Sundowns' owner Patrice Motsepe and Hendrik Dawids have several things in common. They are both mining entrepreneurs, passionate football lovers, football club owners and have dedicated a considerable share of their earnings to the well being of the beautiful game.
Dawids may not be the 'Prince of Mines' or a billionaire as Motsepe, but the Namibian club owner's passion for football cannot be over-emphasized. Five seasons ago he won the Namibian Premier League (NPL) with the now-relegated Blue Waters, something that will never happen in the forseeable future. Financial muscles lies with Windhoek-based clubs, and any good players would prefer to play in Windhoek than any other place in the country. So for Dawids to win the league with an outside-Windhoek team is the biggest thing happened to a local club owner.
After taking over the ownership of Orlando Pirates last season, considerable changes were seen in the local game. Not did he only topple Civics from their running streak of league champions, but Dawids has also brought the first overseas players to Namibia in the names of Eder Leandro Correa, Alessandro Ferreira dos Santos and Leandro Alves da Cunha. It takes courage, passion, vision and real purpose for one to bring a Brazilian player to Africa, and Namibia in particular, when he can have a better incentive at a non-league Rio de Janeiro club than most of the premier league clubs here.
Dawids may be miles away from Motsepe in terms of economic muscles, but The Tactician, as visionary as he is, believes the two club owners are travelling in the same direction. If Dawids can take care of his current squad, he will be destined for bigger things considering that all good player on the local scene would want to join his charges, while foreign clubs would also come knocking at Dawids door, wanting to buy the hottest stars in the house.
The Tactician takes a 'wait and see' approach.
1 comment:
Dawids have shown commitment to the game. Motsepe is rich. But Dawids has the love for football running in his veins. I believe he can exceed Motsepe's contribution to the game.
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