Marokana: I’ve Proven How Solid I Am

Lerumo Lions chairlady Sibongile Marokana.

Sibongile Marokana has proven she is not someone you can walk all over and the same can be said for her club Lerumo Lions players in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. 

Marokana took the big risk of buying a second tier status of Pretoria Callies before the start of this season, making the giant leap from amatuer to professional football.

READ: How Delayed ‘Bibo’ Deal Was ‘A Blessing In Disguise’

Not only did the purchase come with the burden of having to settle the debt of Callies, but there’s also the pressure of assembling a team strong enough to compete. And so far, the rookies have shown that they are no pushovers, and are in a good position to compete for one of the playoff spots at the end of the season. They’ve all but done enough to ensure that the club will not get relegated at the end of the season, as they currently sit on 24 points after 17 matches. 

Coming into this weekend’s round of matches, Lerumo were in seventh place on the standings, just nine points behind log leaders Milford FC. For a club still fresh in the Championship, Lerumo have certainly made it clear that they are a side not to be underestimated.

“To be quite honest, it’s one of the toughest leagues, but I appreciate that it’s more structured as it becomes a preparation for the Premier League. I appreciate the structures, the processes which are more orderly compared to the lower divisions because I started in the lower divisions,” Marokana said to Soccer Laduma.

“The purchase of the team was quite late. We did not have much of a pre-season, hence we had a slow start. For a team that only had two weeks of pre-season, we actually picked up well because we were the last team to actively participate in preparations for the new season. We are managing fine and I am learning a lot. The team is learning a lot too because the majority of the team is participating in this league for the first time. It’s a good experience for the players and they are adjusting nicely. They are hungry and determined, and that reduces the stress off my shoulders because having to push people all the time becomes frustrating.”

Promotion is a reality for the club, but in a country where many clubs have been sold almost every season, Lerumo would need to make sure they are sustainable on a financial level. Marokana, though, believes she’s proven herself when it comes to running a club and it would not be a problem to keep the club afloat if they were to get promoted to the Premiership.

READ: In Pics: Inside Lerato Manzini’s Football Academy

“I think I’ve already proven how solid I am and how solid the team is running. I think that speaks for itself. I always say I never go into anything blindly. When I get into an area I am not familiar with, I want to learn as much as possible. I adjust and grow from there. But you can’t grow without learning. It’s a matter of stability. The first point would be to remain safe, but if the opportunity arises to go (to the Betway Premiership), we will take it,” she said.

Related tags