Editor's Column - Clint Roper

Beautiful Bucs are flying the flag for us on the African continent once again.    Until Moroka Swallows are back in the PSL, I'm taking the liberty of stealing 'beautiful' from their moniker and handing it to Orlando Pirates, especially after the performance they put in a few weeks ago when they gave an exhibition of diski against AS Kaloum from Guinea and this weekend past when they showed that, if needed, they can also keep it very tight and disciplined when they ground out a 1-0 win against AC Leopards from Congo. I think finally a South African team is starting to establish themselves as one to be respected on the continent. If we're honest, as much as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are giants in South Africa, nobody in Africa with any pedigree really fears them in the same way we fear the Al Ahlys or Zamaleks. But I would say that Orlando Pirates are now a name that teams in Africa are starting to respect because of their continued ability to deliver. I hope that other South African teams will follow suit.    With the transfer window now officially open, I hope all of you who read our paper (and especially our Siyagobhoza fanatics) are making your way to www.snl24.com/soccerladuma to stay plugged in to our Transfer Centre where, if it happens, it happens there first. In June, our website broke all previous monthly records with a total of 62 million page impressions thanks to you! If you are not there yet, come join in now!    By now you should also have heard that we've launched the Soccer Laduma Supporters Club, where you get to speak directly to the Soccer Laduma editors on a daily basis and actually help change South African soccer for the better. Our most recent offering is a Weekly Supporters Club Newsletter sent directly to your phone every Friday. This will keep you up to date on the issues being addressed by the Soccer Laduma Supporters Club.    Our Editorial Director, Peter du Toit, puts the letter together each week and ensures that all your concerns are addressed, however the real power of this is only unleashed if we have your numbers to add weight to our requests and suggestions for positive change to SAFA and the PSL.   So, to start directly shaping South Africa soccer, head over to our website, sign up to become a Supporters Club member and have your own supporter's club card sent to you. Once you have signed up to receive the weekly newsletter, follow the very basic process mapped out on page nine of this edition and add your voice to the thousands of soccer-loving South Africans.     The issues currently on the table that have been raised by Supporters Club members with the Soccer Laduma Supporters Club Committee are:   Issue 1: When clubs unveil new players, they should invite the fans, not just the media.     Issue 2: ABSA should follow what the other sponsors do and distribute a percentage of free tickets to Soccer Laduma Supporters Club members for games.    Issue 3: Safety inside and outside stadiums are major concerns for supporters e.g. Fighting in the stands and being robbed is a real danger. SAFA and the PSL need to improve stadiums' safety for the fans as it will mean better attendance at games.   Already there have been some great comments and suggestions from signed-up members on these issues in our Newsletter Section of Supporters Club on your website:    Mlindozbucs says:    Safety at the stadium is important. Absa and PSL must look after this please. Complementary tickets or free tickets… we need it as members also please. Unveiling players will be great for the supporters and also our opinions will work on our team   GAMBU KA MSUTHU says:    I think free tickets wouldn't help at all. The main reason my friends and I don't attend games has nothing to do with money. It is due to boring games that we are forced to watch. There is no individual brilliance by players anymore… element of surprise is non-existent in modern football. Secondly there are no curtain raisers prior to the main game. I think Diski Challenge must be curtain raisers for home teams, which I strongly believe will assist to improve attendance in the PSL.    Jakobe says:   Before I take a stand on issues in questions, let me applaud @soccerladuma for including us. That's why it is the best soccer publication in our country. Getting us involved is a huge, magnificent step going forward. Peter and company run this publication, but honestly speaking we are the owners of it. The unveiling of new players by our respective clubs should get us directly involved by the way. Let's attend any other activities within the PSL structures. Safety in stadia should be taken as a serious crisis which plays a pivotal role in our poor attendance to most games. Allow us to engage in various aspects of our beautiful game.   Madimetsha says:   With the current prices, why not just pay R319 DSTV compact and watch all the games, instead of paying R80 (2 ppl) and R100 transport, maybe R100 for drinks and food… that is R280 for 1 game without highlights, overpriced drinks and food, people smoking weed, and cigarettes... when you can get all 64+ matches every month, including replays, highlights for only R319 in HD. It makes no sense why people should visit the stadiums...   Before signing off, I'd like to reinforce the fact that, like the PSL and every PSL club, Soccer Laduma is only as powerful as our readers and supporters allow us to be. That is why we are giving you all of these platforms to make your collective voice heard.    Please jump on board and let's take South African football to new heights!   Shappa Clint