2011's biggest sporting shame

AS THE curtain falls on the year 2011 on Saturday, the soccer gods must be disappointed - thanks to the poor showing of our national squads.

All our national teams, bar Banyana Banyana, embarrassed the country with their failure to qualify for international tournaments.

For the second successive edition of Africa Cup of Nations finals, Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the prime continental showpiece.

They went into their last Afcon qualifier against Sierra Leone in Mbombela in October needing nothing less than a win to secure a passage to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the co-host of the 2012 tournament.

It is history that the game ended in a goalless draw.

There was drama soon after that vital encounter when Bafana players such as Siphiwe Tshabalala, Andile Jali and Itumeleng Khune celebrated as if they had won the World Cup, believing that the draw had qualified them for the 2012 tournament only to learn later that they had not made it.

It was a shame that South African Football Association's top brass, Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical staff misread the rules of the tournament.

It was further embarrassing when Safa announced that they will challenge Article 14.1 of the tournament.

Sanity finally prevailed after almost two months when the mother body announced that they were withdrawing their protest against the matter with the Confederation of African Football, the continental soccer governing body.

Safa went on to announce disciplinary measures will be taken against people who misread the rules in terms of Article 14.1. But the nation is still waiting for the day of the DC or the outcome, if indeed the hearing took place.

As if not to be outdone by their big brothers, the national Under-23 team also let the nation down.

They huffed and puffed at the African Under-23 Championships in Morocco, which served as final 2012 London Olympics qualifiers.

Amajita, the national Under-20 squad, followed suit when they bombed out of the group stages in the Cosafa Under-20 Cup in Botswana.

But the same could not be said of Banyana who made history by becoming the first SA women's national team to qualify for the Olympics.

Coach Joseph Mkhonza and his charges received rave reviews from all quarters for saving the country blushes. The nation is behind them in their quest to make us proud in London.

Safa executive member Nomsa Mahlangu described Banyana's maiden qualification for the Olympics as a great development for women's soccer.

Safa president Kirsten Nematandani should be applauded for being man enough by owning up to their shortcomings.

Nematandani admitted that they failed the nation and asked for suggestions to to help them turn SA football around.

Turning to the Premier Soccer League, the 2011 will be the year the league's chairman Irvin Khoza and his executive will look back with pride and excitement.

The PSL clinched a historic five-year broadcast deal with SuperSport, worth over a mouthwatering R2-billion.

The deal saw the PSL become one of the top seven richest leagues in the world.

Khoza and his colleagues will also be expected to ink new Absa Premiership, Telkom Knockout and Nedbank Cup sponsorship deals in the new year.

On the field of play, Orlando Pirates won the Absa Premiership and Nedbank Cup, adding to the MTN8 they clinched in August last year.

The other trophy went to Naturena after Kaizer Chiefs won Ziwa Mo by beating Pirates in the final.

The mighty Buccaneers have already defended Wafa Wafa and went on to finally win the elusive Telkom Knockout for the first time since its inception. That feat saw Pirates reach five successive finals.

It was a unique achievement that saw Khoza, by virtue of being chairman of the club, give his players R17-million to share.

Still with the PSL, we saw Khoza and Jomo Sono being appointed to serve on various Fifa sub-committees along with greats such as Michel Platini, George Weah, Eusebio and Roger Milla.

Khoza, Nematandani and Danny Jordaan were also appointed to the various Caf sub-committees joining the likes of Molefi Oliphant and Raymond Hack.

Finally, it is good to see the PSL and Safa working closely together through their joint liaison committee and we hope they will sustain this relationship in the new year.

On a sad note though, veteran coach Styles Phumo, top fan Mzion Mofokeng, Pirates security head Fani Molapo and Kaizer Chiefs kit manager Jackson Mokoena were some of the soccer personalities who died this year.

To say 2011 was the worst year for our national teams would be an understatement!