Central SA
Return of soccer sparks economic hope in Free State─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 11:38 Mon, 16 Sep 2024
“People would travel to see these teams play, benefiting local businesses through increased patronage.”
The resurgence of professional football in the Free State has rekindled optimism for economic growth in a province faced with significant challenges.
Many residents see new opportunities to grow their businesses and find employment, providing a much-needed boost after the decline of key teams like Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars.
The Free State economy has stagnated for many years, exacerbated by poor infrastructure, incomplete development projects, and political turmoil. As municipalities and the provincial government became a battleground for politicians vying for positions, maladministration and corruption ran rampant.
THANK YOU SIWELELE SA MARUMO ???#PSL #siwelelesamasele #betway #marumogallantsfc pic.twitter.com/oDzmQTxiTh
— MARUMO GALLANTS FC (@_Marumogallants) September 15, 2024
The Free State now has the third-highest unemployment rate of 38%, 5.1 percentage points above the national average of 32.9% for the first quarter of 2024.
“Reviving Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars is crucial,” said EFF MPL Malefane Msimanga during the tabling of the 2024/25 budget of the department of small business development, tourism, and environmental affairs. “They were key economic pillars, generating substantial income and enhancing the provincial economy. People would travel to see these teams play, benefiting local businesses through increased patronage.”
DA MPL and portfolio committee chairperson on public works, infrastructure, roads, transport, and human settlements, David Janse van Rensburg, meanwhile emphasised the need for strategic investments in infrastructure and private sector engagement. Free State sports venues, such as the Toyota Stadium and the Dr. Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium, hold immense untapped potential for driving economic growth, he said.
The match between Marumo Gallants and Kaizer Chiefs in Bloemfontein’s Toyota Stadium on Saturday (14/9) brought renewed hope to local businesses. The capacity crowd of 46,000 was a boom for vendors selling food and other items around the stadium, and other business owners.
Bafana Bafana experienced similar backing in Bloemfontein when they played a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in the Free State capital in July. It was the first time the national team returned to the Free State stadium after their 2010 World Game against France.
Fans, rallying behind Marumo Gallants, the new representative of the Free State in the Betway Premier Soccer League, evoked the spirit of the beloved Ntate Petrus Molemela with songs dedicated to him.
Vendors were busy selling food and other items outside the stadium, and businesses across the City of Roses experienced a welcome economic boost. Photo: Facebook
Meanwhile, finance, tourism, and economic development MEC, Ketso Makume, attended the South African Rally Raid Championship at the Phakisa Raceway on the Free State Goldfields this weekend. Hosted in partnership with the government, the event featured 17 racing teams competing across a 400 km off-road series, drawing crowds to more than 15 viewing points along the route.
Finance, tourism, and economic development MEC, Ketso Makume, attended the South African Rally Raid Championship at the Phakisa Raceway. Photo: Facebook
Makume has been vocal about the importance of tourism in rebuilding the Free State’s economy. The department launched its Tourism Month programme at the Tussen-die-Riviere Game Reserve, offering various outdoor activities, such as a 4x4 eco-challenge, game drives, and a potjiekos competition.
These events are part of a broader effort to position the Free State as a prime destination for both domestic and international tourists, leveraging the province’s unique location connecting six other provinces and Lesotho.
