Build soccer for long-term
TODAY we report that most players who have taken part in the ABC Motsepe playoffs won’t get a chance to play professionally because of their advanced ages.
Soccer scouts from the Absa Premiership and National First Division (NFD) teams descended on Buffalo City Metro this week hoping to find a few gems in the promotional playoffs that end tomorrow.
With the cream of the crop from all nine provinces in the third tier league in the metro playing for two NFD spots, it was no surprise to see representatives from professional teams like Ajax Cape Town, Chippa United, Mthatha Bucks, Highlands Park and Royal Eagles watching the playoffs.
But the one problem that potential employers kept finding was that players were no longer spring chickens – the majority are fast approaching their thirties.
The ABC Motsepe League is supposed to be a developmental league but it has become a showcase for older players trying to revive their flagging careers. Indeed, players on the wrong side of 30 were out on the field while promising youngsters sit on the bench.
For many years players would begin playing professionally aged 25 and above and we would call them “youngsters”. But soccer really needs teenagers to start cracking it into Bafana Bafana.
This has been happening in Europe and other African countries so why not in South Africa too?
Yes, there are a few exceptions – former Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena and Rivaldo Coetzee, who became regulars in the national teams while still teenagers. But this is not the norm.
The problem boils down to South Africa not really prioritising development. We’re always hearing politicians talking about grassroots level development, but somehow that's where it ends.
Club bosses go for experienced players hoping to have some sort of silverware by the end of a season.
As a result Bafana tends to end up with players who are already well into their prime. By the time they become regulars they can only play two or three seasons before age catches up with them.
It’s hardly surprising therefore, that age cheating is very prevalent in South African soccer. Players have their real ages and their “soccer ages”. To an extent, this is even encouraged at school level and by club bosses because of the win-atall costs mentality.
In an ideal world, national U17 players should progress to U20 then U23, with the most talented phased into the senior team. But because coaches are under pressure to qualify for this or that major tournament they go for tried and tested players to keep their jobs.
To build a winning team we need to keep a long-term view, not fix on tournament qualifications. The time to build and to prioritise development is upon us.