THE RADIANCE OF THE CUP

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

The magic, and allure of Cup football persists all over the world – with virtually every nation having its own major cup competitions usually won by the most prestigious clubs in the elite division. It might well be that “colonial mentality” will always be at work consciously or perhaps in subtle fashion, but even till date most of the world continues to look up to the English Cup competitions in particular!

Hence the FA Cup in England historically takes precedence over virtually every other Cup competition, including the Spanish one and the definitely overblown American version. Nigeria has treasured its own version of the Cup (indeed the Nigerian Challenge Cup was extraordinarily popular decades ago). Then there is the “second” Cup competition in England usually called the League Cup which continues to change its name regularly.

South Africa interestingly has so many Cup competitions that one might even suggest that it beggars belief; but that is what the fans want. There is a Cup for the “best 8” in the league annually; there are major cup competitions like the Nedbank Cup and the Telkom KO trophy. Then there are the “pre-season” cups which often feature international giants like Manchester United playing one of the big SA clubs. In most cases, the big clubs here – Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns or even Supersport, are the ones who get to the final of these cup competitions which are real money-spinners. And the sponsors chip in yearly with millions of rands to buoy these competitions.

Nowadays the world raves about the super-rich clubs being bought and sponsored by billionaires – clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City in England; but Nigerians have always had charismatic rich club proprietors who pump gargantuan amounts of money into their clubs. Who can ever forget the late flamboyant Chief MKO Abiola for example, who started the glamorous Abiola Babes – and bought many of the best footballers around at the time?

A few years before Abiola did this though there was Leventis United in Ibadan which also spent prodigious amounts on fine players during its relatively short-lived existence. The club made its mark in local Cup and international cup competitions, even getting to the final of the African Cup Winners Cup in the 80s. And ah – Iwuanyanwu Nationale! Note the cosmopolitan name as the owner (Chief Iwuanyanwu) invested extraordinarily in the club in those days.

Such expensively assembled clubs often realise that they are unlikely to win the (national) leagues immediately but they always fancy themselves in cup competitions; as witness the delight of Manchester City when after many decades of winning nothing, they won the English FA Cup last year; (soon to be followed by the premiership itself) But for quintessential thrills and spills nothing, it seems can beat cup football.

As I write, the final of the South African Telkom KO cup – a major cup – is just around the corner. So many excellent games have been served up thus far and two clubs will be contesting the final: Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic. Now I must admit some excitement over this, since I am normally based in Bloemfontein city; and Bloem Celtic is a charismatic club.

Often dubbed such intriguing names like Siwelele and Masokolara by the denizens here, Bloemfontein Celtic has in the main been ensconced in the national premiership for decades. What the club is most famous for is the supporters; a cascade of fervent, rollicking, happy-go-lucky, chirpy green and white-festooned males and females. So many of the fans almost literally live and breathe their club and are mines of every conceivable information on the club. I myself have published countless articles over the years on Bloemfontein Celtic, and though I am supposed to be professionally neutral as regards the club, that has never been the case!

It is not “every day”, as it were, that Bloem Celtic manage to get to the final of a major Cup competition as they have done this year; hence the celebrations, jabulane, can be imagined! The hordes are definitely looking forward to the final of the Cup with Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend. What a great occasion this would be!
PIX above: Effervescent Bloem Celtic fans