with John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, former Bafana Bafana midfielder
‘It is music to my ears to hear a South African side for once not treating the competition as an annoying distraction’
The Caf Champions League kicks off this month and our one and only entrant, Orlando Pirates, have spoken at length about how they are hopeful of winning the competition this year and will be putting all their efforts into doing so.
It is music to my ears to hear
a South African side for once
not treating the competition
as an annoying distraction.
It is scandalous that we only have one team competing this year, but it is our own fault after having our second entry taken away due to the poor performance of our sides over the past few years.
I know the arguments against it: the expense of competing, the difficult travel that adds to the burden of an already packed domestic schedule, and the dubious refereeing that has marred many a match.
But this is still our continental championship and if South African football wants to be taken seriously by the rest of
the world then we should be having teams in the semi-finals and final of this competition almost every year.
The north African teams do, and just look how many players they have playing in Europe. And look how strong their domestic leagues are.
Playing in this competition can teach players a lot about the hardships of away days on the continent and that can only be beneficial for the national team in the long run.
It is arrogant of us to dismiss this tournament with disdain. We should be fighting hard to win it and help to bring the name of South African football, now probably at an all-time low, back to the top.
So I am fully behind Pirates and I wish them the best of luck in the competition this year. Fly that flag high and give your all. You did it in 1995 and how South African football could use another fillip like that in 2012!
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