Do we need transformation in football?

Benedict Ngwenya, Darren Maule and Sky Tshabalala discuss transformation in football. Listen to the podcast and read more on the blog below:

The South African national side that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations was racially balanced. It had players like Mark Fish, Mark Williams, Neil Tovey, Andre Arendse, Eric Tinkler, David Nyathi, Linda Buthelezi, Shaun Bartlett, Helman Mkhalele, and Philemon Masinga.

That inclusive selection seems to be a thing of the past. I sometimes don’t understand why some non-black players haven’t been part of the national set up?

Kermit Erasmus is the best striker Orlando Pirates has had in years, but all he was given was 30 minutes against Nigeria and he was substituted before half-time. He was never called up again. He was recognised by CAF as one of the best 18 players on the continent in 2015, alongside players like Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), and Andre Ayew (West Ham United) to mention just a few, but he was still overlooked.

Bradley Grobler of SuperSport United is way better than Thamsanqa Gabuza of Pirates, but the latter gets selected, which defeats any rational thinking. Who would you choose between the two?

Lorenzo Gordinho is one of the best defenders in the PSL but he has only been included in the COSAFA Cup squad. Hopefully, he has done enough to prove himself for future Bafana Bafana selection.

Moeneeb Josephs was the 2009/10 goalkeeper of the season but he played second fiddle to Itumeleng Khune, who couldn’t match him at the time. Don’t get me wrong, in terms of consistency over the years, Khune has been better, but at the time Josephs was the best keeper in the country. They competed in the same league and Josephs outdid him the whole season. Does being the keeper of the season not mean you’re the best keeper in your country that year?

When the World Cup came he was the second choice. He was called upon when Khune got a red card and the team won the game that he started, but it was too late.

The following year Orlando Pirates won every trophy on offer, including two league titles in a row, and still he wasn’t considered. He ended up deciding to retire because he had done everything to prove himself.

Every football fan would tell you that Reyard Pieterse is a better player than Jackson Mabokgwane, but guess who gets selected? 

Daine Klate is the most successful footballer in the domestic league with six league titles to his name but he only has 13 Bafana Bafana caps. Well, his case is understandable because he was competing with Simphiwe Tshabalala in his prime, but not even calling him up most of the time is an insult.

What about Keagan Dolly? He has been pure class for Mamelodi Sundowns, but it has taken a long time for him to be considered by national team selectors. He was actually given 45 minutes against Sudan. He didn’t play well and he was dropped.

I feel like if you’re not black it takes something extra special for you to be taken into consideration.

Maybe it’s time we institute transformation in football?