Neven Payne

Rodney Reiners

Former players say the professional era in football has sucked the fervour and fascination from the Cape derby.

As neighbours Santos and Ajax Cape Town prepare to face each other at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night (kick off 8.15pm), the feeling is that a derby, which once dripped with passion and emotion, is now regarded as just another game on the calendar.

While these former Cape derby stalwarts understand the nature of the modern game and the concomitant dispassion with which the sport is approached, they cannot condone, or forgive, the mood of apathy and lethargy that currently accompanies the derby.

They acknowledge that they are being nostalgic, admit that they cannot live in the past, and that the sport has moved on. But they hope that their memories can, perhaps, just perhaps, sting the players to action and create an attractive, entertaining show on Saturday.

Former Hellenic and Santos striker Shawn Bester said: “When we played, we weren’t fully professional. So the build-up to a derby would start at the work-place. Your colleagues would be ribbing you, and you knew that the derby was a game you didn’t want to lose. This hyped up the intensity and the rivalry. And, therefore, players went out and gave their all to win.”

According to former Santos and Hellenic midfielder Neven Payne, the derby wasn’t just another game, it was the game of the season.

“This was the one you wanted to win,” said Payne. “If you lost, you wouldn’t want to go to work or walk in the street. You wouldn’t be able to face people having lost the derby. And, in the match, there was passion and drama and courage and fight... because you knew you didn’t want to lose.”

Former Bafana Bafana striker Gerald Stober, who played for Santos and Hellenic, said: “There was always spice and intense interest in the Cape derby. I just don’t see that anymore. We used to really look forward to the match, so too did the fans. You could judge by the atmosphere in and around your area of residence and work that the derby was coming. You don’t get that feeling anymore.”

The ardour and spirit associated with the Cape rivalry was summed up by former Santos defender Lindsay George: “The derby brought out the beast in you. You went out there and played your heart out. Now, it often looks as if players are just going through the motions. I took my mother along to a local PSL match recently and she asked me, ‘Is this a training match or a friendly?’ The problem is that there is, sometimes, just no energy and fire in how teams approach the game. It’s all so lacklustre.”

Former Hellenic goalkeeper John Goodwin agrees: “There’s just no passion anymore. I don’t see the hunger and desire of the derbies of old. It obviously has to do with the manner in which the sport has evolved over the years, but that’s no excuse for not trying, or not putting in the effort.”

Bester made one more point, saying: “I still go and watch PSL games quite regularly. The problem is that, with professionalism, there is a lot more at stake and, therefore, the result has become more important than anything else. Teams don’t care about anything but the points. Local pride and derby passion are sacrificed... all that matters is the result, it doesn’t matter how it is achieved.”

So who do they think will win the Cape derby?

The quintet all thought that, with both teams in form, it could be a very tight contest.

Bester said: “On current form, I’d say a draw is on the cards.”

Lindsay George is a strong Santos man and believes they will win on Saturday. “A good result will be the catalyst for them to spark their season.”

Gerald Stober is siding with Ajax. “They play a nice brand of football and come off a good away win. They should win it.”

Payne agrees: Santos are desperate for points and Ajax have won five on the trot. My heart is always with Santos, but my gut feel says Ajax will win.

And, lastly, Goodwin has plumped for a Santos win. “It’s tough to call, both come off wins, but I like the underdogs. I’ll go with Santos.”

This week’s PSL fixtures

Today: Black Leopards v Bloemfontein Celtic;

Platinum Stars v Orlando Pirates

Friday: Swallows v Sundowns

Saturday: Jomo Cosmos v FS Stars; Golden Arrows v Black Leopards; Wits v Chiefs; Ajax CT v Santos (CT Stadium, 8.15pm); SuperSport United v AmaZulu

Sunday: Pirates v Maritzburg; Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars