SWAZILAND A GOLD MINE FOR TALENT – FIFA INSTRUCTOR

EZULWINI – The country’s performance against South African teams currently is not by fluke, observed FIFA Instructor Serame Letsoaka.

The former Bloemfontein Celtics coach said Mbabane Swallows rubber stamped their superiority by defeating Platinum Stars 4-1 in and settled for a draw in the CAF Confederations Cup. He said not so long ago, South Africa’s Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates lost to local sides in the Kings’ Cup played in 2015.

Swallows defeated Kaizer Chiefs while Royal Leopard beat Orlando Pirates at Somhlolo National Stadium in the one day tournament.
“Swaziland is a gold mine for talent, it’s just that is needs to be nutured at grassroot level. The country needs proper structures for development and that will see them compete effectively in Africa and all over the world. They will also produce players who can play at international level effectively,” he said.

Letsoaka is in the country to officiate in the FIFA MA Youth Coaching Course that started yesterday at the Emtfonjeni Building in Lobamba.
“I observed in awe as Mbabane Swallows marketed well Swazi football in Africa with their good performance in the CAF Confederations. With proper foundations, the country may produce players who can play well internationally and also raise the standard of football in the country,” he said.

Letsoaka said African countries were not properly structured when it comes to development and that has affected the continent in international performance.
“Here in Africa we start to focus on development when players are 15 years while it took over 10 000 hours or 10 years to nature a player to be professional. When you start at 15 years, that player will reach his peak at about 25 years and he won’t be effective enough in elite competition or the national team,” he said.

He said this was a good start for the country in terms of development. He likened development to a primary school teacher. He said primary schools were the ones playing a pivotal role in education as they give the basics.
“If you lack the basics in anything, then you will have a challenge at top level. Players had to be at their best by the age of 18 years. Portugal won the EURO 2016 through their good development structures,” he said.
The target audience of the course are the Premier League and First Division Leagues’ Clubs’ Youth Coaches and other personnel involved in youth coaching in the regions.

The main purpose of the course is to empower the youth coaches with the technical and tactical abilities of player development. Letsoaka was also full of praises for the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) for a job well done in running the league and having lots of tournaments in the country.

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