Anaïs Nin was French-Cuban author who lived between 1903 and 1977. In her life she wrote many essays, critical studies and journals. As I sat down to write this I remembered one of her quotes, ‘I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and moulding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.’
So is my habit of making plans, of criticising, sanctioning and moulding the game of football in this beautiful country – however little … appreciated or scorned!
As 2012 comes to an end and 2013 ushers in, do I make resolutions to contribute to the revival of football in this country yet again … resolutions that may never be given a chance to be realised by those in football power … yet again?
I love football and I love South Africa and I will continue to make these resolutions for as long as I live.
It has been more than a year since the Technical Master Plan was announced by SAFA. However, to date no action has been taken to implement any of its recommendations. 2012 resolutions gone to waste! To start addressing those very critical and urgent issues I’m suggesting to our football administrators the following a month-by-month working agenda for 2013:
It did cross my mind that these resolutions on this ‘agenda’ may or may not be taken seriously, but as Hal Borland once wrote, “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us.”
JANUARY: Declare football the number ONE national sport and ensure that its status and immense significance to the majority of people in SA is recognized and respected by all government departments, business community, education institutions, sponsors and the media.
FEBRUARY: Organize a workshop with all the PSL and First Division coaches to recommend and target minimal technical standards for our professional football (it’s done twice every season in most successful countries).
MARCH: Proceed with the process of revamping the youth development policy, technical set-up and structures (new youth coaching syllabus, massive development of youth coaches, uniform programs in all academies and revival of youth national teams).
APRIL: Initiate actions to establish a strong and competent national technical authority that can mainly engage all components of local football for the implementation of a football philosophy that recognises the strengths of SA players and game environment. Revise the policy and criteria of hiring national coaches.
MAY: Consider new solutions for the recruitment, development, monitoring and promotion/demotion of match officials and align their application of the laws of the game with the concepts and models applied in countries with the best technical standards of the game.
JUNE: Define ways to enforce professional clubs’ licensing program according to the requirements listed by the UEFA/FIFA – especially ensuring that SA professional clubs have respective community representation in their management structures.
JULY: Intervene in addressing the unacceptable inequality between the number of superior training facilities provided to rugby and cricket and shocking shortage of decent grounds for football.
AUGUST: Provide workshops for the media to introduce specific technical info which can enhance the quality of commentary and match analysis (the idea of ‘technical accreditation’ for media people is now realty in advanced football nations).
SEPTEMBER: Launch the new coaching curriculum and coaches’ qualification scheme – Licence C (youth), B and A (elite and professional), etc., – that reflect the characteristics of SA players and the country’s game philosophy.
OCTOBER: Begin work on establishing the national system of competitions where ALL competitions can be integrated into one vision/policy (development concept, objectives, rules, procedures for promotion/regulation, officiating, sponsorship, international participation, etc.)
NOVEMBER: Start exploring the need for founding community based football clubs – amateur, development or competitive clubs that are formed and managed by local communities.
DECEMBER: Organize a national symposium to work out solutions that will resolve the disunity and contrast between the interest, policies and national responsibilities of SAFA and the PSL.
Like I said, it did cross my mind that these resolutions on this ‘agenda’ may or may not be taken seriously, but as Hal Borland once wrote, “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us.”
Wishing a prosperous 2013 to our football and all lovely supporters.
By Ted Dumitru
– By COMMENT: Ted Dumitru
