Pitso won't let the sleeping dogs lie

Let's take interest in very interesting developments in South Africa where the national association fired a coach with a handsome handshake claimed to be around R5 million, his potential predecessors have been wildly drawn up as caretaker coach Steve Khompela and Moroka Swallows' Gordon Igesund.

And then, Rahman Gumbo was also caretaker coach after the suspension of alleged match fixing by Norman Mapeza. Unlike Pitso Mosimane of South Africa who went a winless 7 matches, the Zimbabwean coach is still to be hired and had been in charge of one match which he lost 0-1. Harare fans want him fired already.

If all women fired their husbands for being sterile after a single entry, divorce courts who be the most lucrative business. Taking the case of the two countries, theirs was a bachelor's party. Their one and only will be walking in the aisle in no time. How holy that matrimonial union will be is common knowledge. They all come and end the same way, like in Gumbo's case, before the honeymoon night is over.

Roger de Sa is the most qualified replacement for Mosimane, while media favourite, Gavin Hunt may feel he has a case after successes with Supersport United. He will have to enjoy following on Mosimane's foot-steps as he did at club level.

Knowing the South African Football Association, they have a novice Eastern European with a forged CV lined up. Their counterparts may be attempting to change their favourite beacon's name so as not to match the banned list records. The colonial mentality of SAFA embedded in race rivals the tribalistic ZIFA. The best part is that their recipes produce the same bread.

The long cycles of inactivity will be a bore to Hunt and Igesund and the 'tell it like it is' attitude of De Sa counts him out as the two parties are unofficial enemies. Admittedly, the temptation in the four-time PSL champion will be strong. Igesund is in his twilight coaching years. There may never be another opportunity, but his project with Moroka Swallows is unlikely to be compromised.

It is extremely hard trying to comprehend what the football administrators think, if they do. There is rarely a moment they pick the right candidates, even just for interviews. Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs promoted either development coaches or those with CVs claimed to be doctored for the purse. The arrival to the same point is guaranteed and the cycle will begin.

To spice up how brainy these fellows can be, just over a year ago, the Premier Leagues of the two countries announced with days that they intended to change their calenders and for exactly the opposite reasons. If the neighbours belonged to different time and weather zones, it would make sense. To make the point clear, to date, they both haven't moved an inch.

In any case, it was all about Mosimane, who is said to be taking legal action against SAFA for his unlawful dismissal.It may be on strong moral grounds or just crocodile tears, if the R5 million claimed he stands to benefit is a reality. If he strongly feels that way regardless of the fee he may get, he is a strong man and SAFA must keep him.

It is not every day that a man who knows what he is doing will fore-go that much money to embarrass himself. On the other hand, it is easy to assume that Mosimane did not put much effort in the job knowing what he stood to benefit. The legal action issue is to mud our faces and divert our thinking that he is a bitter man.

Given that he had two years left on his contract, or R9.6 million more to earn, he may be looking to get his loot, intact as it is and right now. It may be real that he is arguing over his record and it doesn't say much really.

After all is said and done, if anyone comes in touch with him, and he has banked the sack, just remind him how I wrote nicely about him over his tenure. I may not need my day job after that.

Pitso Mosimane fired, but was it justifiable?

For many, this was written on the wall for ages, and unlike the King of Babylon who needed Daniel's help to interpret it, Pitso Mosimane had 48 million seers in the South African public.

The criticism ranging from poor team selection, substitutions, knowledge of the rules or the tournaments to the tactics of the day, even a man-sized ego could never be immune.

For starters, the South African national team coach was never friends with both the media and fans from day one.

Mosimane deputise Carlos Alberto Perreira leading to the South Africa FIFA World Cup, and a noble act was to continue with the team after understudying the coaching legend over two stints.

Learning from the best and implementing the tactics became two different things. Besides, even during the best times, Mosimane lacked the luck that goes with the job.

For most of the time, he was faced with the dilemma of injuries and injustices of the decisions that were not his own.

So many times he contended with off-form players who either warmed the bench overseas or underperformed locally. There is never a red-hot player in South Africa these days; not even in Zimbabwe, to really talk about.

The not-so-good ABSA Premier League was expected to produce sharp-shooters who could mesmerise tight African defences while they could not breach mediocre locals even at lower league.

The top strikers in the league are never close enough a talent to consider in any league in Africa or around the world. They are over-rated. They cannot beat goalkeepers over 20 times in the whole year.

