SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi
‘VISION 2000″ screamed the headlines when ambitious plans were announced to ensure the qualification of the national Under-23 side for the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000.
But when the the names of the Sasol Super Squad were announced for last week’s friendly against Namibia, there was definitely no vision, but more shortsightedness by coach Mich D’Avray. He seems to choose his squad with the intnetion of not losing, rather than using the friendly games to experiment with young players, no matter what the result.
Out of the squad of 16 chosen for the Namibia game, only five will be available for the Sydney Olympics and when the side took the field only two players were eligible for Sydney — Bradley Carnell and Quinton Fortune, both 19 years old. The rest of the squad — that also contained two over age players, Pollen Ndlanya (26) and David Byrne (36) — were either 23 or 22 years old.
The decision to include Byrne in the side was to add experience, but it was a tactic that failed miserably, as the side still seemed as disorganised as ever.
Since its formation, the much vaunted Sasol Super Squad has failed to impress, and on a number of occasions were embarrassed by opponents with only a fraction of the financial input that D’Avray’s squad has.
This was clearly illustrated by comments made by a Namibian official after the game. “With the money and facilities available in this country, how is it possible that you can produce such a weak squad? If that is the future of South African soccer, then there are lean years ahead for Bafana Bafana.” Another senior South African club official, who asked to remain anonymous, referred to the squad as a “private club”, in reference to the fact that the reasoning behind the selections and running of the squad is known only to the sponsors and a few others.
Some of the players in the squad are not perofrming at club level, yet they are automatic choices for the Super Squad, this while a player like Celtic’s Vasilli Sofiadeles (21), who has been very impressive so far this season, is constantly overlooked.
Unlike the rest of Africa, South Africa has a system where the various national teams are run separately from one another. The Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 sides all have different sponsors and coaches, and the styles of football that are played are different as well. To make matters worse, each squad wears different kit, unlike the rest of Africa, or the world for that matter, where all national sides wear the same colours to make them easily identifiable.
There also seems to be no consultation among the three coaches — D’Avray, Trott Moloto (U-17) and Shakes Mashaba (U-20. It is common practice in the rest of Africa that the coach of the national side is also in charge of the junior sides, and travels with them. Two examples are former Angolan coach, Carlos Alhinho, and Kenyan coach Vojo Gardesevic.
“It is virtually impossible to be a national coach and not know what is happening at the junior levels. I travel to all the games of all the national sides, and one thing is for sure, we all play the same style of soccer,” said Alhinho.
“By me being involved in all the national sides, I am able to bring players from the various age groups through much more easily as I know the players.”