In his latest column for iafrica.com, former Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru uncovers the problems facing coaching in South Africa and the lack of vision in youth development.

Enough has been said about the depressing state of local football. The new leadership of Safa presented a grim picture of the current sad realities that impede the development of the game in this country..

At Safa's special meeting held in Johannesburg on July 11, a report on behalf of the Safa Regions was presented by Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, the Vice President of Safa.

The assessment of the Safa structures, presented in the report, "discovered a few difficulties". Among these there is a list of severe abnormalities such as: 'lack of leadership and capacity building, cultural barriers, lack of financial support, lack of commitment, shortage of playing fields and infrastructure, shortage of staff, poor registration' — the list continues.

The system is broken and the continuum from grassroots to international football is broken. The current status quo is simply not working and it is damaging South African football. It is a sombre and worrying situation which signals that "the future is not a bright one". There is not a single reference to the difficulties faced by Safa due to the lack of key technical structures and their much needed personnel.

Broken coaching mentality...

What it is puzzling though is that after so many years of decline in the sport, such reports still do not address the most important factors responsible for the wellbeing and progress of football in this country. Even if prompt, workable solutions can tomorrow lead to improved structures, finances, administrative competency and commitment, football will continue to deteriorate because its generator of performance and competitive values is broken. One key factor in the sphere of technical expertise that decides between successful football and desolate football, is coaching. And it is the content and standards of coaching that remains grossly neglected.

Over the years, the amalgamations of coaching influences, indiscriminately chosen from so many contrasting foreign concepts, are mainly responsible for the decline of local football. Blind ambitions aimed at reproducing replicas of alien football cultures of various overseas nations and clubs succeeded in denying the talent rich South African football distinction and rejoice.

The old and bankrupt English mentality is ravaging school football, SAB League, Vodacom League and many PSL clubs. The Dutch and German coaching rigidity, predictability and stereotyped mentality take care of the rest of the PSL clubs and youth national teams. With a bit of luck, Bafana Bafana benefits from pieces and bits of Brazilian philosophy which, incidentally, has some sympathy for the South African specificity. In this chaos of coaching doctrines and methodologies the victims are the players, their game and the fans. The shrinking of attendance figures at the PSL matches is a direct consequence of this technical felony.

  • On page two, Ted talks about the coaches' ignorance and the copycat effect in coaching...
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