Former Pretoria Callies coach Fabio Lopez has shared his thoughts on the quality of South African football after a seven-month stint in the country in the second-tier league.
The former Fiorentina and Atalanta scout is now unattached after his departure from Motsepe Foundation Championship side, Callies.
The 51-year-old took charge of 24 matches at Callies with seven wins, six draws and 11 defeats. The UEFA Pro license holder has told this publication that he still has some unfinished business in the country as he looks to take up a new challenge.
One of the notable observations the Italian has identified in South African football, he says, is the gap between the Betway Premiership and the National First Division [NFD].
FABIO LOPEZ SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON WHERE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL CAN IMPROVE
“Between the two divisions, I found a notable gap in the structures, probably this should be improved, in the sense that the two divisions should have more similarity in the club structures,” Lopez told FARPost.
“We need to work a lot on young people growing up in football academies, probably trying to give them theoretical knowledge of tactics, not just go on the pitch and train.
“Having 20 years of experience around the world and having been a scout for two Italian Serie A teams, Fiorentina and Atalanta, I can clearly say that the potential of the players is very high,” he added.
FORMER PRETORIA CALLIES COACH SHARES HIS FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY
Lopez has also shared a bit of his philosophy in terms of how he prefers his teams to play.
“Principle, encourage the opponents to press, playing horizontally, and then looking for the pass between the lines vertically. The goalkeeper also plays high to create a numeric superiority in the middle.”
He also believes there are a lot of players in the Callies side that have the potential that can make a great career if they remain disciplined and keep a healthy lifestyle.
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