Cape football has been poorer since hometown boy Erwin Isaacs made the less than prosperous journey up north to join Bidvest Wits.
There is currently strong speculation that he will be returning to the Cape, not to former team Santos, but to Chippa United, in an apparent R3million move.
It would be money well spent by Chilli Boys boss Chippa Mpengensi - Isaacs is one of the few current players in the country capable of scoring ten goals in the second round of the Premiership and helping the Philippi-based outfit to escape relegation.
Along with Ajax's Thulani Serero, who was an Urban Warriors product but hails from Soweto, Isaacs has been the Mother City's best and most exciting player to watch over the last decade making him a favourite with bookmakers like Paddy Power.
Over the years, Santos have not always been the most entertaining side, especially when the likes of Jomo Cosmos, Platinum Stars or Free State Stars have been in town.
But watching from high up in the media box at the Athlone Stadium, where one gets a great view of players' movement on and off the ball, Isaacs managed to light up even the most dour of games.
'Appels' typifies the very best of a Capetonian player; plenty of African skill and flair, combined with a more clinical European-like ability when it comes to technique and composure in and around the box.
And much like fellow local lad Benni McCarthy, Isaacs possesses the confidence, some might say arrogance, that benefits any good striker.
His reading of the game; his decision making, speed, aggression and technique was wonderful to watch.
Unlike most of his contemporaries, Isaacs also knows how to finish, be it an unstoppable free-kick from 30 yards out, or a shot with either foot from any kind of range.
In over 150 games in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Isaacs has a goal ratio of one goal to every three matches, better than the large majority of strikers in the PSL today the reason why football betting experts were always quick to back him.
Added to that, his skill, creativity and great crossing ability have set up a lot of goal for his team-mates.
But, as is well documented, the Lavender Hill-born star has had his issues off the field, and has had his fair share of controversy, even having admitted to faking an injury in order to avoid travelling for an away match.
Which perhaps hints at why the 25-year-old has seen precious little game-time in Johannesburg.
The proposed move to Chippa therefore seems a perfect fit: coach Farouk Abrahams is just the man to understand what makes Isaacs tick, knowing just how to coax the player back to his best, as well as help him steer clear of the temptations back home in the Cape.
For Isaacs, he would be getting regular game-time again - a player of his talents should really be pushing for a place in the Bafana set-up (he has only one cap to date).
And for the journalists, we'll once again have a reason to savour a trip to a cold and blustery Athlone.
By Anthony McLennan
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