There
is an emerging Third World War, but in the football pitch. The war is about
ultra-defensive system which is famously known as "parking the bus"
to prevent any penetration by team playing Tiki-Taka (carpet football) which is
a style of play based on making your way to the back of the net through short
passing movement. Penetrating ultra defensive team is a difficult mission to
accomplish.
Chelsea
knocked out Barcelona in last year’s UEFA Champions League playing ultra
defensive system. Barcelona failed to find an attacking alternative when things
were not going their way.
Last
season, Ernst Middendorp (now coaching Maritzburg United FC) was accused by Vladimir
Vermezovic of Kaizer Chiefs for playing boring and dirty football by parking
the bus. Many blamed Chelsea for introducing this boring tactical system.
Over
the weekend I was surprised by Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa’s comments
describing Bidvest Wits as defensive team by claiming that Wits played with
players at the back. I watched the game but failed to see the defensive
football that Roger De Sa (RDS) was talking about. I witnessed a strong Wits
team with good offensive movement.
Is
it fair for another coach to criticise the opponent’s style of play? Was RDS honest
about Wits parking the bus or it was one of his chirping tendencies to belittle
the opponent? Was RDS disrespecting Wits and Antonio Lopez Habas by criticising
them unfairly?
By Owen Mundalamo
Football Food for
Thought
