Sunday, January 19, 2014

Bafana proved again that they never disappoint to disappoint

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

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