Still fighting for Santos: Allie takes battle for beloved club to court

Mark Ward

Goolam Allie has never been one to seek applause nor the limelight, yet his footprint on South African football runs deep, from Heideveld’s patchy turfs to the William Herbert sports complex where he resolutely helped Wolves to remain a prominent and loyal member of Cape District while leading Santos FC to the professional stage for more than four decades.  

Now aged 72, the long-serving Santos administrator for over 50 years finds himself engaged in what may be one of the defining battles of his celebrated career, a fight to overturn the club’s expulsion from the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League. He has now approached the Western Cape High Court to have the expulsion annulled.

Santos, once a powerhouse of South African football and affectionately known as “The People’s Team”, was recently removed from the league over allegations that the club failed to pay its registration fees. The decision has sparked shock, frustration, and speculation across Western Cape football circles, where Santos remains an institution with a legacy stretching back to the days of the Federation Professional League.

Tankiso Modipa, chairperson of SAFA Western Cape, has repeatedly declined to provide details, referring all questions to the provincial head of competitions, Sibongile Mnguni. Mnguni also did not respond to repeated requests for clarification regarding the specific grounds and processes that led to the expulsion. The silence has only fuelled further uncertainty. It is alleged that Santos’ refusal to pay registration fees for the new season was the  main reason for its expulsion. It is believed Santos has asked the League to deduct the registration from the outstanding grants fees payable to all participating clubs. But this seems to have been turned down.  

Allie, a man known for his measured approach, has now also chosen not to publicly address the details of the matter. His priority, he says, is the legal process in the High Court.

“At this stage, all I can say is that we are a committed club with a long tradition of respect and discipline.  We remain steadfast in our efforts to compete and to serve our communities. But for now, I cannot comment further,” as he shared his disappointment.  

For those who understand Allie’s history, his determination is unsurprising with his professional football journey having begun when he played for Manning Rangers  in the Federation era, where sport was not only competition but also resistance against the evil of apartheid. He was among the administrators who safeguarded football in communities where resources were scarce, heavy political pressure and opportunities limited.

He helped guide Santos into the era of integrated South African football, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with leading figures to  transform the professional landscape. Through decades of shifting structures and administrations, Allie’s principles remained rooted in community upliftment.

Under his guidance, Santos produced players who would go on to shine in the PSL and even represent South Africa internationally. Many of those careers began on training fields maintained with little more than determination and belief.

For Allie, Santos is not just a club, but its history, its identity.  It is a commitment to generations of young footballers. No wonder the current battle is not merely administrative but one it would seem Allie is prepared to go to war, whatever the cost.