Cape Town - Football is played on the green between the four white lines – and not on paper.
It’s important for the SA Under-23 squad to remember this as it prepares for the opening fixture at the Eight Nations tournament in Senegal starting this weekend.
There is growing confidence – and justifiably so – that this junior national squad has the quality to finish the event in the top three and, in the process, qualify for Rio 2016.
The last time the U23s managed to qualify for the Olympics was for Sydney 2000. Then, South African sent a star-studded squad which failed to make it beyond the group stages, but beat Brazil 3-1.
That squad included Capetonians like Benni McCarthy, Emile Baron, David Kannemeyer, Matthew Booth and Quinton Fortune. There were also top-class footballers such as Stanton Fredericks, Steve Lekoelea, Jabu Pule, Aaron Mokoena, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Delron Buckley.
Since then, though, there hasn’t been much to get excited about. Until now...
Another exciting young squad has emerged - and it is already being compared to the class of 2000. Again, there’s a promising bunch of Cape-based players – Jody February, Kyle Peters, Rivaldo Coetzee, Abbubaker Mobara, Paseka Mako and Riyaad Norodien.
And a number of emerging young PSL stars like Kwanda Mngonyama, Denwin Farmer, Gift Motupa, Menzi Masuku, Keagan Dolly, Phumlani Ntshangase, Phakamani Mahlambi and Dumisani Zuma.
Coetzee already has 15 Bafana Bafana appearances, Mngonyama and Farmer are delivering mature PSL performances beyond their tender years, Norodien’s skill and trickery need no introduction, Dolly is the most-talked about domestic talent this season.
But... one of the main problems at the root of the country’s inability to progress is the fact that it always over-emphasises skill, ability and superficial moves, and neglects important requirements for success such as inner quality, mental strength, discipline, commitment and, above all, the team ethic.
If this U23 bunch can eliminate the extraneous from their game and perform as a unit, the country’s confidence is definitely not misplaced.
So is it “Rio here we come?” Or will it be the same old, disappointing story for a South African sporting side… buckle under the pressure when it counts. Choke, I think is the word we love to use.
I, for one, hope not...
@Reinerss11
Cape Times