Download -  Article Featured in the Pretoria News / Friday 23 April 2010

IT WAS no pie in the sky for budding Soweto chef Lesego Semenya - putting his favorite football food into a pastry case became England’s national dish, with a pinch of South African flair, of course. A simple request to the British High Commission to suggest the English national dish mushroomed to became a gourmet cook-off under the guidance of TV cook and writer Prue Leith at her chef academy in Centurion.

Leith suggested the “football pie” as the quintessential English dish; but it was Semenya who filled it with the ingredients of the so-called township burger, the “kota” – spicy achar, smoky Russian sausages, potato and tomatoes.

“Prepared quickly and cheaply, it is the culinary refuge of football fans, school children and anyone looking for something filling and tasty,” said Semenya of the kota.

“My pie perfectly represents South Africa and England. Like the pie in England, a kota is stadium food that does not overwhelm those who just want something good to eat.”

In deciding on the English national dish, Leith said there were many which were wonderful if well done, awful if not, and sadly never original, like fish and chips, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. “And they’ve also become South African dishes, so not much fun in them.”

Leith suggested the football pie which she is “available in various degrees of horror and occasional deliciousness”.

She said there was no recipe as such for the ideal football pie, however it could be any kind of closed pie. The football pie is described as a pie commercially sold at England football clubs and may be any shape and may weigh up to 600g.

Known as the sphathlo in Tshwane, Semenya said a typical kota will have at least five ingredients, namely Russian sausage, which, ironically a 100 percent South African creation despite the name; cheese; polony; chips; achar and tomato sauce.

Variations may include fish, burger patties, steak, different sauces or even a simple one-ingredient kota. Semenya said while growing up in Soweto, his dad would treat him and his brothers to football matches at the former FNB Stadium, now Soccer City. “It was a tradition buy food outside the stadium. “The food was either a large plate of pap, braai meat and tomato relish or boerewors rolls and of course, the kota.

“My pie is unique and aimed directly at the market who will be attending football games, and accompanied by a beer, it is perfect,” he said.  High Commission spokesman Gary Benham said Semenya’s creativity and flair puts a modern twist on English classic truly representing the UK through his eyes.