The Bafana Bafana coach fumbled his way through his tenure with arrogance and sometimes ignorance, but then, how many people know the politics of the administrators' arrangement in availing players for his service?

While the coach would be expected to call the players and liaise with the club coaches where the players ply their trade, it never is the case with local coaches, given the narrow scope of trust.

National association bosses always crave for the limelight, always wanting to be known to be talking to Steve Pienaar or Knowledge Musona. That leads to the rapport either being built around the bosses and leaves the coach out in the cold.

The contracts being drawn for national team duties get rarely revealed to the coach, and the players' agenda on the pitch never translates to the manager's expectation.

This two-camp phenomenon is a result of a colonial mentality that expatriates are better off in leading teams. Sad and pathetic as this may be, it is so true and logical as was seen in years gone by in Zimbabwe.

At their brightest moment, the Zimbabwe Warriors were mentored by the late Reinhard Fabisch of Germany. That incredible Dream Team did not play football for Zimbabwe. They played for Fabisch. In turn, Fabisch did not serve the Zimbabwe Football Association. He served his players.

That rapport never existed, or was never allowed to be built between Pitso and his players. At any national team in Africa, any budding relationship of that nature is nipped out in the bud before it can be anything 'mercenary' to the leadership.

Foreign coaches enjoy the liberty to stretch their luck and get away with it as most of the issues are tied down on the contract. Pitso must have had a good contract of course, but always carried that monkey of favouring certain players he was claimed to 'own' so he could 'sell' to overseas markets.

To me, that was media fabrications that were unwarranted. The coach's influence on the affairs of the team was never promoted by his employers. The players never played for the coach and but fought against the leadership, albeit on the pitch.

National success to Katlego Mphela, Simphiwe Tshabalala never affected their careers in any way. It never impacted on their incomes. What was there for them really? In Itumeleng Khune, first team football at Kaizer Chiefs seems his priority, given that his deputy is a cut above him.

Frankly, I believe Arthur Bartman should be goalkeeping ahead of Khune. Moeneeb Josephs has reliability issues and inexperienced at national level, but who else is worth a second look?

Mediocrity became acceptable to all and even by the media. It must be noted that save for Everton's Pienaar, none of the internationals enjoyed first team football on a regular basis. Admittedly, Tshepo Masislela contended with injuries, but going one by one and case by case, it is possible to come up with some acceptable excuse.

The bottom line is that the coach has been fired for playing badly and losing. It is that the next coach can be local and foreign, but the same substandard material Pitso had at his disposal will be around for a while.

As usual in my space and yours, the great performances always get linked with the players while non-performance is always blamed on the coach.

I would agree on any day that Pitso could have done better, and that he should have gone at this point, but surely, I would disagree to take the same job with the same players, if the deal is that I must produce results.

South African football such a shame.

South Africa football is one of mixed fortunes both literally and figuratively. The game is moneyed and success is scarce. Who is to blame? Let us start pointing fingers as usual.

I would love to look at the league and then the national team. There is no secrecy about the funding of the ABSA Premier League as it is bankrolled by one of the biggest money houses in Africa. ABSA pumps a cool sum as they do for the Rugby. Springboks are a leap ahead, naturally, as you know that it is a sport enjoyed by the majority of the people who have R18 billion at ABSA.

You should remember how the African majority race complained about SA Rugby being not black enough. ABSA were warned not to raise a voice because they will have R18 billion out of the door by noon. The bank 'shooshed'. That is politics and you know how dumb I am on the subject.

Calls from all foreign coaches who have come to South Africa as national team mentors have been that the league should depot all aliens and play the Kasi boy so as not to dilute style and give local jimbos more play time. That fell to deaf ears even to the Oliphants that you would expect to hear well low-frequency resonance given the big ear flaps.

The other issue especially articulated by Carlos Alberto Pereira was that of the reserve league. As noble as the suggestions are, they meet the standards of the association and the league, but club owners have a different agenda. If the locals do not give them the mileage they need to be on top, requesting for extra expenses running a reserve team is not business at all. Here, the game dies.

 My personal opinion has always been a COSAFA or CECAFA Champions league. Surely, the PSL can influence ABSA to fund the project. This gets Southern African teams enough international practise for the Africa Champions league and even help moderate players get international game time.

Supersport also pour huge sums into the game and they would benefit with a wider viewership. I understand they have arrangements with the league for a few appearances here and there, which is commendable, but they would increase the interest with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs playing in Kampala, Dar es salaam or Kinshasa regularly. That exposure for the teams and the Superdiski will be healthy for business.

