Ireland-based goalkeeper Jethren Barr weighs in on the debate about the standard of goalminders in South Africa, with pundits insisting that there is a crisis in that department in the country.
There has been huge discussion about the state of SA goalkeeping and Barr says is it due to the lack of belief in Mzansi netminders.
“In terms of goalkeepers in the PSL, I think there are some talented goalkeepers in South Africa,” Barr told FARPost.
There were times in the country when Bafana Bafana had three quality goalkeepers fighting for the national team’s spot.
The likes of Andre Arendse, Brian Baloyi and Hans Vonk from the 90s to early 2000s.
TOP SA GOALKEEPERS
A new generation of goalkeepers led by Itumeleng Khune, Moneeb Josephs and the late Senzo Meyiwa emerged before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted in SA.
Other keepers such as Thela Ngobeni, Wayne Sandilands and Brilliant Khuzwayo were also up there as the best goalkeepers in SA.
However, over the last few years, there has been a decline in the goalkeeping department in the county with Ronwen Williams making the Bafana number one jersey his own without any top challengers for the position.
Goalkeepers such as Bruce Bvuma and Veli Mothwa have been trying to give Williams a run for his money, keeping him on his toes.
Meanwhile players such as Ricardo Goss, Brandon Peterson and Reyaad Pieterse having been struggling for game time in recent times despite being deemed top goalies.
Barr, who is a former Maritzburg United goalkeeper now playing in Ireland for Portadown in the NIFL Premiership says there is a no goalkeeping crisis in the country.
He insists that the problem is the lack of opportunities for local keepers. Barr raised concerns about how Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams prefer foreign keepers over South Africans.
“There should not be a discussion about the crisis of keepers in the country,” added Barr.
“There are so many; it’s just that they are not given chances.
“I have said this thing of bringing foreign keepers is not right; it always overshadows our local talent. It’s something I believe in and will always raise it.
“We should not be doing it as a league or as a country.
“As soon as they are given a chance you will see a huge difference that there is no shortage of goalkeepers in South Africa,” concluded Barr.
