Elites Monopoly Over Great Players A Threat To Football Gobally

Mmasekepe Matsebane

Football has really come a long way and just like in the times of the great Pele and the unstoppable Maradona, new exciting players emerge every new season.

 

The Best: It was at AC Milan and PSG where Silva made a name for himself and won fans from all around the world. Whether a move to Barcelona will do his career good remains a huge mystery.

But, unlike in the golden years, the beautiful game has now become a big business, with clubs like Olympic Lyon listed in stock exchanges.

It may not be everyone’s worry, but looking at how football has evolved, top clubs are reducing fantastic players from world beaters to ordinary individuals.

One wonders the point that the writer is trying to bring to the fore.

Recent transfers around the world are reducing football and leagues to one team league, if not two teams.

Players, who are snapped, hoping to be part of history breaking, or rather history making teams, tend to lose their class at this top class and that is not because of the competition at certain clubs, but because of the number of stars in one team.

The prospect of Barcelona signing Thiago Silva, when they have already signed Neymar to team up with Lionel Messi looks good on paper, but how it will pen out is not foreseeable.

Many might have reduced Johan Cruyf for a mad man when he advised Barca to get rid of Messi after they god Messi, but when one studies it, you are bound to agree with Cruyf.

It was at big clubs like AC Milan and Paris St Germain where Silva flourished, but imagine him at Barcelona, he will not be seen anyone.

It is the same for Neymar and Messi, one will have to live in another’s shadow, but it is quite evident that both love being the face of their teams.

Two Of The Best: Neymar will team with Messi in the upcoming season for Barcelona. Who will get the secondary role?

Real Madrid has been one team that has tried the influx of stars in the form of their Galacticos, but that did not work and the players’ egos would not let it.

It is the same as Real Madrid hoping to snatch Gareth Bale while they have Cristiano Ronaldo.

Again, the prospect of both playing for the same team is a mouthwatering one, but who will live in the other’s shadow?

The problem with living under someone’s shadow is that the one who has to accommodate the other tends to fade with time.

 Barcelona knows this quiet well as they, at one stage, had the brilliant Ronaldinho and Messi at in one team, but that did not work, and as a result, the decorated Brazilian had to leave.

Think Arsenal during the Thierry Henry era. They were a great team and he was the driving force, but that was not good for Emmanuel Adebayor.

As soon as Henry left, Adebayor was a favourite.

At some point, a certain Javier Mascherano was a force, but that would soon change as soon as he moved to Barcelona.

Excuse the writer for this is not an attack on Barcelona, but just showing that certain players can reach greatness when they are the biggest stars in the team.

Of course, Alesandro Del Piero was in the team, but the biggest player during that era was none other than Pavel Nedved, he had room to show it.

You must be thinking the same way, or not.

When Roberto Baggio was unstoppable, he was the only mean machine at the Old Lady.

You Aint Messi-ng With Me: It was in games like this, with great opponents like Messi that the world realised just how gifted Thiago Silva is.

There were quality players at Barcelona when Rivaldo was best on the world. Players like Patrick Kluivert, Phillip Cocu and Luis Figo were part of that team.

No one expected Kaka to drop so quick and as things stand, he didn’t drop because of lack of game time.

He was playing after he made the switch to Madrid, but as soon as other big stars came, he star began to tumble.

The point here is that, when players know that the spotlight is solely on them, they tend to give it their best to live up to their billing.

But imagine the Barcelona of next season. 

Silva, Neymar, Iniesta and Messi?

Of course it looks good and there is doubt that all the players will get regular game time, but that will not be good for their careers.

If Silva decides to move from PSG to Barcelona, he will lose his title as the best defender in world football.

The monopoly in world football over players has to end as it does not only kill the competition between teams, but also kills talents and it doesn’t matter if one is getting game time or not.

Views are my own, but if you disagree, you can always follow me on twitter @De_Sports_Guru.

Are the players or the coaching staff a problem at Sundowns?

Mmasekepe Matsebane

So they have started.

Same story, difference cast or should I call it same difference, same changes?

