/ 17 November 2011

Buck up Bafana fans — Pitso’s here to stay

Buck Up Bafana Fans Pitso's Here To Stay

So Bafana Bafana hit a run of bad form and we retreat to our apparent safeguard when it comes to the dwindling fortunes of our national soccer team: Fire the coach.

Before you nod in agreement, think carefully about what you’re considering: Pitso Mosimane has barely been in this position for more than a year and you are calling for his head on a platter?

I shake my head in disbelief.

I agree, there have been instances of lunacy, such as the bizarre celebrations at having qualified for Afcon 2012, when actually we hadn’t.

However, what the average South African soccer fan conveniently forgets when they call for another national coach to be hung, drawn, and quartered at dawn is the number of coaches we’ve had over the years.

Bafana Bafana have employed the services of no less than 14 coaches since readmission to international play in 1992, whose stints have ranged from a couple of months to several years.

With an average of 16 months per coach, the one with the longest and most successful record remains Clive “The Dog” Barker with his three-year reign from 1994 to 1997, delivering our only silverware to speak of — the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.

So this begs the question: Do we think such a feat would have been possible had we stuck Barker on the chopping block after 18 months?

I don’t think our checkered coaching past has been without its calamities and by no means do I excuse some of the bizarre appointments in the past 19 years.

It would be a tough call between Joel Santana, Phillipe Troussier and April Phumo as worst Bafana coach since readmission.

The apparent affinity for foreigners, who don’t know much about South African soccer, has reinforced the outlandish selections Safa has made over the years.

Let’s look at Pitso’s record in 2011: The statistics read as having played nine games, won four, drawn three and lost two.

Correct me if you think otherwise, but is that record enough of an excuse to get rid of a coach?

He certainly has a point in asking for more time if you look at the record Bafana Bafana enjoyed under his predecessor, Carlos Alberto Parreira.

The hot shot Brazilian World Cup winner guided us to an early Fifa World Cup exit, abandoned the side and saddled us with Joel Santana for a year.

I would argue that for the first time in almost a decade, South Africa has the chance of success with a local coach who knows the players, knows the conditions and understands the country’s soccer style.

Give Pitso a break, or at least a chance to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.