The debate is on whether the old foundation was not solid enough or it ever existed. The year 1992 was our original YEAR ZERO as we were entering the global stage after exclusion through the apartheid regime. The excitement was overwhelming that we ran with the ball from the word go, hoping to catch up quickly on lost time. The initial success, of tying a friendly series with Cameroon, distracted us from doing the right things from very early on.
Despite subsequent struggles in the qualifying tournaments for 1994 World Cup qualifiers and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa remained cocky, hoping that money and raw talent of our players would carry us through. After Kenya withdrew its right to host the 1996 event, SA was handed over the honour and rescued from possible humiliation in the qualifiers.
Hosting and winning the Afcon at first attempt was surreal but that’s where the seeds of neglect for development were planted. After this feat we acted as we wanted to go very far with the class of 96, neglecting the fact that many were hovering their 30s.
Without a clear strategy for development, raw talent continued to emerge from all corners of the country, thanks to the unrewarded work of development coaches who were motivated by the passion for the game. That explains why we managed to put together a competitive side which qualified and held their own in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
As a testament for the lack of strategy and vision for the future of the senior national team, the Shakes Mashaba-coached under-23 squad was disbanded after Sydney, when logic called for the promotion of the squad, including their coach. That’s what the likes of Brazil did with their squads after the 2000 Olympics. It is interesting to note that SA beat Brazil in Sydney, but Ronaldinho and mates progressed to shine for their senior national team.
Earlier that year the class of 96 had claimed bronze (third place) in the Afcon, after finished second in 1998. In 2002 we won our group but dropped out in the quarterfinals, after losing 2-0 to host Mali.
Two years later, in Tunsia, we lost in the first round after arriving at the tournament having had head coach Shakes Mashaba fired two weeks earlier. Mashaba was fired for his attempt to shake off some of the big name players who had been frustrating his efforts to build a solid a solid unit.
Even though SA’s decline was clear and rapid, the authorities did not respond accordingly but sought to buy success by importing international coaches with no known success at this level. So off we went to Egypt in 2006, where we failed to score even a single goal. It was the height of the systematic decline which had gone for years without meaningful intervention.
In 2008, even the picturesque Ghana could not lift Bafana Bafana out of the Afcon doldrums. Despite scoring a goal in each of their first round matches, Bafana still finished bottom of their group. Failure to quaslify for 2010 Angola was the coup de grace, more so that the same year we were hosting the World Cup.
The question was if we cannot be counted among the best in Africa, what qualifies to be in the World Cup. Needless to say, Bafana went on to claim one of the most unwanted records in world football when they became the first host nation to bow out in the first round.
Apart from the lack of a national programme of coordinated development structures, one other crucial factor South Africa neglected was Africa. From club level to Bafana Bafana, SA neglected the fact that its success needed to be measured against the continent. Losing willy nilly in CAF club competition did not bother the country, from the clubs, the players, the fans including the media. One club, Kaizer Chiefs, even boycotted competing in CAF contests, and yet they harbor the ambition of being the best club in Africa.
The success for SA football shall remain through Africa – there is no short cut. Period. Money will not change that as long as there is no strategy to develop and nature world class talent; just like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Senegal – just to mention a few – do. Closer to home hugely under-resourced Botswana have showed how, as they prepare for 2012 Afcon finals while we begin preparation for 2013, which we are going to host. The question is will Safa’s technical team approach Ghana or Botswana for partnership (read, help)?
Safa has organized three friendlies in January, notably against African opposition. It is a good start. There are a few new faces in the 30-man squad announced for this campaign, as well as several fringe players who have been in and out of the squad.
The friendlies against – Equatorial Guinea (January 5, Malabo), Zambia (January 11, Tshwane) and
Ghana (January 15, Rustenburg) – should be viewed, in attitude and all, as the beginning of YEAR ZERO for SA football.
Personally what I wish to see from the players is the fighting spirit, the winning attitude, technical discipline and awareness, and a high work rate.
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