The World Cup kicks off a short time from now, but even shorter is the time it will take the coaches of Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, to prepare their teams for the event.
These two coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson and Lars Lagerback, are yet to see a full squad of their players ever, and will only succeed in doing so about a month to the massive tournament that pitches the world's best teams against each other.
Of the other four representatives; Ghana, South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon, only one has had their coach for longer than three years, and even then, only just. Shocking, when you consider that conventional wisdom says you need about four years to build a globally competitive squad.
In Africa coaches get fired whenever they fail to get immediate results, with little respects for contracts. It is a phenomenon that leaves very little room for mistakes, and consequently, experimentation that fosters real growth.
It is the reason why Africa is heading to the World Cup with teams that are almost certain to perform well below their potential?
South Africa
Bafana Bafana has a young and developing squad that has spent relatively little time with coach Carlos Perreira. The Brazilian rejoined the side for a second stint in October 2009, just eight months to the World Cup. His attempts at building a top squad have been largely without key Europe-based players like Aaron Mokoena, Steven Pieanaar and Kagisho Dikgacoi. When the foreign legion returns in May, they'll alter the shape of Bafana Bafana, and could put a reverse spin on Parreira's efforts so far. Unfortunately since he has never tested the team in a major tournament, the world's biggest football event becomes his trial ground.
Cameroon
The Indomitable Lions appointed maverick Paul Le Guen as coach in July 2009. The Frenchman barely had time to get introduced to the team before shepherding them to World Cup qualifiers against Gabon, Togo and Morocco. From the bottom of the group, the resilient Lions pulled off a mini miracle to grab the group's ticket to South Africa. However anyone who thought Le Guen had the magic wand quickly had a change of heart in Angola, where they struggled to a deserved quarter-final exit. Le Guen has less than a month to fix the obvious leaks, and would need much more than a mini miracle to survive.
Ghana
Ghana's Milovan Rajevac was appointed two years ago. After taking the Black Stars to the final of the 2009 Championship of African Nations [CHAN]; through the World Cup qualifiers; and the Africa Cup of Nations, he seems as prepared as two years can allow him. His experience with the Stars showed in Angola, where he took a team missing eight first team members, and parading 11 debutants to final. Yet after just two years on the job any result less than a quarter-final place in South Africa, would likely lead to calls for his sack.
Nigeria
Amodu Shuaibu was still experimenting with his Super Eagles team in Angola after close to two years on the job. He was sacked despite winning bronze, and Lars Lagerback employed. Nigeria needs to build a competitive squad from the embers of an aging set of players and an untested field of young talents, within two months. The team is arguably the rawest of the lot, and as with many things Nigerian, has the grandest target. Lagerback, has a ludicrous semi-final target.
Cote d'Ivoire
That the Ivorians fired Vahid Halilhodzic, who lost just once in 24 games, shows how jaundiced coaching in Africa can be. Eriksson was appointed to replace him on Sunday, and I am certain the Ivorian federation has its eyes on the big prize. At least unlike Nigeria, the Swede will be spoiled for choice as he has a squad of world-class players, who have been together for many years, at his disposal. Eriksson though cannot speak French, but has to block the team's leaks and fire up the squad mentally [a missing ingredient in the Angola squad] all in two short months. He is expected to achieve what he couldn't do with England with whom he had much more time, money and infrastructure. Am I a pessimist?
Algeria
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane is something of a Methuselah by African standards. He has been in charge since 2007, but clearly Angola showed there was so much work left to do on the Desert Foxes. After just one major championship he is expected to go into South Africa 2010 and deliver the kind of result that would make Egypt envious.
This all paints a damning picture for Africa at the World Cup, but like most Africans I am optimistic that 'something will happen,' and we will have one or two surprise teams. I really wish that will be the case, but it is a wish built more on happenstance than preparedness.
However my head tells me that the continent's representatives will not achieve that result that comes from meticulous planning, punishing preparations and yes, a bit of luck. That result that comes from 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration, that result that proclaims you the champions of the world.
Only the best prepared teams are lucky enough to win that one.
credit: africaplays
No comments:
Post a Comment