Siphiwe Tshabalala on where SAFA is getting it wrong with Bafana Bafana
South African football legend Siphiwe Tshabalala is partially blaming the SA Football Association (SAFA) for Bafana Bafana’s failure over the last decade.
Once a powerhouse of African football, Bafana Bafana have failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on five occasions since Tunisia 1994 – most recently, the delayed 2021 AFCON staged in Cameroon earlier this year.
On top of that, Bafana, ranked 67 in the world, have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 2002. They made an appearance in 2010 courtesy of being hosts of the global showpiece.
Hugo Broos’ troops’ failure to book a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar meant South Africa will miss World Cup action for a third consecutive time since the 2010 edition, becoming the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup and also the first host nation to crash out of the group stage.
The sharp decline since Bafana were crowned African champions in 1996 before qualifying for back-to-back World Cups in 1998 in France and 2002 in South Korea and Japan is a concern for many, including Siphiwe Tshabalala.
CHOPPING AND CHANGING COACHES
The man who scored the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening goal, Siphiwe Tshabalala, believes the major issue is the continuous chopping and changing of coaches.
Broos is the 15th Bafana coach since 1996, with the likes of Carlos Queiroz, Ephraim ’Shakes’ Mashaba, Stuart Baxter, Gordon Igesund, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Pitso Mosimane, Phillipe Troussier, Clive Barker, etc all failing to meet SAFA’s goals.
“When it comes to national teams’ football, it is difficult to judge a coach because he doesn’t have enough time to have the players,” said Tshabalala.
“There are issues of injuries and form as well that you need to take into consideration, so the coach [Broos] deserves a chance and more time.
“I think where I feel that we didn’t get it right was not giving coaches enough time to do their work and plan.
“Look, in the past, I think in five years we have had different coaches, and all those coaches came with their own different philosophies whereby all the players are expected to buy into that.
“And if the coach comes and implements a certain style of play and then he leaves, the next one comes, he changes and brings in something different.
“So, it takes a toll on the players as well to adapt, and it goes back to what coach Gavin Hunt was saying that as a country, we need to have our own identity.”
INADEQUATE TIME TO BUILD
Tshabalala, who is the third most-capped Bafana player with 89 appearances, says there is an abundance of talent in SA.
Therefore, the nation, including development coaches, SAFA, clubs, and everyone involved in football, should work together to ensure the national team, Bafana Bafana, returns to the top and dominate like Banyana Banyana, who are the African champion and have qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“It is not nice when you talk about the World Cup, and the national team is not there, and we have missed three World Cups now in a row,” said Tshabalala.
“It’s not good for us, and I hope the next World Cup, we will be talking a different story.
“I think everyone has a role to play when it comes to the national team; I mean, we do have talent in South Africa.
“We need to bring back Bafana Bafana where it belongs, there were days when the national team was at the top, and they were doing well.
“And now, we cannot talk about the World Cup. We can talk about the qualifiers [AFCON 2023], playing in the AFCON, where we will get tested and get sufficient experience that will give us confidence going into the [next] World Cup.”
The ex-Kaizer Chiefs captain and winger further stated that SAFA should grant national team coaches time to build a squad that can qualify for major tournaments.
NOT HAVING A PLAYING IDENTITY
Tshabalala also highlighted the importance of Bafana formulating a playing identity, making reference to Brazil and Germany.
And as much as the coaches are at fault, Tshabalala insinuated that the coaches’ failure also broadly points to serious structural issues at SAFA.
“If we have our own identity, then it becomes easier for whoever comes in; they won’t have buy-in to whatever we have, not the other way round,” he stated.
“And also, he must also work on something that is there as well. It is a challenge for us to start building towards that, having our own identity, our own philosophy like your Germany football.
“They have their own identity, and they won’t change, the same with Brazil. We know how they play. We need to head towards that direction. I think it will yield good results.
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