Mzanzi needs to make an impression on the continent
MAMELODI Sundowns is struggling bravely to get football fans interested in the progress of their Confederation of African Football sponsored Champions League campaign in the aftermath of the razzmatazz of the recently-concluded Fifa world football extravaganza.
I do not know about you, but I nearly missed the kick-off of Sundowns’ campaign – not because of any tardiness on my part but through sheer disinterest. It just came too soon after that football spectacle in Russia where that other “African” team, that parades in the colours of the French national flag, won the tournament.
About that last bit; no, I am not trying to belittle the French national team, in contrast, I am paying homage to them for having won the world football trophy with so many personalities of African descent.
In many ways France’s win answers the often asked question which is:
Why do African teams not progress into the knockout stages of the World Cup competition?
My pointed response to that question is always that the African teams do not progress because they do not score goals, and that’s it. Anything else that parades as an answer is sheer race politics and is horse manure– period.
Back to MaSandawana. Some football scribes from rival publications were of the view that Sundowns ought to be more robust in the present Champions League tournament and show some teeth to their opponents. You see, even Sundowns are still in World Cup hangover mode.
I do want to add that the Brazilians are back in this CAF campaign where they are sort of pathfinders for many Mzansi-based clubs. I know Orlando Pirates are in the current one too, while Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs play in another continental competition – the Confederations Cup.
All these international competitions will come in handy for our profile on the continent as well as our not so flourishing national team Bafana Bafana. There is nothing like com- peting outside the domestic league to sharpen your technical acumen.
After all, some of our competitors on the continent often test their abilities against that of Uefa region teams. You know that outside of the South Americas, Uefa teams are the only ones that have amassed the most stars on their jerseys for winning the World Cup.
Lets count them to make sure you get it. Germany, England, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden and so nearly Croatia and Belgium. That’s but the ones that came to mind without the aid of Google.
If you had to do the same exercise for Africa and elsewhere Google will say something like: Information not available … Try to refresh your search … or Press start button! … or even maybe: The criteria you listed has not been invented yet!
Worse still, your search could get the response: Check spelling!
That’s how far we have to go to gain some recognition.
By the way, did you notice that Bobby Motaung, the Kaizer Chiefs manager, bought new players for the team while the club was still out looking for a coach? That is an extremely odd and daring thing to do.
Now what is the new coach to do if for some reason he was interested in two left-footed players which will suit his style of play and discover that none were purchased?
A little birdie said Chiefs were about to sign on a former Free State Stars coach; Giovanni Solinas.
Now yours truly has not seen much of Mr Solinas that really was impressive. I suspect he may have been in a budget purchase seeing that Mr Motaung jnr is by reputation a very stingy guy.
Yes, that’s not made up. He took many moons to flatter Steve Komphela with quality signings during the former coach’s tenure.
You can check out his latest antics of purchasing players without input from the coach. What was that if not an attempt to pre-empt the coach from going to very expensive player markets.