Don’t ignore local ex-professionals
FORMER Kaizer Chiefs striker Dennis Vukubi thinks a lot can be done to nurture and develop talent in the ABC Motsepe League but things will only get worse if local ex-professionals continued to be ignored.
Vukubi said the truth of the matter remained that “if you don’t use your experience you won’t get anywhere”.
“I’m not saying that I want to be given a coaching job as an exprofessional but at least be consulted on football matters by teams or football structures.
“Because if you look at the level of the boys when they play, there’s so much talent but they are not equipped enough.
“Football doesn’t only depend on how you dribble but you also talk about tactical abilities.”
Vukubi said being in football for many years while playing at Naturena, he’d come to realise that many countries in Africa, like Mali, spent more time focusing on tactical abilities among their players.
“We have to equip ourselves by going to study at coaching courses and get licences so that we don’t ruin our raw talent.”
He said having one National First Division team such as Mthatha Bucks which doesn’t have many locally born players is another important factor that contributes to the steady decline in development of the third-tier league in the province.”
“Bucks is not a true reflection of who we are as Eastern Cape people. I’m not saying let’s take players from other provinces out but what’s the percentage that we must have there?” asked Vukubi.
“Because judging from that team, it’s like there’s no football in the Eastern Cape.
“The old team we had, Bush Bucks, had local players like Mzawuthethi Nogwaza and those were the local guys we had at that time.”
Vukubi said he was available to teams who needed some advice and that local universities should also invest in soccer development as they are housing hidden talent from across the borders of the province.
“I’m part of this community and it’s my duty to play a role that would hopefully help mature talent, so that one day they can be professional.’’