There are more badly cooked dishes emerging from the South African Football Association (Safa) kitchen than good ones, so we have an obligation to help them prepare palatable offerings.
There are more badly cooked dishes emerging from the South African Football Association (Safa) kitchen than good ones, so we have an obligation to help them prepare palatable offerings.
And by "we" I am referring to you, dear reader, the media and all football structures.
The football structures should mean those elected officials in the local federation and its employees under Raymond Hack, the chief executive officer, who must be seen to be pulling in the same direction.
Clubs in the professional wing - the Premier Soccer League (PSL) - are no exception to the rule.
Disappointingly, though, people like Hack reminded us last year that they seemed to be unaware of Safa's vision unless they are in their respective posts "to do their thing". How nonsensical!
For their own sake here is Safa's mission statement:
l Promoting and facilitating the development of football through sustainable infrastructural and training initiatives;
l Engaging in proactive dialogue with the government to generate a partnership in recognition of football as a national asset;
l Creating an image of being a stable, progressive and innovative institution;
l Creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the corporate world; and
l Contributing to Africa's ascendancy in world football through the hosting of major events in Africa, while aspiring and striving to become a leading football playing nation.
Can someone tell me why, then, with such a simple and straightforward mission statement, Hack and his office still deemed it fit to contradict Safa? Not even once, for that matter.
Safa stunned all and sundry - including their president Molefi Oliphant - by failing to avail a delegate for the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations elections last year. This, in any man's language, rates as a top class snub.
To compound the matter, in not living up to their promise of "contributing to Africa's ascendancy in world football", Hack - the Safa "head chef" - last month told the world they were not going to send the under-20 national team for an early camp because they had no money.
This was intended to be part of preparations for the African Youth Championship tournament in Rwanda from January 18 to February 1.
Oliphant stopped short of screaming "liar" when contradicting Hack's claims of poverty. Mara why, Mr Hack?
A little reminder to Hack and his fans is that the African Youth Championship, which they don't consider important, is a qualifier event for the Fifa World Youth Championship.
Youth tournaments, more often than not, gave exposure to the likes of megastars such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Didier Drogba. Dare I mention more?
Safa needs to deal with fumblers like Hack without flinching.
That being the case, SuperSport United, Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town have also left us gobsmacked by refusing to allow their players to join Amajita. And coach Serame Letsoaka is understandably frustrated.
This madness comes in the wake of Hack's curious excuse for the late preparations.
I hope as you read this column the selfish clubs would have changed their stinking attitude.
By the way, dear reader, 2009 must and should mark our confident march back to international fame in all sporting forms.
Our cricket boys have already set the trend by winning the Test series 2-1 against Australia away from home.
Come June we will be hosting the mouthwatering Fifa Confederations Cup.
So "head chef" Ray, if the kitchen is too hot, get out mfowethu!
l Forgive me for my rudeness in failing to start by saluting you in the new year.
Victorious 2009, I say!
Too much heat in Safa kitchen for head chef Hack
There are more badly cooked dishes emerging from the South African Football Association (Safa) kitchen than good ones, so we have an obligation to help them prepare palatable offerings.
There are more badly cooked dishes emerging from the South African Football Association (Safa) kitchen than good ones, so we have an obligation to help them prepare palatable offerings.
And by "we" I am referring to you, dear reader, the media and all football structures.
The football structures should mean those elected officials in the local federation and its employees under Raymond Hack, the chief executive officer, who must be seen to be pulling in the same direction.
Clubs in the professional wing - the Premier Soccer League (PSL) - are no exception to the rule.
Disappointingly, though, people like Hack reminded us last year that they seemed to be unaware of Safa's vision unless they are in their respective posts "to do their thing". How nonsensical!
For their own sake here is Safa's mission statement:
l Promoting and facilitating the development of football through sustainable infrastructural and training initiatives;
l Engaging in proactive dialogue with the government to generate a partnership in recognition of football as a national asset;
l Creating an image of being a stable, progressive and innovative institution;
l Creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the corporate world; and
l Contributing to Africa's ascendancy in world football through the hosting of major events in Africa, while aspiring and striving to become a leading football playing nation.
Can someone tell me why, then, with such a simple and straightforward mission statement, Hack and his office still deemed it fit to contradict Safa? Not even once, for that matter.
Safa stunned all and sundry - including their president Molefi Oliphant - by failing to avail a delegate for the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations elections last year. This, in any man's language, rates as a top class snub.
To compound the matter, in not living up to their promise of "contributing to Africa's ascendancy in world football", Hack - the Safa "head chef" - last month told the world they were not going to send the under-20 national team for an early camp because they had no money.
This was intended to be part of preparations for the African Youth Championship tournament in Rwanda from January 18 to February 1.
Oliphant stopped short of screaming "liar" when contradicting Hack's claims of poverty. Mara why, Mr Hack?
A little reminder to Hack and his fans is that the African Youth Championship, which they don't consider important, is a qualifier event for the Fifa World Youth Championship.
Youth tournaments, more often than not, gave exposure to the likes of megastars such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Didier Drogba. Dare I mention more?
Safa needs to deal with fumblers like Hack without flinching.
That being the case, SuperSport United, Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town have also left us gobsmacked by refusing to allow their players to join Amajita. And coach Serame Letsoaka is understandably frustrated.
This madness comes in the wake of Hack's curious excuse for the late preparations.
I hope as you read this column the selfish clubs would have changed their stinking attitude.
By the way, dear reader, 2009 must and should mark our confident march back to international fame in all sporting forms.
Our cricket boys have already set the trend by winning the Test series 2-1 against Australia away from home.
Come June we will be hosting the mouthwatering Fifa Confederations Cup.
So "head chef" Ray, if the kitchen is too hot, get out mfowethu!
l Forgive me for my rudeness in failing to start by saluting you in the new year.
Victorious 2009, I say!
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