We can’t not discuss such issues
G’day On coaches’ influence
I had a fascinating conversation with someone about the influence coaches have on player movements and their contracts, which is something I always find interesting. How influential are the coaches when it comes to players’ movement and their contracts? I always try to keep this column as refreshing, informative and educational as possible and I hope you pick something from my weekly offerings. I always welcome and appreciate the feedback from everyone who continues to keep in touch. I can’t thank you enough for your response and interaction. I’m not here to point fingers or trample on anyone’s toes, but this column is about discussing football-related issues. We can’t shy away from these challenges and I know some people will think I was attacking them last week and some might feel the same this week, but that’s not the case at all.
When someone stops me at the garage or mall and asks a valid question, I will always bring that to everyone’s attention. The legendary status issue last week was one typical example and so is this week’s take on coaches’ influence on contracts. From personal experience, I’ve always known that coaches play a big role in scouting and recruiting players, but I’ve never experienced a coach’s involvement in the finer details of the contract. It has since come to my attention that there are coaches who move from one club to the next with certain players from their previous club. Sometimes a coach will be doing well with the players he has at the new club, getting results and doing well, until the next transfer window opens and he brings in players he’s worked with, therefore letting some of the players who were part of the team go. It happens all over the world and one wonders if it has to do with the bond the coach has with the players involved. What role does a coach play in a situation like that? Remember, it doesn’t only happen with head coaches but assistant coaches, members of the technical team, as well as management.
When a new coaches arrives at a club and brings his own players before giving everyone a chance, plays them and release others without giving them a chance, is it really fair? Do such players really not fit his philosophy? Are they so bad that they don’t even deserve a chance or is the coach just looking at his tried and tested, with the hope of hitting the ground running? Does it have to do with the pressure the coach finds himself under? Is it about the timeframe he’s been given to turn things around or is he desperately trying to get the team out of danger? I find it very refreshing when people analyse and interpret football even from a distance, instead of just focusing on the technical and tactical aspects of the game. That’s how we learn because some of these things we don’t even think about. I mean, how do you discard a player and deem him surplus to requirements when you never even gave him a chance? How do you explain new signings getting more regular game-time than the players they found in the system? I hope people don’t misinterpret what I’m saying here because, as I mentioned earlier, this was brought to my attention by someone whow has a keen interest in the game.
You must also remember that we have to listen to everyone out there, regardless of their position in society, because you never know where the solution to your next problem might come from. We just can’t afford to take people for granted and I found the gentleman’s views very interesting because, like I said, I didn’t think of them like that. This guy kept reminding me that I’m a coach and therefore should be able to answer his questions and that’s why I don’t want my colleagues to think this column is directed at anyone of them. I’m grateful to Soccer Laduma for giving me this platform because I’m sure other legends do get engaged by the football-loving masses but they, unlike me, unfortunately don’t have big enough platforms to share the information. When we look at contract renewals, do all the coaches have a say as to who will be retained, loaned out or released when contracts are being discussed? If that’s the case, then coaches are influential, but if club management decide who comes and goes, then the coach can’t be held accountable.
There are so many coaches who have done so well with limited resources. They don’t have the privilege of recruiting their own players or even playing any part in the recruitment process. They just find out that six players have been released, with four brought in. Can you imagine how embarrassing that must be for the coach, especially when he happens to get that information through the media or even his own players before a training session? Some of these things happen in South African football, but people don’t know about them. Sadly, when the very same coaches aren’t getting the desired results, they are fired and lambasted without anyone caring to know the working environment they had to work in. No one cares to know that they didn’t have any sort of control while others are privileged enough to dictate player movement in their teams. Having said all that, who is supposed to have control over comings and goings of players in our teams? I hope those who know better will come forward and shed more light on this. I expect to hear from you just like I did from last week’s column. We might be solving someone’s problem through this discussion, so let’s think about it and take nothing for granted.
What we can’t dispute is the fact that there are teams out there that look after their coaches and then there are those with circumstances not allowing them to flourish. They have their hands tied and without financial muscle or freedom, there’s very little they can do. There are so many problems coaches face behind the scenes. Club bosses are also having it tough, trying to balance their books and keep their coaches happy because running a team isn’t cheap. This is both interesting and frustrating, depending on which side of the fence you are talking from. Some of these things are kept under the carpet because people are scared of being victimized and they’d rather keep silent. However, with all due respect to everyone involved in the game, we can’t not discuss such issues when they happen.
On Motshwari’s COVID-19 recovery
I’m so happy to know that Ben Motshwari has recovered fully from the Coronavirus and I wish him everything of the best going forward. He must remain strong and focused. It is good that he managed to beat this virus and I hope his situation will inspire a lot more people out there.
On Absa sponsorship
It is unfortunate that the longstanding sponsorship relationship between the League and Absa has come to an end. It is unfortunate that some marriages reach a point where the two parties have to part ways. Believe it or not, I have no doubt that our leadership will come up with something soon. They’ve worked so hard to put our league among the best in the world.
Goodnight, Doctor Khumalo