Bafana
Bafana are forced to watch the FIFA World Cup 2014 of Brazil only on
televisions. Ethiopia’s win ensured that South Africa will not participate in
next year’s World Cup. A trip to Brazil was denied.
Ethiopia
surely deserved to be the side to advance to knock out stages. Do not get me
wrong, allow me to elaborate more. After they (Ethiopians) fielded an
ineligible player in the other world cup qualifying game, they had points
deducted. The points deduction denied them a straight advance to next round before
the final match. These also brought hopes to South Africans since the group was
open again (decided on the wire).
Last
Saturday the Ethiopians did a vital come back against Central African Republic.
Although, they still need to play on knock out stage, I am congratulating them.
They have gone all out, even during AFCON early this year.
Bafana
also did well on Saturday, but was certainly not enough to be part of the play
offs. The finger pointing also started. Pitso Mosimane, Benard Parker and Gordon
Igesund were scapegoats. Does blaming other people send us to Brazil? We need
to unite as a country. My opinion firing the coach would not help too; instead
we will be taking few steps back.
Yes,
Gordon Igesund failed in the AFCON early this year then now could not send
Bafana to Brazil as well. Too often I hear that we are building for the future,
then why would you want to change builders every now and then. “Rome was not
built in one day.”
In
football whether you are a player or manager this rule always applies: if you
lose, you will get criticism, but if you win you will get compliments. I
totally understand the criticism and frustration at the moment. How about we
give the current builder more time?
At
the moment we are involved in major tournaments when we are the ones hosting.
Yet, we are very quickly to say “this manager must go”.
We
failed to qualify for World Cup 2006. We then qualified by default on the 2010
World Cup since we were hosts. We spent a lot of money in paying foreign
coach(s). Struggling even in qualifying for AFCON ’12, again the hosting
default came handy this year. What needs to be done in this qualifying
struggle?
Many
questions will arise in each individual. Almost everyone has his or her
opinion. Good thing we have less say on employing and sacking of national head
coaches. Employers need to make decisions which are in the country’s interest.
Harsh or not we are forced to bare them. Perhaps it is time stick to one
builder (coach).
Germans
believe Joachim Loew as much as I do in Gordon Igesund. Take in account that
Loew started as an assistant manager at Germany before becoming the head coach.
Ask yourself what did he win since at helm? For him and his squad qualifying is
often easy but winning is the difficult part. We all know that qualifying and
win nothing can see one packing yet Low still there.
There
are things which are easy elsewhere but cannot be applied here in South Africa
and I am aware of that. Again I am going back to Germany, they nationalise
other players that are or were part of the national team. Can you do that here
in South Africa?
I
know I have been comparing an African national team with an European national
team. Football is football. We tend to like how this European teams play. That
is why I did my comparison. It might be irrelevant to you, but that is my view.
Perhaps
it might be disrespectful of me to compare someone who was able to lead his
country as a manager to finish third place in World Cup ‘10 and also finishing
good in Euro ‘08 with someone who is still trying to find his feet to qualify.
Keep in mind that Loew started as an assistant coach.
Winning
a major trophy and finishing in good position are two different things. Loew is
hired to win than qualifying, finishing third or second. Fabio Capello at
England also left without a major trophy.
As
South Africans, we expect imminent success in our national team builder(s), and
then come in our serious problem which is being patient. I am not saying,
Igesund must stay or go. If ever he is sacked, then let us give that new
manager more time and believe in him. Success can be a slow process.
For
once as a country we need to qualify without relying on other team’s results.
Players need to get international call ups not just because they play for
Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns, but it should be based on merit rather than club
level standards. Let us forget about players that got egos or looking forward
in playing in Champions League than representing their country.
Too
much unrecognised talent in young players while us focusing on players with
standards and own terms. Players must fight for their spot in the national,
both local and European base. We can do our homework now while it is still
early or forever be a laughing stock. Where are U23? Why certain players play
in competitive games and others can only participate in friendly games?
By Ntokozo Skhosana