There goes my battle with the queen’s language because of them.

Well, one must be wondering who started what, where, them, right?

It’s Mamelodi Sundowns. They have signed six players already. 

Black Leopards trio of Rodney Ramagalela, Raymond Monama and Tiyani Mabunda, as well as Moroka Swallows’ Sibusiso Khumalo, Bryce Moon and Rashid Sumaila are the new additions to the overpaid, underperforming Sundowns family.

Brand New: Mamelodi Sundowns have signed Rodney Ramagalela, Raymond Monama and Tiyani Mabunda.

It is now believed that Kennedy Mweene and Khama Billiat are on the way. 

This sums up my worries that many, if not most of the coaches that go to Sundowns are not as good as they are made out to be, or they are just cry babies who sign contracts with reasons well in place for when they finally stuff up and get exposed.

Can't Stand Him?: Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane used to call Katlego Mphela the best striker in South Africa.

When Pitso Mosimane took over at Sundowns, there was no question about the quality in the team, but only a bit of motivation to have the players firing again was all that was needed.

Mind you, this is the same team that smacked Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 in the MTN 8 under former Dutch great Johan Neeskens.

Most of the players were new, bought in the last transfer window.

Instead of showing that he is good, instead of Mosimane proving to Sundowns that he has what he takes, he also decided to go on his own shopping spree.

One even asks if Sundowns, or Pitso, knows what is needed there. I am tempted to believe no one knows. 

The new players will not bring anything different to the team. This is Pitso’s way of justifying his disastrous start to his Sundowns career. 

It is clear with the quality…errm quantity in the team that Sundowns could have made it to the top eight, but Pitso failed.

Hlompho Kekana, Eleazar Rodgers, Richard Henyekane, Punch Masenamela, Teko Modise, Lebogang Mokoena, Katlego Mphela, Edward Manqele and Thamsanqa Sangweni got called up to the national team by Pitso Mosimane. 

Clearly, if this players were good enough to be called to represent the national team by a certain coach, then they should be good enough to beat anyone and it would be obvious to think that the coach who called them to the national team would actually want to buy them for his team, right? 

I Can't get In It: It seems Katlego Mphela find his way better between the goal posts that his shots do.

Wrong! Not with Mosimane and clearly not with Sundowns.

That is the problem about football at Sundowns and the problem with coaches who worked there in particular. 

Sundowns bought Mumuni Abubakar and Emmanuel Baffour amid much fanfare. They were billed to be the next Roger Feutmbas and Raphael Chuckus of this world, but hey, they never really took off.

Now, another foreign player, Rashid Sumaila has been signed and called all sorts of names. His tenure at Sundowns will be a success if he can manage five appearances.

Clearly, Pitso Mosimane, Trott Moloto, or anyone who signs players at Sundowns, does not know what they want.

Another Pitso Favourite: Teko Modise did no wrong in the eyes of Mosimane, but the midfield kingpin can't do much to make things easier for Mosimane.

It makes me qualify the notion that Sundowns kills careers as true and coming to think of it, not only is it true, there are facts to back it up too.

It goes without saying that these careers will be dead sooner than Motsepe can finish refurbishing HM Pitjie Stadium.

Let’s start in defence. If Mweene indeed comes, then Dennis Onyango, Calvin Marlin and Thela Ngobeni will be history. In defense, Abel Mabaso, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Doctor Mampuru are headed that way. In midfield, Thami Sangweni, Jabulani Shongwe, Musa Nyatama, new signings Mabunda and Monama are headed for a Papi Zothwane kind of finish. Then there is Ramagalela, Rodgers, Manqele, Henyekane who are headed for the Diyo Sibisi, Lungisani  Ndlela and Sandile Ndlovu type of finale.

Buying new players will not do Sund

owns any good and as a matter of fact, it is a waste of Motsepe’s millions and it destroys careers that are good enough to cut it in Europe.

The day Motsepe hires a coach who actually knows how to make players play well is the day more careers will improve and Sundowns will be a force again.

