Open letter to Minister of Sport and Recreation ~ South Africa

I?m writing this letter as a concern South African citizen regarding the state of our soccer national teams. It saddens me to watch other countries participating on global events without South Africa being represented. Soccer is the most widely played sport in South Africa, with its traditional support base in the black community? For many South Africans, the country's proudest sporting moment came when we won the African Nations Cup on home turf in 1996. One of the first gifts that democracy brought South Africa was its first truly representative national soccer team. In 1992, two years before the country's first democratic election, the united South African team came into being, playing Cameroon in its first match in Durban on 9 July ?? it was a triumphant occasion for the side that came to be known as Bafana Bafana ? "The Boys" ? as they edged the West African powerhouse by a goal to nil. However, the win concealed the negative effect that apartheid-enforced isolation had had on local soccer. This lack of international experience showed as South Africa lost four matches in a row ? to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia ? in failing to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup. When South Africa hosted the 1996 African Nations Cup, however, South Africa proved they belonged in the finals by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final. It was during the team's run to the title that its nickname, "Bafana Bafana", became known around the world. Unlike other sporting codes such as swimming, boxing and hockey just to name a few who struggle to get sponsors I remember government had to sponsor the swimming team to Barcelona a team that brought a number of medals from the London Olympic team Below is an illustration of the money that has been pumped up by corporate sponsors to (South African Football Association and Premier Soccer League). In June 2007, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) pulled off an astounding coup when it signed a R1.6-billion broadcast deal with SuperSport International. In August 2007, corporate heavyweights South African Breweries (SAB) and Absa Bank announced a joint sponsorship of more than R500-million over the next five years for South African football. SAB is behind Bafana Bafana, while Absa sponsors the PSL's Premier Division. In February 2008, Nedbank announced that it would be putting up R20-million in prize money for the Nedbank Cup knockout competition as part of a five-year, R400- million sponsorship of the local game. And in August 2008, cellular giant MTN committed the same amount ? R400- million over five years ? to the local game, while taking over the title sponsorship of the Top 8 knockout tournament. These deals combined have made South Africa's Premier Soccer League the seventh biggest earner of sponsorship revenue among football leagues worldwide There is much to despair at the state of South Africa?s soccer. Bafana Bafana hasn?t lived up to the nation?s expectations and the controlling body, the South African Football Association (SAFA), please help we love our national team The National Sports Plan of the Department of Sports and Recreation South Africa and the SAFA Technical Master Plan emphasise the importance of youth development as one of the key priorities to achieve success and competitiveness Key challenges honourable minister There are management, administration, financial and sport science support gaps in the development of young football players in structured youth football programmes. ????????? That there are poor levels of investment in youth football development leading to a lack of a clear and regulated system.

At the point of writing this letter honourable minister I?m aware that the is a F?d?ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) under-20 World Cup that is taking place in Turkey as usual South Africa has no representative at this prestige event and I?m also made aware that in the up and coming FIFA under 17 world cup in November South Africa will not have a representative (this is certainly not a?razzmatazz?for South African football).

It is alarming to hear the inadequate ratio of qualified youth coaches to players in South Africa compared to some of the giants of international soccer, especially Spain. The shortage of such coaches, along with the absence of a coherent development plan at the national level, is harming the game at all levels and has contributed to the malaise of the men?s national team, Bafana Bafana.

Why are we not using the class of 1996 in our youth structures?

Thanks for the time spent while reading this letter from a concern citizen.

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Source: http://diskibafana.blogspot.com/2013/07/open-letter-to-minister-of-sport-and.html

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