The NMMU Madibaz are determined to take Eastern Cape football out of the doldrums by making their mark in Varsity Football.
The Port Elizabeth side are still unbeaten in Varsity Football after four games, and their heroic 1-1 draw against North West University in Mafikeng has won the hearts of neutrals.
Since the relegation of the now defunct Bush Bucks from the top flight division in 2002/2003 season, the province has been starved of football at the highest level.
With no professional soccer club in the Premier Soccer League in that province, there is a slow rate of football development. But that has not discouraged aspiring footballers from NMMU to dream of playing for PSL clubs.
The Madibaz have enjoyed the element of surprise in Varsity Football competition and they hope to put their province on the football map again.
Central midfielder Kieran Koert said: “At the moment it’s kind of disappointing because we don’t have a professional set-up in Port Elizabeth. There nothing really to look forward to and to play professional you have to go to another province.”
The third year business management student, who scored the crucial equaliser against NWU on Monday, wants to see his teammates become professional.
“I would like to see some of my team mates being signed by PSL teams,” he added.
Striker Leroy van Rensburg said that football in the area is being re-built and in the next few years there will be changes. He says that the under-dogs tag in Varsity Football suits his side.
“We have always being under dogs of the tournaments we played in but we are happy with that. NMMU won the USSA championships in 2011,” he pointed out.
There are a few PSL stars such as Elrio van Heerden, Daine Klate, Calvin Marlin and Kermit Erasmus that are from the Eastern Cape.
Lukhanyo Wasa, the head coach has been with the team for the past three years. He is hoping see his team in the last four of the competition.
“We wanted to do well but now we want to get to the knockout stages,” he said. He added that a lack of sponsorships is also hindering their province’s development.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun sports writer