That will render the issue of getting less foreigners in South Africa and even in cases where that is not the case, it will build healthier relationships amongst the nations and their players. I would actual advocate for the Bosnian rules to apply in the region. 

The average national team of South Africa get a cold from the cough of the league, naturally. Bafana Bafana are struggling to be a noticeable African force, even at COSAFA level, pretending it is not so important sometimes. If the league be dead, they national team is rotten. 

Further from the bad quality from the league players, coach Pitso Mosimane called closer cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure the national team is thoroughly prepared for the their games. There is risk of failing to qualify for 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 Fifa World Cup starting in June this year. What am I talking about by saying risk? The team has not qualified for the current tournament, so it is actually more normal to fail to qualify.

Mosimane has failed to get Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows players recently for the 0-0 South Africa draw with Equatorial Guinea fielding five uncapped players in the starting line-up and handing three more rookies their maiden caps in the second half. That drama continued forcing the coach to call five more players to replace those called by their clubs.

At the earliest convenience, Pitso's head will be on the block for a poor job done. Really? The love for success at national level and our contribution to that are way parallel. Mosimane was quoted saying, "We need to look at how serious we all are about preparing Bafana for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament that we are hosting, as well as the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers that start in June." Knowing what we know, that is a long shot call and all I can do is wish him luck for both the cooperation he desires and keeping his job.

Bafana Bafana have never been good enough to be world beaters and gliding through luck in the earlier years gave the impression that the squad is world-class. The time to work for the results came and there were no answers.The collective effort demanded by the coach to ensure the team's readiness for tournaments ahead will be a chorus he will sing until he enters the job market soon, probably because of his hoarse voice and SAFA will be seeking for more melodious vocal chords to sing the same tune. 

What never ceases to amaze it the audacity to question the Bafana FIFA ranking. SAFA and the nation forget that like a bank account, it is what you put in the football that counts, and not the size of the egos. When it comes to the playing field, Bafana are just like ball boys. 

The best defender of the country warms the bench in lower divisions in England. The best midfielders does the same at the Barclays Premier League. The nation's number goalkeeper is going for trials with lower divisions in England soon. Compare that to the best player in Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali and Ghana. For most of the time, Bafana are not even a top 10 African team, yet the resources and facilities are world-class. 

In any case, the boys from Kasi should be taking their game from the streets and try to make a statement in big teams in the league. All youngsters are glued to TVs and PCs playing video games, but the nations needs them to carry the flag high. All that the parents can do, is take these gadgets away and let the boys take to the field and hopefully, one day, Bafana Bafana will be what we once thought they were. 

As it is now, it is a big shame.

EXTRA-TIME with Vusumuzi Mourinho Ndlovu - A TALE OF TWO CAPTAINS

Messrs Fabio Capello and Pitso Mosimane made bold decisions ahead of their crucial continental ties this weekend. I would like to applaud them and wish their game-plan prevails to silence all critics. Appointed captains John Terry and Steven Pienaar are head and shoulders above the rest.

Although Jingles won’t say it plainly, the writing is on the wall for the Axe, it is bold and clear. Aaron Mokoena’s international career is as good as over. I saw it coming. In saying he doesn’t polish the players’ boots Mosimane made it clear what kind of a coach he is.

As I vividly recall that moment when vuvuzelas stopped a bit, when the ball was floated over the Bafana defence, the troops advanced but Mokoena, the commander remained, the rest as they say is history. Who can ever forget Rafael Marquez’s equalizer against Mexico at the then Soccer City? In as much as I don’t want to think about what could have happened had Bafana won that game, I am not putting the blame on Mokoena alone because we win as a team and lose as a team.

Somewhere somehow in London, an appointed captain received a complimentary call from the man he had just replaced. You would be tempted to think that it was Mokoena calling Pienaar; it was rather Rio Ferdinand encouraging John Terry to lead the team to victory. Whilst Terry kept on climbing podiums to collect trophies last season, Mokoena might have been busy with Google maps, acquitting himself with the routes of Championship Stadiums.

Fabio Capello has put aside an incident in which he called a big mistake by John Terry at the recent World Cup when the Chelsea skipper told the media that players had planned to hold a meeting with the gaffer because several seemed unhappy with his tactics. Prior to the World Cup, Capello had stripped Terry the England captaincy amid allegations that he had an extra marital affair with the ex girlfriend of England teammate, Wayne Bridge. The latter went on to forfeit his World Cup spot in the England squad most probably protesting Terry’s inclusion.

