Bafana
Bafana proved again that they never disappoint to disappoint after choked up in
the crunch time of CHAN 2014 competition despite fielding aging, tested and
failed players whilst other teams were playing vibrant and energetic
youngsters.
Bafana
Bafana coach Gordon Igesund never used CHAN platform to nurture the local young
talent but to protect his job, but our Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams should
also shoulder the blame by failing to produce quality youngsters whilst many
league across Africa have many teens in the mix.
Our
big teams such as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns don't
believe in fielding youngsters especial at very teen age but they are forever
looking for an aging and well established talent than investing in young
players for the future. Every year, they waste millions purchasing players than
developing young talent for the future.
Youth
soccer development should be a collective effort between the South African
Football Association (SAFA) and our local teams. Youth development can't only
exist in our soccer development strategic document without implementing the
idea in the actual field of play.
We
need to see more Steve Lekoelelas, Mkhanyiseli Siwahlas who started
professional football at the age of 15 by then but now we hardly have teens playing
in the PSL week and week out despite having talented youngsters in the country
in numbers. We don't need more Siyabonga Sangwenis who started professional
football at the age of 24.
Youth
is the future and we can’t neglect nurturing young talent to revive our current
mediocre football.
The
way forward is to start investing in a serious youth development programs to
revitalized our Bafana performance. We are now laughing stock in African
football.
FIFA
and CAF will soon be tired of giving us back door qualification as a host
because we never disappoint to disappoint.
By Owen Mundalamo
Twitter: @diskioff [www.twitter.com/diskioff]
