Monk Nkomo
Monk Nkomo
For how long are South African soccer fans expected to wait for the national squad, Bafana Bafana to be finally dumped from the international football arena and forgotten?
Instead of depending on our dazzling talent and skills - which once made us the most feared soccer team on the continent - we now seem to rely on hope.
The hope that one day we will play quality football, dazzle our opponents and win games and ultimately tournaments.
Alas!
Recent results suggest we need a serious overhaul of the whole team including the coach and his assistants.
Last Tuesday's defeat by Guinea was the last straw.
Our boys played without zest. They showed no passion, lacked commitment and the spirit to fight for a good result.
Only a few players applied themselves to the task.
Watching them from the stands at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium last week, it was a disgrace that they could dish such drab football clad in the country's national colours.
Though it was a friendly, our boys should have redeemed themselves following the previous weekend's loss to Nigeria.
A small crowd on the eastern side of the stands chanted and danced for the entire 90 minutes trying to bring life to the fading squad. They left the stadium dejected after the game.
Bafana Bafana are failing to deliver.
And these are the players who are expected to represent the nation come 2010. If they cannot produce the best now what should we expect in the World Cup?
The situation will be worse because they will be two years older and obviously withering fast from the football scene.
What is most concerning though is that while all these unfortunate events are unfolding, our coaching staff seem the most unperturbed.
Their remarks after every loss by the team boggles the mind.
Coach Joel Santana and his assistant Pitso Mosimane have been given enough time to select and field the best players we have in the country. And there are plenty of good players to choose from
It's easy for them to always tell soccer fans that things will be fine while they are earning fat cheques every month.
The coaching staff should obviously know that if certain players cannot perform they must be swiftly replaced by those who are prepared to die for their country on the field of play.
Players should be selected on merit and not reputation.
The old and has-beens must give way to the young and talented.
The same applies to Santana and company.
bafana fading
Monk Nkomo
Monk Nkomo
For how long are South African soccer fans expected to wait for the national squad, Bafana Bafana to be finally dumped from the international football arena and forgotten?
Instead of depending on our dazzling talent and skills - which once made us the most feared soccer team on the continent - we now seem to rely on hope.
The hope that one day we will play quality football, dazzle our opponents and win games and ultimately tournaments.
Alas!
Recent results suggest we need a serious overhaul of the whole team including the coach and his assistants.
Last Tuesday's defeat by Guinea was the last straw.
Our boys played without zest. They showed no passion, lacked commitment and the spirit to fight for a good result.
Only a few players applied themselves to the task.
Watching them from the stands at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium last week, it was a disgrace that they could dish such drab football clad in the country's national colours.
Though it was a friendly, our boys should have redeemed themselves following the previous weekend's loss to Nigeria.
A small crowd on the eastern side of the stands chanted and danced for the entire 90 minutes trying to bring life to the fading squad. They left the stadium dejected after the game.
Bafana Bafana are failing to deliver.
And these are the players who are expected to represent the nation come 2010. If they cannot produce the best now what should we expect in the World Cup?
The situation will be worse because they will be two years older and obviously withering fast from the football scene.
What is most concerning though is that while all these unfortunate events are unfolding, our coaching staff seem the most unperturbed.
Their remarks after every loss by the team boggles the mind.
Coach Joel Santana and his assistant Pitso Mosimane have been given enough time to select and field the best players we have in the country. And there are plenty of good players to choose from
It's easy for them to always tell soccer fans that things will be fine while they are earning fat cheques every month.
The coaching staff should obviously know that if certain players cannot perform they must be swiftly replaced by those who are prepared to die for their country on the field of play.
Players should be selected on merit and not reputation.
The old and has-beens must give way to the young and talented.
The same applies to Santana and company.
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