Soccer: Lungile Madywabe
MANY people are not happy that mostly United Kingdom-based coaches conducted soccer clinics at the Esselenpark training grounds last week. The event was aimed at narrowing the gap created by many years of isolation.
South African director of coaching Ted Dimitru said: “Contrary to what the organisers told me — that there would be coaches from many parts of Europe — only those based in the United Kingdom were present.”
He said in future they would be careful before they sanctioned such tours because a lot of people were phoning his office complaining, saying: “What is the good of inviting English coaches when a while ago Liverpool and Leeds conducted clinics based on the English approach to the game.”
Originally Werner Oki, who is on the Bayern Munich coaching staff was supposed to come but did not because of “the contract he has with a Tunisian team”.
Organiser Maqsood Chenia said it was also thought that Carlos Alberto Parraira from Brazil would come when in fact only his video titled The Rattlesnake was supposed to be shown. Chenia argues that Graham Morgan did present the Dutch approach.
He said the courses were specifically meant to breach a gap between a full-time coach and a part-time one. Many coaches run small teams which they can only see on weekends. It is therefore imperative that they teach them the latest developments in the game. The other six coaches were Dennis Mortimer. American Jack Detchon, John Morton, Colin Morris and Irishman Phil Darren.
The South African Football Association was represented by Ted Dimitru.