‘Ready-made’ players put pressure on loanees
The quest for instant success in football is putting the lives of young players who are loaned out at risk. Most young players never make it back to their parent club once sent out on loan as clubs prefer ‘ready-made’ acquisitions, note Mmegi Sport Staff
Lebogang Ditsele was once a Township Rollers player but left without seeing much action, despite his obvious talent. Further afield, Marko Grujic signed for Liverpool in 2016 but has never spent a full season at Anfield despite remaining their player to date. In both cases, the clubs opted to buy experienced players who are ready to walk straight into the starting 11. Ditsele arrived at record league champions, Township Rollers as a teenager from Kweneng region side, Sweet XI in 2014. He, however, left two years later without donning the famous blue and gold.
In his first season, he was loaned to newly promoted Letlapeng where he was a regular starter. He was then shipped out on loan to Gilport Lions for the 2015-2016 season, where he continued with his great form while catching the eye of the Zebras coach, Peter Butler. The English coach handed the then 19-year-old his national team debut. Ditsele then got his breakthrough when he signed for South Africa’s Highlands Park in 2016. Upon return, he joined Jwaneng Galaxy and has since moved to Township Rollers. Signed alongside Ditsele at Rollers was yet another promising midfield enforcer, Michael Pillar. The latter joined Letlapeng for two seasons before a series of loan moves to Uniao Flamengo Santos, Extension Gunners and Security Systems. The midfielder has since joined Systems on a permanent deal and is a key member of the Alarm Boys’ squad.
Lesotho-born winger, Monageng Thaele joined Rollers from Mogoditshane Fighters in 2007. Despite thrilling performances in Popa colours, he was shipped to Gunners on a two-year and eventually on a permanent deal. Thaele remained at Gunners until 2016 where he was named captain and became a Premiership household name. ‘Mnike’ left Gunners for then Sharps Shooting Stars before he joined Masitaoka, where he helped the team attain elite league promotion. Zimbabwean attacker, Remmington Masuku was loaned to BR Highlanders by Rollers to free up space for the foreign contingent. He spent a season more in Mahalapye before joining BDF XI two seasons back. He has since signed with DStv Premiership’s newcomers Sekhukhune United in South Africa. In another move, Jwaneng Galaxy sent Senatla Molefhe back to Mochudi Centre Chiefs on loan.
He however spent most of his time on the bench as Chiefs were relegated. In recent years, both Rollers and cross-town rivals, Gaborone United (GU) have been heavily active in loan transfers. Popa loaned the duo of Tiroyaone Maome and Boyo Lechaena to Notwane; they have since returned and set to remain at the Royal Aria training grounds. GU lent Notwane Tshepo Malgas in January 2020. Five goals in six games while on loan, Malgas had done enough to impress the GU technical bench. The club has rejected a loan extension from Toronto. Orapa United have welcomed striker Molaodi Tlhalefang back after impressing on a loan at Miscellaneous in the previous season.
Loanees have had varying degrees of success, but in recent times a loan deal is all but a confirmation of a departure.
Ditsele and Thaele’s displays were expected to convince their parent club to keep them, but the players were instead, sent back out on loan.
It is the story of most players nowadays, with the young players particularly affected. Clubs sign promising talent, loan the player out with the hope of progress, but it usually signals the end.
Most teams now prefer signing established players, which would explain why youngsters find it difficult to break into the team.
Fewer players are promoted from the development side, largely due to the chase for instant success. Young players are hardly given ample opportunities once they return from a loan, unless if they are exceptional. Most coaches do not have patience with a player who still lacks the all-around basics. Instead, the cheque book is always on standby to purchase ready-made players, who will walk into the starting 11. Former Botswana Football Association (BFA) technical officer, Philemon Makwengwe believes a loan should still serve its original
purpose, which is to give unutilised players game time.
“Loan can work for two major reasons: that the player does not command first team position, therefore, he is unhappy or that the club itself is not happy with their current performance but has a running contract. They do not want to pay out yet they do not want to lose them in case things change for the better,” said Makwengwe, who recently joined Sua Flamingoes as a technical director.
Zebras assistant coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare argues lack of proper planning and supervision by the parent club hinders the loanees progress. “They do not keep tabs on the player on loan which means they didn’t plan to loan him; they actually prevented a rival team from signing him,” Nare said.
He added that changes in the technical team also affect players who are loaned out.
“They will go on to fire the coach who loaned those players because he didn’t approve their signing by the management. Sometimes those players will not want to go back as they are not guaranteed a starting place at the parent club. Sometimes the coach will not feel he doesn’t need those on loan so it’s not well structured that’s why we have recorded few successes over time, without mentioning any particular names,” Nare said.