SAFA embarks on a soccer revolution 15/08/2008 |
|
| |
| |
The South African Football Association is embarking on an ambitious programme to revolutionise amateur soccer in the country as part of their 2010 Fifa World Cup legacy projects.
Initiated by Safa president Molefi Oliphant, the programme got under way at a workshop last weekend held in Vanderbijilpark that was also attended by Ashford “Dumba” Mamelodi, the Fifa development project manager for south and east Africa.
“I came up with the idea of organizing a workshop of coaches and former players to map the way forward for football development in our country,” said Oliphant, who is in China for the Olympic Games.
“There were three issues to be discussed at the workshop: the scouting of players, age restriction competitions in line with our national teams and the recruitment of a technical director and his scope of operation.
“The people who participated in the workshop were asked to come up with a blueprint to be presented to the Safa national executive committee to be discussed at a meeting on Friday.
“We need a clear view of technical matters of football in South Africa. We can only get it right if we organise a bosberaad to interrogate relevant topics and start implementing them.
“One of the issues I feel we should deal with at length is the selection criteria for all the Safa competitions so that we have strong national teams.
“The workshop was a resounding success and I have no doubt that we are on track to take amateur football to greater heights.”
Many South Africans are concerned about the failure of junior national teams, including the women’s national teams, to qualify for continental and global competitions.
“There will still be football after the World Cup, that is why we are working hard on the legacy projects,” said Oliphant.
Safa has established a 2010 World Cup legacy committee led by Kirsten Namatendani.
Mamelodi said he was happy that Safa has organised such a gathering.
“We will therefore assist Safa with financial resources and also commission experts from Fifa to work closely with South African coaches,” he said.
(Source: sowetan.co.za)
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
