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If you have read George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm, you’ll recall the phrase: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
This is how I see things in the PSL.
The statement came to mind after Mamelodi Sundowns asked to have their game against Maritzburg United rescheduled.
Sundowns are on the verge of making the country proud, a feat only accomplished by Orlando Pirates in 1995.
The Brazilians have reached the semifinals of the prestigious continental showpiece – the CAF Champions League.
They did so with flying colours, winning all but one of their matches – the dead rubber against Enyimba – after they had already qualified for the last four.
It is my opinion that their request should have been handled in a more holistic manner.
Why not give the pride of the nation our unqualified support? The PSL has really dropped the ball this time.
It would be great for Sundowns to win the Champions League and show everyone why they are ranked first on the continent.
It would also be good for the reputation of the same PSL that denied their request.
Granted, the league did bend over backwards for the national Under-23 team to participate in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
The league will also go on recess in January during the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, even though Bafana Bafana failed to qualify.
But a simple questions is: Why couldn’t they do it for Sundowns? After all, the Brazilians are representing the country.
Not one to hold back, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane tried hard not to complain.
But no matter how hard he tried to keep calm, he could not contain his feelings.
His unspoken words were more powerful than those he spoke out loud.
With a case already before the PSL disciplinary committee, Mosimane could ill afford to burn his fingers again. He is expected to appear before the committee following his outburst a fortnight ago when he had an altercation with PSL chief operating officer Ronnie Schloss.
Although he was visibly incensed, he realised there was no use fighting. Instead, he encouraged his troops to win against all odds.
The situation should spur them on to show you cannot keep a good team down.
Pirates had up to nine games postponed when they went to the Champions League final in 2013 and the African Confederation Cup final last year.
“I don’t want to talk about who is being treated this way or that way. The last thing we want is to come and say ‘we could not make it because the programme was like this and that’. I want them to say ‘they have made it against all odds’,” Mosimane said.
This is the price Sundowns have to pay for playing continental football.
As a result of the league’s refusal, Sundowns have three games between today and Saturday.
They are off to Nelson Mandela Bay for a date with Chippa United this afternoon, then travel to Maritzburg on Wednesday and then jet off to Zambia for Saturday’s game.
Not an ideal situation, but it is what it is.
On top of all this, the league had the audacity to wish Sundowns well on the continental showpiece.
If you ask me, this was a slap in the face.
Those who thought all clubs were equal will be disappointed to know that the PSL is also like Orwell’s Animal Farm.
- timothy@citypress.co.za
- Follow me on Twitter @TimspiritMolobi
