Former Pirates star Chikoya reveals what is holding back SA academies
Former Orlando Pirates defender Innocent Chikoya has outlined the main challenge being faced in the development of budding footballers.
The ex-defender Innocent Chikoya has been in junior football development for over a decade in South Africa.
Chikoya, the 53-year-old called time on his career back in 2005 at a time he was in the books of Moroka Swallows.
He was a PSL champion with the now-defunct Manning Rangers before making his move to Orlando Pirates back in 1999. Since retiring, Chikoya has been nurturing budding footballers in the country, with high hopes of forming a conveyor belt that provides players to PSL teams.
Sadly, he has faced a recurring problem, which he believes has been belittling junior football development.
‘NOT EVERY RISING FOOTBALLER WILL RISE FAST LIKE RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG
Chikoya says lack of patience has seen talented youngsters suffer a stillbirth in terms of their development. He said not every budding footballer can rise to stardom as fast as Relebohile Mofokeng.
“Not every rising footballer will rise fast like Relebohile Mofokeng, who is already doing wonders for Orlando Pirates at such an age,” Chikoya told FARPost.
“Most of the players must go through the process until we certify that they are ready. But unfortunately, the aspect of patience is not there when it comes to most of the players.
“They are young; most of them are still in school, so we will have to give them time to study. But the guardians/parents must first instill that aspect of patience.
“At our level, we also try but to be honest it has not been easy, it’s the recurring problem. For a youngster, the dream is just to be at Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs. They don’t know that it is worked for. And some have ended up trying to take shortcuts. At the end of the day, so much talent has gone to waste.
“Either they failed on the road or lost money along the way. Very few are willing to trust the process until the end. We play in a league that is competitive enough, and I believe we are doing everything right to produce good players for top leagues.”
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