SA coaches on true state of football development in SA: ‘We have talent but we need resources’
"Those resources are not forthcoming," football manager Mojalefa Mathebula tells Robert Marawa.
Mojalefa Mathebula, Serame Letsoaka and Robert Marawa. Photo: 947
947’s Robert Marawa speaks with Transnet Football School of Excellence Football Manager, Mojalefa Mathebula, and FIFA Regional Technical Consultant, Serame Letsoaka.
Listen below:
Football development in South Africa continues to be a longstanding debate, as investment in grassroots continues to waver.
Letsoaka says money is often only invested at the top of the chain: the Premier League, the second and third tiers.
With a lack of development in school sport and street football, the uniqueness of players coming up is also slowly dying.
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“Down to the roots? There is no investment in that. This is where we are lacking in South Africa… the club system is dead.”
– Serame Letsoaka, Regional Technical Consultant – FIFA
Mathebula adds that a cultural change is needed around how people talk about football in order for it to grow and improve.
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“You have a situation whereby people know [what is happening in youth tournaments], but we don’t have a platform to speak about it, except in the corners.”
– Mojalefa Mathebula, Football Manager – Transnet Football School of Excellence
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.