By reappointing him, Capello has shown professionalism and trust in John Terry.

Terry is fully aware that his second bite at the cherry won’t be an easy and pleasant one for everybody when he said that he is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. Peter Crouch and James Milner were amongst the players that showed approval in Terry’s reappointment. Spurs attacker Jermaine Defoe, the man who holds the record of England’s most appearance as a substitute wasn’t pleased by Capello’s decision. Defoe stated that his heart went to Rio, he sounded ready to bury the hatchet in saying that they now have to move away from it since Terry is now the captain. Defoe and Ferdinand spent several years together at West Ham United.

With over a century of caps, Mbazo is the country’s most capped player. Goodbye Teboho Aaron Mokoena, we will miss you but not as much as opposition strikers.

Steven Pienaar, may you transform you’re your club form to national level. John Terry, you have led Chelsea to best defensive records, most clean sheets and record number of points. You have been their chief cornerstone. When are you going to lift a trophy for England? You are the commander of the Three Lions, lead by example.

Bafana Coach On Brazilian Payroll?

While I am nursing my post football World Cup blues, a few friends are having a wash down in the English Premier League friendlies this weekend. Chelsea play Crystal Palace and Arsenal have Barnet. I forgive you if you feel like you are having unsweetened ice tea. If you are in South Africa, there will be a touch royalty when Highlanders FC of Zimbabwe's City of Kings touches Johannesburg for a date with Jomo Cosmos of South Africa.

I suspect South African Football Association are still in dreamland after the World Cup. What gives me the goose bumps is that their slumber seems destined for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. They are paying the Bafana Bafana coach, Pitso Mosimane for grooming Brazilians. Me and you, because we are not so clever, would have thought that if Pitso leant a thing from Carlos Alberto Parreira in the last for years, he would take over Bafana, impart that knowledge to his potential successor or Junior coaches of Amajita or Amajimbos. Given Brazilians are struggling to find Dunga's replacement, it befits the arrangement of Jairo deputising Pitso until Brazil give him the job. If Pitso fail South Africa, they will get Parreira again, and give him Gavin Hunt to understudy him for 4 years. Then it will be Owen Da Gama, Roger De Sa and Steve Khompela in that order. Parreira will be 110 years old then and Bafana will be as ordinary as Zimbabwe cricket side.  

The English FA just discovered something that has eluded them since the days of Sir Isaac Newton. I suspect he actually rose from the grave for a moment and went to the FA offices. They just figured England football coach, Fabio Capello has to groom English man to take over after he fails again. Stuart Pierce has been keeping the Italian crew company for a fee. I am not sure how much Italian he understands, or speaks. He is likely to be the interpreter for the new guy. Alternatively, Capello will be changing his nationality before the end of his current contract so he can sign a new one as English.

Bafana Coach On Brazilian Payroll?

While I am nursing my post football World Cup blues, a few friends are having a wash down in the English Premier League friendlies this weekend. Chelsea play Crystal Palace and Arsenal have Barnet. I forgive you if you feel like you are having unsweetened ice tea. If you are in South Africa, there will be a touch royalty when Highlanders FC of Zimbabwe's City of Kings touches Johannesburg for a date with Jomo Cosmos of South Africa.

I suspect South African Football Association are still in dreamland after the World Cup. What gives me the goose bumps is that their slumber seems destined for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. They are paying the Bafana Bafana coach, Pitso Mosimane for grooming Brazilians. Me and you, because we are not so clever, would have thought that if Pitso leant a thing from Carlos Alberto Parreira in the last for years, he would take over Bafana, impart that knowledge to his potential successor or Junior coaches of Amajita or Amajimbos. Given Brazilians are struggling to find Dunga's replacement, it befits the arrangement of Jairo deputising Pitso until Brazil give him the job. If Pitso fail South Africa, they will get Parreira again, and give him Gavin Hunt to understudy him for 4 years. Then it will be Owen Da Gama, Roger De Sa and Steve Khompela in that order. Parreira will be 110 years old then and Bafana will be as ordinary as Zimbabwe cricket side.  

The English FA just discovered something that has eluded them since the days of Sir Isaac Newton. I suspect he actually rose from the grave for a moment and went to the FA offices. They just figured England football coach, Fabio Capello has to groom English man to take over after he fails again. Stuart Pierce has been keeping the Italian crew company for a fee. I am not sure how much Italian he understands, or speaks. He is likely to be the interpreter for the new guy. Alternatively, Capello will be changing his nationality before the end of his current contract so he can sign a new one as English.