ALMOST NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!

The recent achievements by our Olympic swimmers have brought up a somewhat "sensitive" issue when it comes to our ability or lack therefore to compete and win in International competitions as team South Africa, especially football (men and women). Bafana Bafana have a dismal record in International football tournaments, assuming they qualify at all. Since `96 and perhaps 1998, the state of our football has rung on like a nightmare on a broadway show and the question always begs to me as to how did the 96 team do so well and the rest have faultered so much! We have the best facilities in Africa by far, a heavily invested sports ministry and a football league thats regarded as the top 10 in the world, based on content and value, yet we fail to beat the smallest and the least funded nations in Africa?! It seems such exploits have been passed onto Banyana Banyana, whom have just been eliminated from the Olympic games and the same song is being sung "it was a great learning experience", if we wanted to go to the Olympics or World Cup to "learn", why dont we send an under 16 team, that way by the time they are 20yrs old, plenty lessons would have been learnt. The swimming team and Springboks have proved that SA is a winning nation, we can be champions of the world if we focus and prepare well, so what is the problem with football?! I think its time we asked these painful questions and answered honestly, otherwise, we will be "learning" by 2040 and billions of rands later. Bafana Bafana are a mighty African team that can beat any in the world, its time someone reminded them of that fact, Gordon, I hope thats you Coach! I hope whilst the Sports Minister and Gauteng MEC of Sports and his many delegates descend upon the london games on a "learning" trip, couple of hundred thousands later, we can come back with answers, as we prepare to launch the Gauteng Sports Village to prepare our athlethes for future competitions. We can learn a few things from the likes of Australia, Jamaica, Brazil or better yet, maybe Bafana must start in the continent and have a chat to Ivory Coast and Ghana and its time we humbled ourselves and asked for help! Lucas, Benni, Fish, Coach Jomo get on the phone guys, call your friends, its time to build a nation of winners!

PIRATES, SHADES OF MAN UTD!!!

It's the 90th minute, 40 000 fans throbbing on they're feet with deafening noise! The Chiefs fans are already counting the victory, the first sculpe of the season between the bitter rivals! The Soweto bragging rights are the most valuable in SA football season! The ref shows a sign showing 3 minutes left till end of the game, surely this is offer, surely the lone strike of Nale is enough for Baxter to claim his biggest win since signing for Chiefs in the summer!!!!!!!!! Step up Benni, when the hour calls for the man to rise, Benni picks his hand up or should I say the head and out jumps three Chiefs defenders!!!!! Benni has done what seemed impossible, scoring his 3 rd goal in 2 matches for Pirates vs Chiefs! This had Man Utd all over it, the rise from the "dead" in the last minute of the game, who would forget The CL final and Teddy Sheringham and Soljkaer scoring at the death! Benni had done, Pirates had once again come from behind to clinched a goal that would later see Pirates lift the Cup. Are we seeing the beginning of an era of domination by Pirates led by Benni or is it too soon to call a Man Utd?! We'll see!!!!!!!

THE KINGS OF ENGLAND

The new English Premiership season is upon us, teams are sharpening their claws and the market place is busy. Question begs, who is the smart money on? The current Champions, Man City must be firm favourites and Man Utd cannot be denied of theyre intentions to go right back into the leader board. Chelsea will not accept 6th position and the activity at the transfer market communicates that! Arsenal are sure to lose RVP and who knows if Walcot will be around come the new season! Liverpool have a new manager and a swag about them, surely the ambition is to climb back into the Champions League spot. Spurs have made some smart moves in the market and the appointment of Villas Boas is a strong indication that CL Football is a must for 2012/13! The scene is set, the drums are rolling, the bets are on and we almost ready to go! Question begs, who will truimph above all and will City prove many wrong and do it again and again! Rooney, Torres, RVP, or Auguerro?! Who is the smart money on?????

WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH?!

The recent outcry by the French FInance Minister on the reported salary of Ibra to PSG begs the question, whether Football player salaries should be capped by FIFA? The current economic times experienced in Europe mean that thousands of people will lose they're jobs this year, add to that not many will be able to find jobs. The football industry seems not to be affected by the global recession, as clubs are buying players at record fees and paying some of the highest salaries in Europe, competitive to any sector! It has always been said that Govt should never interfer on FOOTBALL matters, a long standing policy of FIFA. So are the utterances of the minister justified or is she scoring cheap political points? The highest football player in the world earns what is reported to be €420 000 a week, most citizens of the world will not earn this in 5 yrs! Where wil it all stop, does the influence of money take the purity away from the sport, will incubation and talent no longer matter? I'm undecided.....

