DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE WISDOM OF SOLOMONS

I read with keen interest the interview between Tshepang Mailwane and Boebie Solomons in Soccer Laduma Issue No.1353. I would like to register my profound appreciation to the coach for immensely contributing to the development of soccer. He is literally developing local football at grassroots level by producing young players and future coaches. His relentless efforts to impart football knowledge in development structures are collectively sowing seeds for sustainable football development. It is good to see selfless sportsmen like Solomons giving young coaches hope for the future. On another note, I would like to thank Doctor Khumalo for his column ‘Hanging with Doc’. There has been thinly-veiled criticism directed at him, saying his column is exclusively tailored to praise himself in a show of presumptuous pride. But if one looks with a positive perspective, one will realise that Doc is not pridefully writing about himself, he is rather trying to remind the soccer fraternity that there are some unsung heroes who have been contributing to local soccer development. Some of these heroes might have been thrown into the dustbins of history. They seem to be long forgotten. So, Doc is here to retrieve their glorious past and make them feel appreciated and honoured for their contribution. No wonder in every Soccer Laduma edition he unconditionally remembers and appreciates these personalities. Particularly, I was overwhelmed by how Doctor remembered and appreciated Conti Kubheka, Simon Ngomane and Solomons in last week’s edition. From his appreciation of the trio, one learns that you don’t have to wait until you become a commentator, a coach or a journalist before using the philosophy of appreciation. We can work magic with it almost every day. Doc’s language of appreciation is working wonders. Batsirai Kativu, Johannesburg

Bobie Solomons has distinguished himself as a poor coaching instructor. The two best words a senior coach can say to a young coach coming through are, “Well done”. But in last week’s edition of Soccer Laduma, he showed that he lacks the natural keenness of wanting to help others progress. How can you focus on developing youth and coaches of tomorrow but in the same breath fail to praise, support or even encourage a 36-year-old coach who’s doing well not only in domestic football but also in the African continent? He said at Sundowns if you win something, you are not achieving anything, you are just repeating what others have already done. Shocking statement! What is the point of wanting to win and maintaining consistency if it doesn’t mean anything? I now understand why good coaches like Dan Malesela don’t get the respect they deserve. When asked about Sundowns’ dominance, Solomons talks about strategies at Santos. Wow! Until we take that mask off and face reality, we are not going anywhere as a footballing nation. What a shame! “Bhotsotso” Mkhize, Eshowe, Mpaphala, KZN