Editor's Column - Clint Roper
Every time we fail as a club, as a nation, as a national team, the initial gut feeling is to lash out. South African's are winners. We have very high expectations and, when we lose, it hurts and leaves a very bitter taste in our mouths. When it comes to soccer, rightly or wrongly, we always perceive ourselves to be competitive at the highest level. Perhaps it's a false perception and, as the media, possibly we must take some of the blame for that because, at times, rather than call it like it is, we tend to overhype, sensationalise and glorify mediocrity. We brush over the fact that these days our main route to qualification for the big tournaments is hosting events. We don't make enough noise about our sliding FIFA rankings. We don't highlight the fact that when compared to the top scorers globally, our PSL strikers' performances are embarrassing. We gloss over the fact that our current superstars are not coveted anywhere in the world, even in Africa, and that a massive local star can at best get to Holland, but for the most part must make do with Israel, Turkey or Belgium, or some other lower division like Portugal or Greece. So when Orlando Pirates make it all the way to the CAF Confederation Cup final and the country – regardless of club colours – gets behind them, we hurt when we lose. We lash out and question whether as supporters we are insane. And based on the fact that insanity is often described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, we, as fans, must to some extent be insane. We let many PSL clubs continue to operate with little attention to real development and expect to produce young players that are on par with the rest of the world's best. We let SAFA, the custodians of the game, continue to rake in money in the name of development and propagate a belief that, if words and visions resulted in wins and pedigree, we would be unbeatable. But the results are plain for all to see. We continue to be found wanting at club level and at national level. Our U23s looked like boys against men in their encounter with Senegal on the weekend. Now some may say with tongue-in-cheek that perhaps age cheating is still a problem on the continent, but I'm not sure that's the case. I just think that basically we're not good enough. Let's start with Orlando Pirates and look at the players and their performances. Technically I still maintain that South Africa has some of the most gifted footballers in the world. The catch is that their technique is instinctive and reactionary, rather than controlled and coached. I believe a lot of the magic that our players perform in tight situations they don't know they are going to perform themselves, and rather instinct takes over. It's great when it works, but it means it can't be used as part of the bigger picture. The teams we come up against seem better coached, and the individual technique and actions we see on the pitch are the result of hours of rehearsal. In other words, they are singing from the same hymn sheet as a team. Our lads, for the most part, seem to be on different pages a lot of the time, both defensively and going forward. The evidence of this is that we close down in ones and twos, and so the pressure we try to create on the ball carrier is easily dissipated not only with a backward pass but often an easy forward pass. Going forward, our scoring chances are mostly on the back of counter attacks, which by definition is a reactionary form of attack and guided usually by the space the opponent provides you to attack, as opposed to the space you as a team create to attack. Pirates' shape looked awful at times because of this and it is why teams who are able to play to predetermined patterns continue to dominate us. It's why average European teams enjoy so much success against us and why North African teams continue to be superior. It's something we need to change. Looking at our U23s, all the above pertains to them as well, with the only difference being that at least Orlando Pirates' players tried to be combative. Our U23s just seem physically very weak and unable to handle contact. Don't get me wrong here… I'm not saying we need to be able to kick bigger players up in the air, but with our team's speed we should have much higher percentages when picking up the second ball. We should know when challenging an opponent for a header is futile and standing off would be the better option, so as not to be taken out of the play. We should be coached the technique necessary to spin larger players who are flying in from behind. There just seems to be a lack of unity and cohesiveness and, until that comes right, we will always be a B-grade football nation with A-grade ambitions and A+ potential. It really is a sad state of affairs. Shappa Clint
