Understanding the dynamics of class not form

This post may somewhat be related to the one posted by somebody intoxicated by treble excitement, however, I want to address the bigger scale of the matter.

I've noted over the years, that South African football fans understand the game in the strangest of ways... with international football taking centre stage; it is only a norm that our focus will be directed through that route.

Now, what puzzles me is that, somebody rocked up from nowhere and made everyone believe that national team players should be selected purely based on form; that is absurd and foolish.

Sadly, this belief is the genesis of Bafana Bafana's downward spiral... I bet my last Zim Dollar that South Africa is the only country with this ancient approach, not even minnows like Botswana adopt this "form" nonsense, cause if they did, they wouldn't have qualified for AFCON 2012, why?

Well, easy, Jerome Ramatlhakwane got them there, had they been selecting purely on form, how was he going to be on form while he wasn't playing at the play-offs ridden Santos?

Ok, let me make more telling examples with international stars, Spain is rushing against the clock to get David Villa ready for Euros, but how will they select him on form if he's not playing? Arjen Robben made the Dutch squad at the back of a long time out with injury, how was he selected on form if he wasn't playing?

Zinedine Zidane went to the 2002 after not playing for close to 6 months; did France select him based on form? David Beckham went through the same, the list is endless of influential players who are/were not playing and were not selected on form.

Whereas in club football, form may be a factor, internationally, a lot of dynamics need to taken into account, this includes:

1) Current and accumulated Form

2) The nature of the opposition

3) The type of the tourney

4) Adaptability of a player to the national team

5) Pool of players competing for a certain position

These are just only 5 of many commodities which merits what me and the international spectators call class...in conclusion, players should be selected based on the entire dynamics of class not form alone...

By Sidwell 'Feesh' Francis

Read More

Bafana Bafana squad named for 2014 World Cup qualifiers

Bafana Bafana squad to face Botswana and Ethiopia games in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers has been named by Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane.

Goalkeepers
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk)

Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)
Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders
Tsepo Masilela (Getafe)

Morgan Gould (SuperSport United)
Bongani Khumalo (Tottenham Hotspur)
Eric Mathoho (Bloemfontein Celtic)

Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates)
Punch Masenamela ( Mamelodi Sundowns)
Siboniso Gaxa (Kaizer Chiefs)
Anele Ngcongca (Racing Club Genk)

Midfielders
Steven Pienaar (Everton)

Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates)
Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Mzikayise Mashaba (Free State Stars)
May Mahlangu (Helsingborg IF)
Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs)
Lebohang Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows)
Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates)

Strikers
Eleazar Rodgers (Santos)

Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows)
Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam)
Tokelo Rantie (Orlando Pirates)
Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Read More

It would take SA probably 40 years to win the World Cup - Clifford

It would take South Africa probably 40 years to win the World Cup. This is the view of Simon Clifford, founder of the Brazilian Soccer Schools, which has recently established a franchise in South Africa. The former school teacher, who has become a football development guru, is in the country and took time to have a chat with MaximalFootball.com.

“You people in South Africa want South Africa to do well in world football,” said Clifford. “Could you win the World Cup? Definitely! But will you? Not! I think it would take about 40 years for things to be restructured better.”

Clifford journeyed to Brazil some 14 years ago to uncover the secrets behind that country’s unrivalled footballing prowess. There he spoke with legends of the game such as Pele, Zico, Rivelino and Socrates and also developed a close friendship with Brazilian and Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho.

In 1998 Clifford started a Brazilian-style soccer school for youngsters in Leeds. His philosophy was to concentrate on improving ball skills and close control and an even greater emphasis on fitness and physical strength. He also introduced his students to futebol de salao, the original version of five-a-side football that is played with a small size-two ball that has limited bounce, and the version of the game that virtually all Brazilian superstars grew up playing.

Following the World Cup, BSS noted a glaring gap in local football development; the need for sustainable, grassroots development programmes to maximise the natural skills of South African youngsters in all communities.

“There was a lot of talk going into the World Cup about doing this and that for SA football, but after the World Cup is gone I don’t think there’s anything good that has come out of it for SA football,” observed Clifford. “What I have noticed is that there is a lot of talent in this country. I wouldn’t even start talking about the system the country needs to follow right now. What I can tell you is that you just need a system because at the moment you don’t have a system in this country. With some system that people are going to follow; give them good pitches, good Youth Coaches, etc. SA football can benefit a lot.”

