The province of Gauteng is home to Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, or better known as ‘The Big Three' of South African football. Many youngsters dream of making the move up to the province with ambitions of making it big.
However, the move to Gauteng has often proven to be a poisoned chalice for many players from Cape Town, so here's a list of Capetonians who failed to make the grade in Gauteng.
Carlo Scott
The diminutive striker set the scene alight at Ajax Cape Town. His goal scoring prowess didn't go unnoticed as Mamelodi Sundowns broke the bank for his signature. Reportedly forking out more than R800 000 for the striker, a domestic transfer record back then, but things didn't go according to plan as Scott struggled for game-time.
Franklin Cale
The bulky left-winger played scintillating football at Ajax Cape Town before being snapped up by Mamelodi Sundowns. At the star-studded Sundowns, Cale was a shadow of his former self. He then tried his luck at another Pretoria-based side, SuperSport United, but that move also didn't yield any positive results. The winger, who packs a powerful shot, is back at the Urban Warriors and seems to be enjoying himself again.
Erwin Isaacs & Eleazar Rodgers
The pair formed a deadly partnership at Santos. After the Cape Town-based outfit were relegated to the National First Division the promising forwards went to Gauteng in pursuit of greener pastures.
Isaacs joined Bidvest Wits while Rodgers put pen-to-paper at Mamelodi Sundowns. Unfortunately, both strikers lost their goalscoring boots and only enjoyed cameo roles at their respective clubs.
Rodgers has since joined Platinum Stars as he looks to revive his ailing career. The lanky striker has already found the back of the net a couple of times for Dikwena.
Meanwhile, ‘Apples’, as Isaacs is affectionately known in football circles, is back in the Mother City plying his trade for Ajax Cape Town and seems to have rediscovered his predatory instincts. He recently scored a stunner against Chippa United in a league encounter.
Clayton Daniels
The boy from Bishop Lavis was destined for great things after he emerged onto the scene with Ajax Cape Town. Mamelodi Sundowns was again the team to swoop up the Cape-born defender but he failed to make the grade. In 2013 he broke ties with the Tshwane outfit and joined Bloemfontein Celtic for a season. He has since moved on to SuperSport United where he is currently enjoying life. Thankfully his second stint in Gauteng is proving more fruitful.
Why do Cape Town- born players struggle in Gauteng? Please share your views below.
