In his latest iafrica.com column, former Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru highlights the current deficiencies plaguing South African football - on the world stage - and tries to offer some solutions.

The performance make-up:

South Africa's many decades of football establishment warranted by an impressive colourful and vibrant following has grown into a sizable social phenomenon. The masses' interest and passion in the game reflects vividly in almost every aspect of the majority of South Africans' life. Evidently, when Bafana Bafana loses against the likes of Norway or Iceland the mood of the football nation becomes sombre. The general feeling is that the "learning curve" should have ended long ago and by now the national team should be enjoying international recognition as a successful nation.

Simplistic solutions:

A quick fix advocates insist that Bafana Bafana can be transformed into a winning entity by just going for cosmetic changes like changing coaches, players and tactics. Most of such recipes are very far from today's realities of competitive game. In fact, they are shockingly contrasting with what the rest of the football world would think and do to achieve success.

Before criticising the selection of players and chose play systems, consideration and respect must be given to those factors that would ensure the production of superior grade players capable of playing in modern systems. In his brief experience with the national team, Carlos Alberto Parreira told our administrators to focus on producing high quality young players before Bafana Bafana would be able to reach international standards. How can anyone be so naive to believe that any national coach would be able to build a competitive team strong enough to compete with the world's best when underdeveloped players are struggling to match even the basics of performance? This is exactly the South African scenario...

What skills?

Documented evidence indicates that the overwhelming majority of players in the PSL and Bafana Bafana have severe problems with dribbling efficiency, passing accuracy, scoring ability, sustained pace and consistent work rate, tactical diversity, etc. However, there is an exception; Steven Pienaar. He is the only South African player who displays a complete range of ball and tactical skills which remain competitive even against the best opposition. Closely following Pienaar is Tsepo Masilela.

What is essentially important is that both are the product of the five-year development programme at the Sport School of Excellence. The role of a player's complete development is vital. For example, by the age of 14-15 all basic ball skills and tactics must be installed and consolidated. Local fans, officials, analysts and the media should have known by now that learning some of these skills when players are at the professional level IS impossible. The whole football world knows it. We do not.

International experience:

Another universally accepted reality is the one dealing with the express need of young players being exposed to international youth competitions BEFORE MATURATION. This step is essential because after the age of 19-20 learning how to adapt and successfully respond to various football cultures, styles and systems of play and contrasting environments becomes more difficult. Individual's learning process slows down considerably. Nothing or very little can be gained, for instance, at the age of 27 when a player is exposed for the first time to the intensity and aggression of a top European outfit.

An estimated 80% of our professional and national team players would go blank when faced with foreign game concepts and styles they never experienced before, especially during their final stage of youth development. Based on this strict performance requirement, one can feel sympathetic to Teko Modise when unjustly criticised for indifferent performance against unknown international oppositions. He can be outstanding but only when equipped with sufficient experience and knowledge about opponents' playing style. Remember, it took a young Cristiano Ronaldo over 70 international matches before stabilising his great talent and performance on the world stage.

The voice of ignorance:

In the context of modern match intensity and complex dynamics, the absence of fundamentals can only result in perpetual failure. Incredibly, the voice of ignorance in local football is still loud and misleading. Too many populists insist that there is no need of systematic youth development to match other advanced nations!?

Their argument is that South African players who won the AFCON in 1996 did not have any background in development. The fact is that at that time there were no African teams benefiting from scientific development because there were no such programmes available. The field was perfectly levelled from those criteria.

Today, there are over 650 youth academies, youth centres and football schools throughout the continent. Ivory Coast, currently the number one football nation in Africa, enjoys the production of exceptional national team players from their famous Asec Mimosa academy. Ironically, South Africa between 1992 and 1997 had the most advanced youth development concept in the world - rated and certified by FIFA and many of the world's leading technicians as unique. The Sport School of Excellence at Esselenpark was actually founded on that concept and subsequently served the model for youth football academy to many other African countries, including Asec Mimosa of Ivory Coast. Ignorance, selfish and unpatriotic club politics nullified those bright developments reducing most of them to ashes. Today, those deplorable acts remain unsanctioned, still.

National interest:

To continually deny the importance of advanced ideas and scientific programmes for youth development leads to grave disservice to the national interest. It is obvious that the general level of understanding of modern demands in football performance is so low that relevant and workable contributions from the local football society are very few and far apart. Immediately after the readmission into FIFA's family in 1992 a favourable momentum was created for much needed mass education on football's modern requirements. It was imperative to have as many knowledgeable followers as possible in the country, so that changes involving advanced technical measures for high performance would be supported. Regrettably, that opportunity was wasted.

The other great chance to spread useful knowledge to the fans was just after South Africa was given the honour to host the 2010 edition of the World Cup. The magnitude of such responsibility would have mobilised large numbers of football people in a national effort of learn about new dimensions of advanced football and also those "secrets" that lead to consistent winning. Again, the opportunity was lost as the previous football leadership and the media did not recognise the challenge either.

Missing technical clues:

Volumes of media stories and individual contributions are helpless because of so many missing technical essentials that actually make the difference between success and defeat. Some of the most disputed points have been underlined already but there are other aspects which we unfortunately pay very little attention towards.

I have noticed the intention of the newly-elected SAFA officials to increase participation in the game. Great move! But it should not be omitted again that the main target must be the very young age participation. Primary schools and even the pre-school institutions should top priorities. Opportunities to play for fun and joy must be available from the earliest stages of participation. International experience shows that, in average, out of many thousands of children involved in basic development only two-three will emerge as prospects for high standards and performance. The best talent, aged 12 to 19, is channelled through academies, youth centres and high performance programmes for optimal development. The complete cycle of a player's development includes 6-8 years of continuous training and competitions.

Key issues:

School competitions and national championships for the U17 and U19 are the prerogative of any systematic youth development. What rugby and cricket offer to their youth in respect to academies for development, national and international competitions, television exposure, sponsorship and facilities must be done in football, but it has to be three to four times larger. The current national ratio of nine rugby and cricket grounds for one football field represents a major abnormality and threat to development. I applaud the conditions available for rugby and cricket. But what it is done for the No.1 sport in the country and world? An abundant number of good quality playing grounds is a prerequisite for progress and participation.

Interestingly, the top thirty countries in the FIFA rankings have modern football facilities AT ALL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION. An urgent campaign to address critical shortages of football grounds, particularly in the townships, should be given the green light. The media has to upgrade its own technical information and expertise to the point where the true image and dimensions of today's top-class football are not only contemplated but enthusiastically promoted. To enjoy the beauty of the game we should learn what ingredients make it so attractive. It is only then that the football nation can have high but realistic expectations. The task of advancement is laborious and requires knowledge, passion, respect and a lot of patience.