cup qualifier against Botswana.
Against Nigeria, the centre-back pairing of Nthethe and Tower Mathoho
had been picked apart. Xulu hadn’t even had a call from Bafana for that
high-powered Madiba birthday friendly, I spoke to him on my Ballz radio
football show BOLLOCKZ and Siyanda was mystified by the lack of contact.
Xulu is 21, he moved from Mamelodi Sundowns to FC Rostov last year. At
the end of last season he was voted man of the match twice as his unfashionable
riverside outfit survived relegation in the high-powered Russian League.
This season, Rostov are sharing second place and a month ago Xulu marked
the world’s best-paid player Samuel Eto’o out of the game in a 1-0 win over
Anzhi Makhachkala, the oil-rich giants from Dagestan.
Xulu told me how “Sam looked a bit frustrated about not getting a goal”
and was roundly praised for his performance in a match which ultimately led to
the dismantling of Anzhi’s multi-billion structure and the departure – on a
free transfer – of Eto’o to Chelsea last month.
So when Xulu arrived in Durban to find he was consigned to the bench
(along with Kamohelo Mokotjo, 22, from Dutch Eredivisie leaders PEC Zwolle) I
was fairly surprised. Hence the "mediocre" tweet.
Curiously, Makaab’s ProSport International clients featured. Nthethe -
whose Celtic have conceded 10 goals in four games this season - and goal-scorer
Bernard Parker both took their places in the side with Parker captaining a VERY
mediocre Bafana against Zimbabwe four days later.
Makaab, still in public on my timeline, then pointed out that Andile
Jali, another of his clients, was also omitted from the starting line-up. But
of course, the Orlando Pirates midfielder came on as a substitute, neatly
fulfilling the needs of any player hoping for a move to the UK, where work permits
are only handed to those who have played 80 percent of their nation’s
competitive fixtures.
And I remember my surprise when Gordon Igesund, another of Makaab’s
clients, picked Thamsanqa Gabuza from Golden Arrows for his first squad to play
Brazil last year. And there was another of his men, Thanduyise Khuboni from the
same club, who appeared a permanent fixture for Bafana during Pitso Mosimane’s
turbulent reign.
Unfazed by this apparent good fortune, Makaab - who I respected as a
player, coach and agent until this point - then asked me: “Are you suggesting
something about selection of the team? You say you're not afraid to speak, so
say it - I have nothing to hide.”
So there it is. Makaab himself has asked the question: does South
Africa’s biggest agent play a part in the selection of the Bafana Bafana team?
I made no such suggestion. I would never dream of doing so having supporting
Gordon Igesund throughout his topsy-turvy, mandate-mangling reign in charge of
our beloved Bafana.
Igesund has enough problems on his hands without his agent getting
involved in “putting journalists right” for passing mild opinions.
My question (and one you should feel free to answer on www.twitter.com/nealcol or by
commenting below) is this: Does the future of Bafana revolve around the
28-year-old Nthethe from Bloemfontein Celtic or the 21-year-old Xulu in Russia?
I think I know the answer to that one.
BOLLOCKZ! is backed by www.topodds.com - have a look at their site for my latest sports betting advice!
I have asked Mike if he will appear on BOLLOCKZ! my show on www.ballz.co.za this week, it airs every Thursday from 10am-noon. He has my number.
You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news… and read my “Neal & Pray” column every Tuesday inwww.thenewage.co.za.
BOLLOCKZ! is backed by www.topodds.com - have a look at their site for my latest sports betting advice!
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