South Africa needs a national scouting department and they need it like yesterday.
I’ve thought of writing this piece for some time now, but the timing to put it out was not right.
But now, after seeing the recent squad call-ups for the various men and boys national teams, I simply had to pen it down.
A lot of people had their say, some comments were obviously downright silly and not worth anyone’s time, like someone saying: ‘Baxter is racist’ because of his preference for Dean Furman over Hlompho Kekana.
We can talk about who should be in the squad and shouldn’t and you know what, you guys are probably right most of the time.
Some of the squad selections just don’t make sense.
For example, here is a guy who had played a key role in Mamelodi Sundowns’ exploits on African safari over the past two years.
That means he has a bag load CAF experience especially Egyptian conditions, because Sundowns have faced an Egyptian side in different stages of their campaigns in the Champions League and Confederations Cup.
There are fewer guys more motivated to show and prove themselves in Egypt than Sundowns players.
So the omission of right-back Thapelo Morena was downright shocking.
Worse still is calling up Joel Untersee for the crucial Africa Cup of Nations - crucial because South Africa desperately needs to make a statement at this year’s tournament.
Untersee, a former Juventus youth player who’s now on loan at FC Zurich from Empoli, is unproven at senior international level.
He has appearances for the Switzerland national team at youth and U21 level.
This is probably a good move for South Africa to lock in the young man because he has elite development training from one of Europe and Italy’s best.
But his call-up should not have come at the expense of a man who has paid his dues in CAF’s top club competitions.
Ramahlwe Mphahlele is the other right back in the squad, and it looks he will be the ‘experienced’ starter.
But he too doesn’t have much recent CAF experience, since he left Sundowns for Kaizer Chiefs a few years ago.
Which brings me to my initial point, we shouldn’t be this confused about a player as a nation.
We are over reliant on the head coach to use his scouting network.
ADDED VALUE: Legend Rhoo. Photo: Supplied.
If we had a national department, the coach’s network would be added value to whatever information that the national department would have on each and every South African player around the world.
A competent man or woman at the helm would be a key member of the management team.
That person would not only be a leader but needs to manage relationships with club both here at home and abroad.
So this person needs to be liked, known and respected by coaches as well as administrators at clubs and national associations.
Lucas Radebe comes to mind, he’s a guy that everyone in football likes, knows and respects. He wouldn’t need to waste an extra two/three minutes explaining who he is to anyone around the world.
Surrounding him with a group of scouting specialist and analysts would be ideal.
Trust me, this department would not only support the various national coaches with player information and performances, but it would also help them plan better and make better informed decisions about who he chooses to play, which tournaments and how to use them.
We would also get less and less surprised about who gets selected.
I’m still confused U20 head coach Thabo Senong didn’t select and play more Europe-based players, instead of insisting with SA-based academy players.
Unless there is a valid explanation as to why a Portugal-based Mihlali Mayambela missed out of being part of the recent Cosafa squad and get a chance to prove his worth.
This is despite having a CV that includes NFD experience as well as being named Bayhill Player of the Tournament, not to mention his journey from Sweden to Portugal.
We will continue to have problems if we don’t have a scouting and manage relationships within the world football network.
Maybe that’s why Mark Fish is there now as player liasion in the Afcon squad, his stellar Bafana reputation is close to Radebe’s.