SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi
AS the national youth team prepares to make its African championship debut on Monday in Morocco a debate almost as old as the game itself has been reopened.
When it comes to a clash of fixtures, should a footballer play for his club or his country? Several Premier Soccer League clubs had no doubts as they refused to release players for warm-up matches. The young team about to raise the South African flag in the north-west corner of Africa suffered the inevitable consequence, losing four consecutive games without scoring even one goal.
Fellow African finalists Egypt triumphed 1- 0 at Carletonville and the FNB Stadium and then it was the turn of an under-21 squad from the Italian Serie B (second division) to emphasise the weaknesses of the United Warriors.
Italy triumphed 1-0 in the Vaal Triangle despite having a player sent off and did even better at Soccer City, winning 2-0 while suffering the embarrassment of having another player ordered off. National youth coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba was quick to point his finger at clubs who refused to co-operate, saying they were sabotaging his chances of building a winning team ahead of the biennial African tournament.
South Africa certainly lacks the commitment to national teams of many African states like Nigeria, who view football as a vital weapon in the struggle for international recognition.
First place at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics football tournament worked wonders for the government of General Sani Abacha as people of many political backgrounds flooded the streets to welcome their heroes. The trials and tribulations of daily life under a regime widely regarded as oppressive were forgotten and the nation united behind the flag carried by a group of young footballers in green and white.
Nowhere is the value of football as a nation-building tool better understood than in the corridors frequented by African politicians. There are a few exceptions, though, notably South Africa. One can sympathise with clubs who are three months from the end of the first season under new leadership and challenging for championship prize money hitherto only dreamt of.
While Kaizer Chiefs, Manning Rangers and Orlando Pirates struggle to claim the R500 000 first prize, there are considerable pickings for the rest with even 11th place in the 18-club league worth R100 000. It is surely no coincidence that clubs who objected to freeing players for the youth camp included Supersport United and Cape Town Spurs, who have their sights set on fourth place and R180 000. Wits University, whose relegation worries have been eased only in the last few weeks, were equally reluctant to release Junaid Hartley (since dropped from the national squad after being sent off against Egypt) and Stanton Fredericks.
Club chairman Professor Ronnie Schloss was probably speaking for many clubs when declaring that he had no objection to his players training with the United Warriors, provided the sponsors, United Bank, paid the salaries.
Money is certainly a central issue with clubs feeling that if they have to fork out thousands of rand each month they are entitled to first call on players, even those selected for their country.
A congested fixture list does not help either with many Castle Premiership matches being staged in midweek when national coaches like Mashaba believe they should have first call.
It is a debate not confined to Africa with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson recently telling England counterpart Glenn Hoddle that his players would not be available for a friendly against Bafana Bafana at Old Trafford on May 24.
While the absence of three or more players on national senior duty permits a Premiership club to postpone a fixture, the rule does not apply to Olympic, youth or junior footballers.
So when Cape Town Spurs play Celtic in Bloemfontein this weekend, reserve goalkeeper Wayne Roberts and first choices Matthew Booth, David Kannemeyer and Bendict McCarthy will be training in faraway Morocco.
If it is any consolation for Spurs, scouts from around Europe will be in North Africa seeking recruits for the richest leagues in the world, so who knows what value may be placed on Kannemeyer and McCarthy by the time the tournament finishes.