The Rise and Fall of Solomon Stix Morewa: A Story of Vision, Power, and Tragedy in South African Football
By Sello Rabothata
Sello Rabothata is a veteran journalist and author of The Rise and Fall of Solomon Stix Morewa, brings a wealth of experience to the telling of this cautionary tale. With over four decades in the industry, Rabothata cut his teeth at The World newspaper before moving on to Post Transvaal and later Sowetan, where he rose through the ranks to become news editor.
As a news reporter during the years of the struggle against apartheid, Rabothata witnessed and covered some of the darkest moments in South Africa’s history. He saw first-hand the atrocities committed against black South Africans, including death, riots, arrests, and death threats. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the power dynamics at play in the country, and it informs his writing in The Rise and Fall of Solomon Stix Morewa.
Solomon Stix Morewa was a man who devoted his life to football. As an administrator, he was a visionary who believed in the power of soccer to transform communities, and he worked tirelessly to bring professionalism and order to a sport that had long been run out of briefcases and car boots. He put the South African Football Association (SAFA) on the map, developing structures and committees that turned soccer into a multi-million dollar industry. He brought women’s soccer into the fold and made schools affiliate with SAFA, opening up the sport to a new generation of players and fans.
Morewa was a father figure to many players, always looking out for their interests and pushing for improvements in training, facilities, and compensation. He was an admirer of his executive members, and his open-door policy made him easily approachable to anyone who had concerns or ideas about the game. Morewa was a respected member of the community, and his weekly press conferences and media releases kept soccer in the public eye.
But with great power comes great envy, and Morewa’s appointment as Executive President of SAFA brought him into the crosshairs of those who wanted to bring him down. As he became more powerful, he also became more of a target. People who had once been his allies turned against him, and his unheralded departure from the sport he loved so much took away the charisma that he had brought to make soccer tick. Morewa was not a pen-and-paper administrator, so his departure left behind few references for future generations to build upon.
The story of Solomon Stix Morewa is a cautionary tale of how power can corrupt and how envy can destroy even the most well-intentioned and talented individuals. Morewa’s rise to prominence was meteoric, and his fall was just as sudden and tragic. But his legacy lives on in the institutions he built and the players he nurtured. Morewa’s vision for soccer in South Africa was one of professionalism, integrity, and inclusivity, and those values continue to guide the game today.
The Rise and Fall of Solomon Stix Morewa is a must-read for anyone who loves soccer and wants to understand the challenges faced by those who seek to transform it into a sustainable, thriving industry. It is a story of passion, vision, power, and tragedy, and it is one that will stay with readers long after they have put the book down.
This remarkable book was published by the leading publisher in South Africa, MFH Publishers.
Leave a comment