THE FUTURE IS OUR PAST

I was shocked to learn that Steve Lekolea is only 32yrs old! Yet it seems he's been away from football for at least 8 yrs, this got me thinking that the system is currently not adequate in looking after current and more especially, our former players. If we are to have a successful future as a Professional football nation, we need to ensure that our ambassadors are not lost to the football system and therefore available as mentors to the many young players. Football as a car ever has a lifespan of 10-15yrs if you're lucky, thereafter, hopefully you have gained enough knowledge or skill to sustain you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately due to the lack of education, not many invest they're money and therefore become displaced and destitute. It is time that a formal programme of veterans is conducted and such players can be nurtured by starting whilst they playing football and we cannot afford losing the brains trust of our sport. The best leagues in the world has systematic programmes of how to take care of former players as they are valuable to the history of the clubs and the legacy of the league. Many former players can suffer from various conditions such as alcohol abused caused by depression as life after football can prove to be quite depressing. Our future is very much informed by our past.

THE RED DEVILS ARE IN TOWN!!!!!!

The world's richest and biggest sport brand arrived with fan fair at the King Shaka Airport yesterday, flanked by hundreds of Man Utd supporters. Many of them would have been in SA during the FIFA WC 2010 but I'm sure for Usuthu this is the most historical moment of the country's oldest club The Moses Mabhida Stadium has been sold out! Another testament of the magnitude of the game, the Usuthu supporter in me prays for a miracle tomorrow. Can the warriors from the Zulu Kingdom keep at bay the slicky strikers of Manchster? How important are pre-season games anyway you mighSkye tempted to ask, well, how important is a 100 yr history of pride and a winning mentality? Those fortunate enough to witness the game live tomorrow, will undoubtedly witness a show piece! This bay far has to be Amazulu's proudest moment, not since the visit of the Brazilian giants Flamengo has Amazulu FC experienced such a high profile match! I must congratulate the club and all it's commercial partners for successfully hosting this match! Another victory for Durban in front of the world's eyes. Hebe, Usuthu! Hebe, Usuthu!!!!! may the best Amazulu team win! LOL (that's the Arsenal in me talking) Score predictions?

WHERE DID THE FANS GO???

I will confess that I'm 29 years old, so my memory of SA soccer in the 80's is non existent. Maybe a vague picture of Ace Khuse and the great Ace Tsoeleng, inter passing each other but I can imagine that it was Ace's last few months in football. They tell me that stadiums used to be packed to capacity, with not even space to walk! I believe those were the days the mighty Swallows was a still force in SA football. The words Bhamjee and Shakoane, used to send cheers to thousands of fans, the singing and the dancing was electric! Fast forward 20 years, you can count the fans at a Wits and Supersport Utd game. The football is just as brilliant but the fans, seemingly have better things to do. Kaizer Cheifs have played to half full grounds and have moved stadiums atleast 4 times last season, unheard of in the 80s and 90s! Some blame the entry of Television that offer high tech HD of atleast 4 games per weekend, if not more and add to that English football. The fans no longer see the need to travel to the stadium, why travel and be stuck in traffic when you can whip out your DSTV remote and be in Jhb, Durban and CTN all within a flick of the channel and immediately after, centre stage in Manchster or Madrid! Yet nothing replaces the feeling of a live game, the atmosphere and the music is electric but the decision to go in the first place just seems that much harder. Yes, money is an issue that can't be ignored, it costs R40 for a PSL match ticket and for many, that's a stretch too far to watch 8 games per month so some take priority. The opportunity lies in the young market of the population 21-35 yr olds, this is a market that has a high social appetite and active enough to travel to games and also disposable income. Yet the PSL and clubs seem to ignore this fact. Man Utd is in town and you will see a different race demographic into stadiums, where are all these fans during the PSL season? SA Football needs younger supporters into the game, the only way to have a successful and sustainable franchise yet no one dares speak to this market. Twitter, Facebook and other social network platforms is the answer!!!