Navigating the club politics

While McCarthy deserves credit for what he was able to achieve at both Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC, it’s worth noting that coaching a club the size of Pirates would be a different kettle of fish. More so because with the two abovementioned teams, he was never able to replicate his first season exploits in the campaign that followed, hence some refer to him as a ‘one-season wonder’ in his young coaching career. A critical question: Why was that? A large part of it, as per his complaints that led to the deterioration of his relationship with management at both clubs, is the reluctance to dig deep into the coffers and buy players of better quality than what was already there. After all, a club with lofty ambitions such as a top four finish should be able to match that with buying the coach the players that he needs to achieve that, which sadly didn’t happen at AmaZulu. Notably, at City, he butted heads with chairman John Comitis for, among other issues, his refusal to play Chris Davids, a high-profile signing who was reportedly the highest earner in the team but proved to be a flop in the Mother City. McCarthy, as a coach, is not afraid to stick to his guns even if it means placing his job at risk, and one wonders how he would make it at the traditional big clubs of South African football where it is a known fact that the club signs the players, not the coach. And as a coach, you learn to live with it instead of complaining in post-match interviews. Gavin Hunt is a classic example of a coach, obviously new to taking charge of a big team, who was frustrated with some of the behind-the-scenes happenings at Chiefs, often stopping short of laying into his employers and players in post-match interviews. It must have been a huge ‘culture shock’ for him, having managed and enjoyed incredible success with relatively smaller sides prior to that, and in his budding coaching life, would it perhaps not be too early for the former Bafana Bafana striker to be coaching Pirates, with all of the above factors taken into consideration?

ger on the coach. Mngqithi recently jumped on the bandwagon, launching a scathing criticism on Chiefs for having formed a “collaboration” with Ahly. Coincidentally, all these tirades are levelled at Chiefs. Gentlemen, take a chill pill. The sole purpose of sport is to unite, not divide George Sithole, Honeydew

It is very annoying to hear Chiefs attacking Downs coaches. They said they were building friendship between them and Al Ahly. They did not give Sundowns the home team’s dressing room and opted to give it to the Egyptian side. I think that is not patriotism. It was not about training facilities as you are saying. I don’t think your facilities are far better than those of Downs. If they are, they do not help because look at the top of the table and tell me who is there, and then look at your current position and tell me who is using better facilities. My brotherly advice to you, guys, is that don’t be jealous of victorious Downs. Just focus on the sleeping giant that you are. Batandwa Coko, via email

Congratulations, Sundowns, for qualifying for the next round of the CAF Champions League with class. Like I always indicate, this Sundowns team is slowly but surely making their mark in African football. I think currently, they are favourites to win this competition this season and if their form continues unabated, they will turn even CAF football into a Farmers’ League or competition, like they have done with the PSL. This current crop of players must be cemented in the history of football for their ability and resilience against any team in Africa. Special credit to the Three Wise Men. Indeed, the sky is the limit! Thapelo Masiapata, Ramaroka village (Bolobedu)

Hugo Broos should stop bragging about the Belgium Jupiler League because that league isn’t better than our own DStv Premiership. To me, it’s like a development of Europe’s best leagues such as the EPL, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A. Can Broos tell us one team from Belgium that has won the UEFA Champions League or reached the semi-finals of that competition? Currently, Jali and Zwane are the best players in Mzansi and are always performing brilliantly in the CAF Champions League. He should be professional and stop badmouthing and belittling our players. If he was as good as he claims to be, why has he never managed top teams in Belgium such as Saint Liege, Club Brugge and Anderlecht? I’d like to agree with Linda Buthelezi that Percy Tau seems not to want to play friendly games. Why is it that every time Bafana Bafana are about to play a friendly game, he’s injured and nothing is said about his medical report? Our players need to learn to be patriotic and proud to represent their country. Lekiya Magoai, Nelly (Ga-Malope)

Before the game against Guinea, Hugo Broos highlighted that the results don’t matter, which leads me to asking: What is it that matters? What’s the point of playing? How do you ask your players to do it for their country while the flag is being dragged into the mud? This shows lack of belief because if you don’t believe in your own ability to be victorious, how can you inculcate it into your players? I was not surprised to hear others praising Bafana for playing well. Mediocrity at its best. A compromise to pacify a political situation has become a cancer in our football. Zwane, Jali, Lakay and Mokoena are currently the best players in the PSL. How do you justify leaving them out? If it means calling seven Sundowns players, why not? Coach, the squad that you selected cannot even beat Eshowe High School. “Bhotsotso” Mkhize, Eshowe, Mpaphala, KZN

I’m disappointed by CAF. I think the new executive committee has now been in charge for over a year, but they’ve done nothing. We can’t see any changes ever since Patrice Motsepe and his men took to office in Cairo. Among the changes we expected was the issue of the TV rights, but until now, we still can’t watch the 2022 World Cup qualifier play-offs. Instead, we are being shown European friendlies while there are African countries playing important matches. The other issue is match officials. It looks like CAF are not doing enough to deal with these officials who are costing teams and national teams. They make mistakes every now and then and are still on the list of CAF referees.

Strange. Leponesa Chacha, Botshabelo

There I was on Friday, rushing home to watch Bafana Bafana v Guinea and African World Cup qualifiers on SuperSport, only to find that there were no televised games. I mean, those are World Cup qualifiers, for Pete’s sake! But no, SuperSport decided that European friendlies are more important than African World Cup qualifiers. These are some of the things that make Europeans not to take us seriously. This is madness, guys, seriously. I mean, those were big games. We as Africans and football fanatics want to watch such games and not this European friendlies nonsense.

Tau-Tona Molebatsi, Lenasia

There’s nothing to say about Bafana’s goalless draw against Guinea since it was a TV blackout. Anyway, what still gets my attention is those unattractive pyjamas we wear in public. Now we are hoping to beat France wearing their own brand in their own backyard. Even the French will look at us and be like, “Ce ‘nest pas notre Coq Sportif, ça don’t être fabriquê en Chine (This is not our Le Coq Sportif, it must be made in China).” What’s with the greed in this technical sponsor design industry, whatever it is called? Can’t they allow independent designers to submit their concepts and choose from those? If you’ve seen some of the coolest concept kit designs from local independent designers over the years, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I think it’s time they work with some local designers to produce football kits. Bafana jerseys do not inspire confidence.

Lucky Khunou, Meriting

Our PSL standard is very poor, with only one team dominating, the same way it’s happening in Germany, Italy, France and Egypt. Sundowns are signing top players from around the world, while others fight for a Top Eight finish and not to be relegated. The PSL should introduce new laws. For a start, the GladAfrica Championship should only consist of South African players. As for the DStv Premiership, teams should only be allowed to sign foreign players that have 15 caps or more for their national teams, as well as those that have played in Europe for at least three seasons. Now these teams sign players from East Africa who are not even ABC Motsepe League material.

Loyiso Theophilus Mqoqi, Ncambele