Grooming of other strikers and DevelopmentI had intended to supply only two words regarding this so-called Benni-SAFA saga – Flippin’ Pathetic. One for SAFA and the other for Benni. They’ll sort it out between themselves as to who takes which word…
But because several people (like Aubrey) have written a few words, I’ve decided to elaborate more (but it still boils boil to the two words… so here goes…
Shame Benni… he’s just a victim of the SAFA’s incompetence… how can they be so inconsiderate. Poor Benni is just back from a grovelling Premiership season, he’s emotionally affected by Santa Claus (I mean the Paraguayan striker threatening to bench him at Blackburn), he doesn’t have a babysitter etc. SAFA need to be respectful and be mindful when they call Benni… he just wants to be a good parent!
Believe it or not, this is how some respected people see this issue. I just cringe thinking that some of our journos and respected commentators habour such diarrhoea!
Firstly, lets acknowledge (and condemn) that SAFA have almost always bungled call-ups. But lets put some context into this now… we know the call-ups happened late because the Music One (our coach Santana) had some business to attend to before gracing our shores. Therefore it is not smart to claim that SAFA do call-ups late and so on. Even if it was the case…
How come Aaron Mokoena (who is in the same team as Benni) and a host of other overseas-based players are here without complaints?
Even Macbeth Sibaya who’s been out of the picture for some time and therefore wouldn’t have anticipated a call has come without undue publicity stunts!
Oh, I forget, Benni is a special case… he’s a good striker and we don’t have any, he’s our top goal scorer and he has a Spanish wife who needs to go on holiday!
Therefore SAFA should get a diary for Benni, check with his wife for schedules (see if there’s a babysitter etc). Then go ahead and belittle other up-coming strikers and dance to the Special One’s whims until we find another top striker. Yeah, that sounds like a plan! Definitely not…
Let’s rather challenge the fallacies and assumptions.
Top Striker and Top GoalScorer:
Of course he’s a terrific striker. No one can deny that. But hang on a bit,he’s been in devastating form for club and not for the national team. The last time I saw his club form for Bafana was in Burkina Faso (I think in 2002) and he’s largely been average on other tournaments (least of all being part of a pathetic display in Egypt).
And yes, by playing regularly as a striker you will end up being the top goal scorer (that was the case with Masinga and later Bartlett).
This does not take anything away from Benni because he is indeed a great striker.
(Even though his club place is threatened by Santa Cruz who is not among the Top20 strikers in Europe)
He’s the Only One we have…
That will remain like this until we give confidence and support to the other young up-and-coming strikers. This is more of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we keep on saying there’s no one else, so will it be until the Special One uses a walking stick.
SAFA bungles and therefore Benni is justified.
If two wrongs make a right then maybe…
It is the nation we are talking about here and not a personal squabble between Benni and whoever it is at SAFA.
What’s to be done? SAFA need to get their act together and ensure everything is professional and above-board.
Grooming of other strikers and development in general should be top priority. Benni to get a babysitter and decide whether he wants to play for the country or not.
Or he can even try the option of turning out for the Spanish national team. (Good luck in trying to displace guys like Torres, Villa – I wonder if he’s even qualified to polish their shoes!!)
By Mkhulu Christopher Rathebe
