Barcelona’s visit can only benefit our game
It was a great move by the management of Mamelodi Sundowns to invite Spanish giants FC Barcelona to our shores once again. This can only tell us how ambitious this club is.
It will do a lot for the supporters and not just those of Sundowns, but the broader supporters of South African football. They will now get an opportunity to watch their favourite players who they see on TV. These are world-class players who are coming to our shores and that is good for the development of football in our country.
More importantly, this invita- tion will play a huge role in terms of motivating aspiring footballers to see these players coming to play live at the FNB Stadium. However, those who will benefit the most are the players and the technical team of Masandawana, because we have seen them competing against the best teams in the world when they competed in the Fifa Club World Cup in 2016 in Japan.
They will now add to their experience of facing tough opponents from around the world. Competing against top players in the world also improves their experience. It is a major step in the right direction. Playing against the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and the other great players in the Barcelona side will give Sundowns that experience and confidence which they will hopefully translate into the Caf Champions League and their Absa Premiership title defence next season.
The benefits of playing Barcelona are not only limited to the field of play because we are engulfed by the challenges of social factors. I think, knowing that Barcelona are coming, everyone wants to see them and there is excitement everywhere.
Every football lover wants to be there for the game. This will shape the mindset of the people for the better.
The success of Sundowns in the Caf Champions League of late, especially in 2016 when they won the tournament, has brought about some dignity in South African football since we have failed to qualify for the Fifa World Cup. Facing Barcelona will restore our integrity which has been dented and this will start to motivate other nations to want to play against South Africa.
I am confident this is something that the South African Football Association will try to do in terms of attracting top teams to play Bafana Bafana. But in the end it all goes down to being able to deliver on the pitch, and once we start doing that, teams will start to respect us and become interested in playing against us.
I have no doubt in my mind that Barcelona accepted this invitation because of the huge success Sundowns have enjoyed in recent years.
They have earned that dignity,
respect and integrity not only within the African continent, but in the world as well. This is why they were able to attract a big club to play in our own backyard.
If our national team and the junior national squads start to be successful in continental tournaments, I am certain the big clubs around the world would be interested in coming here.
As it is, I think we should be hosting nations who want to play against us as they prepare for the World Cup.
The most important thing we need to strive for is success in the continental competitions. Right now if you check the global economic situation, countries are focusing on investing in Africa. This means that if teams are successful on the field, sponsors will start to come forward when we play clubs like Barcelona.