State Of Our Soccer

ALLOW me to air my views on the departure of the national team coach, Arie Schans, and the state of football in Namibia.

News has already gone round that the national team coach has left his job. First news alluded to a resignation, though another story taking rounds is that NFA showed Arie Schans the door.The Namibian problem has nothing to do with coaches, it is simply a problem of inconsistency, disregard for structures and victimisation.In the game against Botswana for COSAFA last year, Namibia earned third place thanks to Muna Katupose’s goal.He was also key in Brian Brendell’s goal that clinched the spot.In Ethiopia, where we earned an AFCON place, what was reported here is that Katupose was played in the dying minutes of the game and he got the goal that won it.Sidney Plaatjies, Maraai Swartboois, Razundara Tjikuzu and Congo Hindjou are all players who should have been in the campaign for 2010, but they were not.I feel that we have been inconsistent and personal towards some players and totally ignorant of soccer development structures when selecting players for the national team.Sidney’s role as a strong midfielder who wins balls frequently can easily be filled by someone else, but his shooting ability from long or close range is vital.Maraai is another who falls in the same mould, but he has the edge in his ability to control the ball closely.Tjikuzu has long established himself as a dynamic defensive player on the left.He can absorb the pressure, but he is a good instrument for overlaps and counter-attacks.Congo has never lost his form.Even when he came back from minor leagues in Asia, he had his touch when last he played for us.Why are these players not in the squad? Sidney and Maraai were two players who looked to pose a threat from the midfield when we played the DRC in the game at independence stadium last year.In that game, Mali Ngarizemo was stable in defence, together with Toromba and Pienaar.I could go on but my point is: NFA and the technical team that helped Arie Schans should go.It is time.I am strongly convinced they are the reason that coach did not deliver.There were feelings amongst the public that the technical advisers had undue influence on Schans, and these feelings shot to the fore when we played Morocco in the AFCON where almost the entire team were fielded in the wrong positions.None of the two advisers to the coach said anything about that.To his credit, Schans worked hard and stabilised the team in the second part of that game and in the rest of our games at the tournament.And lastly, the Namibian government should invest directly into the next Warriors.Put aside three million from the budget every year.Select a 30 player squad under a reputable coach.These people should be put in a facility like Sam Nujoma Stadium.There they should eat, drink and sleep soccer.Their upkeep should be well budgeted from the three million that government will allocate, and so too their remuneration and that of the coach.The money should go on a straight soccer improvement programme, without any middle-men.The players should be strictly prohibited from using any substance other than water and energy drinks.They should not touch alcohol at all.These players should come from the under 17s, and if needs be, should be tested to determine whether they meet the age criteria.The players should only leave the facility for two reasons, an official game where they will play for the nation at another location rather than where they are accomodated, or over weekends to see their families and friends.The pay should be good, and so the meals.At least, N$6 000 per month and a bonus per game, equal to that amount.Namibia will improve in ranking and a government agent will then find clubs in the elite leagues for these players.The government’s money could be repaid in a half season if 20 of the players start playing soccer in the big leagues.How do we expect to harvest where we haven’t planted? We can only get results and more, if we remove the bureaucracy of NFA and put the seed straight into the soil.Rhyn Tjituka Via e-mailFirst news alluded to a resignation, though another story taking rounds is that NFA showed Arie Schans the door.The Namibian problem has nothing to do with coaches, it is simply a problem of inconsistency, disregard for structures and victimisation.In the game against Botswana for COSAFA last year, Namibia earned third place thanks to Muna Katupose’s goal.He was also key in Brian Brendell’s goal that clinched the spot.In Ethiopia, where we earned an AFCON place, what was reported here is that Katupose was played in the dying minutes of the game and he got the goal that won it.Sidney Plaatjies, Maraai Swartboois, Razundara Tjikuzu and Congo Hindjou are all players who should have been in the campaign for 2010, but they were not.I feel that we have been inconsistent and personal towards some players and totally ignorant of soccer development structures when selecting players for the national team.Sidney’s role as a strong midfielder who wins balls frequently can easily be filled by someone else, but his shooting ability from long or close range is vital.Maraai is another who falls in the same mould, but he has the edge in his ability to control the ball closely.Tjikuzu has long established himself as a dynamic defensive player on the left.He can absorb the pressure, but he is a good instrument for overlaps and counter-attacks.Congo has never lost his form.Even when he came back from minor leagues in Asia, he had his touch when last he played for us.Why are these players not in the squad? Sidney and Maraai were two players who looked to pose a threat from the midfield when we played the DRC in the game at independence stadium last year.In that game, Mali Ngarizemo was stable in defence, together with Toromba and Pienaar.I could go on but my point is: NFA and the technical team that helped Arie Schans should go.It is time.I am strongly convinced they are the reason that coach did not deliver.There were feelings amongst the public that the technical advisers had undue influence on Schans, and these feelings shot to the fore when we played Morocco in the AFCON where almost the entire team were fielded in the wrong positions.None of the two advisers to the coach said anything about that.To his credit, Schans worked hard and stabilised the team in the second part of that game and in the rest of our games at the tournament.And lastly, the Namibian government should invest directly into the next Warriors.Put aside three million from the budget every year.Select a 30 player squad under a reputable coach.These people should be put in a facility like Sam Nujoma Stadium.There they should eat, drink and sleep soccer.Their upkeep should be well budgeted from the three million that government will allocate, and so too their remuneration and that of the coach.The money should go on a straight soccer improvement programme, without any middle-men.The players should be strictly prohibited from using any substance other than water and energy drinks.They should not touch alcohol at all.These players should come from the under 17s, and if needs be, should be tested to determine whether they meet the age criteria.The players should only leave the facility for two reasons, an official game where they will play for the nation at another location rather than where they are accomodated, or over weekends to see their families and friends.The pay should be good, and so the meals.At least, N$6 000 per month and a bonus per game, equal to that amount.Namibia will improve in ranking and a government agent will then find clubs in the elite leagues for these players.The government’s money could be repaid in a half season if 20 of the players start playing soccer in the big leagues.How do we expect to harvest where we haven’t planted? We can only get results and more, if we remove the bureaucracy of NFA and put the seed straight into the soil.Rhyn Tjituka Via e-mail