Amajita in need of more game time
Coaches’ reluctance to use under-20 players harm SA at international level
season in top flight football.
“We take full responsibility of what transpired in terms of the club being relegated,” said In an interview with the media recently, Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung spoke of how coaches in the Premier Soccer League are reluctant to play youngsters in their teams.
Motaung admitted that this was of concern to him, but hopes things will change going forward.
Looking at the national under-20 team that failed to go beyond the first round at the ongoing Fifa U-20 World Cup in South Korea, Amajita did not have enough players who play first team football at club level.
Ajax Cape Town’s Grant Margeman, Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Reeve Frosler (Bidvest Wits) and Kodisang Kobamelo (Platinum Stars) have tasted first team action, but the others have to rely on the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC), and a couple of other developmental competitions.
But Frosler probably would not have played as regularly as he did if Nazeer Allie was not injured, so it is a concern that players under the age of 20 are not playing regularly or at least being loaned out to lower division clubs to get some experience.
If a youngster is good enough to play first team football, then age should not hinder his progress.
“I think we also need to look at our youth structure because I think we have some good prospects there. But the problem
‘‘ You never know what the youngster will give you
Mnisi. “I think where we got it wrong was first releasing so many players although some were not Premier League material. sometimes is that some coaches don’t really buy into young players and they don’t give them the opportunity they deserve,” said Motaung.
Former under-20 coach Serame Letsoaka, now guiding Free State Stars, feels the pressure of getting results in the big league makes coaches go for experience rather than youth.
Letsoaka qualified for the 2009 World Cup in Egypt and had players such as Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Sibusiso Khumalo and Phumelele Bhengu who played regularly in top flight.
“Teams want to be competitive in the league, so it’s difficult for coaches to give youngsters a chance. It’s about results,” said Letsoaka. “I also think some coaches don’t believe in youngsters. In other instances, it’s risky because you never know what the youngster will give you.
“You will give him a chance and hope he gives you what he gives you at training. Some of them do well in MDC and I believe if they are showing promise there, then they should get an opportunity in the first team.” We also bought the socalled experienced players, of which some were not good enough.
“Also we we did not sign wisely during the window period.”
But to many, the management blundered by releasing coach Allan Freese who guided the team to promotion.
Freese had a win, a draw and three losses when he was sacked.
They then signed Gordon Igesund who was in charge for 24 games, winning only four, losing 11 and drawing nine.
“I don’t think releasing Freese was such a blunder,” reasoned Mnisi.
“No one knows exactly what could have happened had Freese stayed on.
“But I think it was a blessing in disguise to go down so we will come back wiser.”