Nick Aresti, Director of the Brazilian Soccer School’s South African franchise, concurs: “I believe we have to commit 10 to 15 years of meaningful work to soccer development. Anything else to me is irrelevant. With 15 year-olds and above, I don’t think we’ve got chance. I do think we have all the right ingredients to succeed as a country, but need to get our development programmes in order.”

According to Clifford, “Financially, football is resourced more than any sport in the world, but intellectually it is the most impoverished. I think on the coaching side, football is impoverished.”

Clifford’s work also received recognition from some of the World’s greatest football people including Pele. “I developed my skills playing Futebol de Salão in my home town of Bauru. I explained to Simon that the true and total beauty of football is only seen in the ingenuity, inventiveness, instinct and skill of the players, both individually and as a team. This can only be seen in an attacking style of football, when the ball is always under control. A long kick the length of the field, hoping a team-mate will first reach the ball or head it into the net can hardly be called artistic.”

MaximalFootball.com will at a later stage publish a full in-depth interview with Clifford.

By Editor

Email: editor@maximalfootball.com

Story: http://goo.gl/q3Of9

Read More

Mosimane, Leal and Komphela - will this work?

Is this going to be tasty? Pitso Mosimane, Jairo Leal and Steve Komphela - this is the South African Football Association (SAFA) ingredients. What was the thought behind this? Is it to shut the South Africans, after failure to make the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?

Is this where Bafana Bafana technical team was lacking? My opinion; this is a disaster ingredients. Pitso and Leal are from the same breast (Carlos Alberto Parreira), they think more alike, they have similar philosophy. But our new assistance coach is different to the two.

He like hardworking players, players who can run all 90 minutes, attacking players who have no problem with defending. The question now is will he manage to change Pitso and Leal mind set? I don't think so, how can a part timer change two full time coaches mind, no chances in that.

I don't see Pitso and Leal changing their Bafana Bafana players selection. One wonder if Steve is restricted, meaning he only consult with Pitso every time he wants to say something tactical. Because if he's not we will here of two camps one with Leal and Pitso, the other camp with Steve. With all that said I wish them luck and hope they bring success to our country.

By Dr Ndivhuwo

Read More

The whole programme must be overhauled – Naidoo

It has been interesting to listen to and read about commentaries with regards to the appointment of Steve Komphela’s appointment as the Bafana Bafana Assistant Coach. I must say, however, that I think Komphela’s appointment to the Bafana set up will be a breath of fresh air and will add value to the technical team. He has the knowledge and the ability of a master technician, but...

But what is worrying me is that he too will find himself in Pitso Mosimane’s situation because of our lack of development programmes. No appointment will solve our national team’s problems. It is even worse if you consider the kind of demands imposed on Mosimane.

The poor man is expected to achieve things out of the ordinary. We have to be realistic that without a vision and periodization in place, achieving the targets set by our football authorities to be Afcon finalists and qualify for the World Cup is a tall order for Mosimane. Change of the coach will not solve our problems. The best coach in the world will fail with our national team and that is a fact. Remember we had Carlos Alberto-Parreira.

Investment in the development is crucial to our future on the continental and global stage. We have the talent, but we need to put a 12 year plan in place if we are to be a major force on the football stage. Note talent contributes only 20% of any successful individual and the rest comes from hard work for both players and coaches, with the latter given the support in education (training methodology to suit our identity) and other related needs.

Every region needs to have a “centre of excellence” for starters and the best talent must be recruited and developed to meet the modern demands of football. This has to start at U12 and be monitored to reach the highest level in performance. Importantly, we need to develop our players within their strengths taking into account their characteristics. We also need to adopt a national uniformed approach that is visible from our national junior teams that will eventually reflect on our national asset, Bafana.

It’s not Mosimane’s fault that we are a laughing stock in continental and world football. It is our failure to address “football development” in its totality.

To SAFA’s credit it has put into place development programmes, which have had a positive impact, but it needs to have a more structured approach in developing players and coaches. The whole programme needs to be overhauled with regional coordinators that share a common vision and drive the process with passion and commitment. After all it is our collective responsibility that will put our nation on the map.

By Katz Naidoo (SAFA Coach Educator)

Original Story: http://goo.gl/xrDKY

Read More