Think about it, what is the use of a complete overhaul when you have fantastic players and a coach who claims to be the best in the country? When you have a striker who has been proclaimed by the very same coach as the best thing we have in the country?

Sundowns is a team run by retards suffering from schizophrenia and that will hold back the team’s development until Motsepe closes his cheque book and get a coach who is willing to work and prove himself with the players who are available.

mokgalakamo@gmail.com

This are my views and you don't have to agree with me, but you can follow me on twitter as De_Sports_Guru.

Unstoppable Neymar deserves all the hype

Mmasekepe Matsebane

Not a finished product yet, but there is no doubt that Brazil young sensation

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, better known as Neymar, has caught the attention of everyone around the world, especially Barcelona fans.

I Have Arrived: Neymar announced his name to the world with a stunning volley against Japan in the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup.

The young eccentric forward has so far scored two spectacular goals in a tournament that has been billed as the Neymar show for months. It might be early, but it looks as though the young forward is living to the billing.

The Selecao has over the years used the Confederations Cup to gauge their preparedness for the big one, the World Cup, but although this time they look far from a complete team, there is still hope that Brazil can expect Neymar to thrill them with his magic.

In the first 25-30 minutes against Mexico, where Brazil showed glimpses of what they can do, it was all Neymar on the field and as a result, a top drawer first time left footed volley saw Estadio Fortaleza explode into celebrations.

Tricky Lion And The Wolves: The technically gifted Neymar fends off challenges from four Mexico players.

Even the second goal by Jo, thanks to Neymar's assist, was nothing lack of delight from the fast paced forward.

The last time Brazil bore testimony to dazzling football was when Ronaldinho was terrorizing defenders at the pinnacle of his career.

Some great footwork to leave two Mexico players chasing his shadow, Neymar picked his spot.

Conscious that he could not score from the tight angle, the youngster fed Jo, who made no mistake from close range.

Before that, Neymar showed off his outrageous acceleration when he beat Mexico left back Gerardo Flores, but his shot went heartbreakingly wide.

Apart from the two magnificent free kicks scored by Luis Suarez and Andrea Pirlo already in the tournament, there is no disputing the fact that Neymar’s opening goal against Japan was nothing short of mastermind.

Though selfish at times, his alertness on the field and his technique has left the Mexico defense biting the dust.

Surely, no questions can be raised about his trickery, but his prima donna antics and dives leave a sour taste in the mouths of those in line to worship him. 

On many occasions, the 21 year old whiz-kid just went to the floor in hysterical fashion at any contact from a Mexican player and referee Howard Webb either waved play on, or stopped play to check if the new hot property in the world of football was fine.

Of course, he will get a lot of booking if he continues his diving antics as European referees will be harsher (Webb is a European referee, but he seemed too soft on the player). 

It is of great significance to remember that Neymar, the man thought to be the new Pele all around Brazil, is only 21.

As things stand, Neymar is well on course to being a Ballon d’Or winner. That much is inevitable.

His real rivals at the moment, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were also sizzling at the age of 21, but not any can claim to have won as much as Neymar at that particular age.

Taking Off: In looks like Neymar has takes off and the sky is sure going to be his limit.

Ronaldo was far from a finished product back in 2005, but he went on to win the FifPro Special Young Player of the Year award and at the same age, Lionel Messi was voted second in the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

To further justify the hype that many were doubting going into the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup, Neymar has already had a taste of the Fifa Puskas award, was voted Player of the Year in 2011 at only 19, South American Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012, won the Golden Boot three times in Brazil between 2010 and 2012.

With good development at Barcelona, which he will obviously get, the youngster looks to have what it takes to rival Messi as the best player on the planet.

Problem will only arise if Tito Vilanova decide to give Neymar a secondary role to that of Messi to keep the Argentinean’s shine going.

But if Neymar is to improve his physique, mental toughness and learn to live with the reality that European football is tough, he can go all the way to be the first Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or after Kaka last won it in 2007.

Mmasekepe Matsebane is a sports writer for the New New Age newspaper. He writes here in his personal capacity.

  

mokgalakamo@gmail.com