RUSTERNBURG Newly-appointed Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has rejected charges of xenophobia over his calls for fewer foreigners in the South African league, insisting he was only motivated by a desire to see his country perform better in international competitions. (Pictur
Mosimane, who took over from Brazilian Carlos Alebrto Parreira as Bafana coach, said statistics show that countries with more local players in their domestic leagues have been more successful on the international stage and South Africa would likewise benefit from ensuring more local talent in the local leagues.
The Bafana coach opened a Pandoras box recently when he attributed South Africas dismal performance internationally that saw them becoming the first host nation of the World Cup to be knocked out during the first phase of the competition to the huge number of foreigners playing in the ABSA Premiership and the National First Division.
He went a step further last week suggesting that foreign coaches in South Africa would make it difficult for him to come up with a style for Bafana Bafana as he will be working with players that are used to various approaches to the game.
How can you talk about a style when the players that I will be working with are being coached by people from Bulgaria, Germany and so on? said Mosimane.
His statements have drawn criticism from social commentators and human rights organisations, who strongly feel that they have the potential to fuel xenophobic tendencies within the South African community. Zimbabwe has the highest number of foreigners playing in the ABSA Premiership and the National First Division than any other country.
He (Mosimane) was working under a foreign coach and he has the audacity to say that foreign players in South Africa should be limited. This promotes xenophobia at a time when we are trying to deal with the outbreak of attacks we have witnessed in the Western Cape, said Amanda Louw of Human Rights Action Group (HRAC). However, Mosimane, who is looking to lead the Bafana to the 2012 African Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup finals, insisted last week that history was on his side.
He said: It is nonsense to say that I am xenophobic. Look at the English league. They have a lot of foreigners and what did they achieve in the World Cup? Nothing. This is why teams like Egypt are very consistent at the African Cup of Nations. They have more local players in their leagues. His calls echo the sentiments of Parreira who, before relinquishing his duties as Bafana Bafana coach, pointed out that SAFA should put in place statutes that limit the number of foreign players in South Africa.
Ironically, South Africa has one of the highest numbers of footballers from an African country playing in Europe in leagues where clubs are not limited to a certain number of foreign-based players. Andrew Surman (Wolverhampton), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Benni Mc Carthy (West Ham United), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham) and Steven Pienaar (Everton) all play in the English Premiership while Siphiwe Thsabalala and Bongani Khumalo are expected to leave South Africa soon for trials with clubs playing in the same league.
In Hollands second tier league the Eerst Divisie South Africa has three players (Kermit Erasmus, Philani Khwela and Kamohelo Mokotjo) who play for SBV Excelsior. Scores of other South African players turn out for teams in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Russia, Scotland, Sweden and United States of America among others.
Post published in: Football