SEDIBENG.- Why has so much talent gone to waste in Sedibeng region?

TOUCHLINE picked up this interesting post from one of the Facebook users recently and many believe the answer is because of corruption and exchange of money under the table. But TOUCHLINE doesn’t think this has anything to do with corruption or exchange of money. It has something to do with our football  structures. The first question that as region we must ask ourselves is, who are we developing these youngsters for because we don’t even have a team that campaigns in the PSL or GladAfrica Championships.

It is not a secret that as a region we develop these youngsters for the teams from other regions and provinces. It’s a fact, we are a feeder to the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and others. For example, look how many players from this region are at Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates development teams.

This says a lot about our ability to produce household names in the South African football. Because we don’t have teams in PSL and GladAfrica Championship some of this talent goes to waste. The truth is that not all of them will be able to go to the above mentioned PSL teams. The sad reality is that even those in the ABC Motsepe League teams from this region don’t necessarily believe in young talent. The highest level our players compete is in the SAB League and Promotional League.

Some of these so called talent is wasted as they chose tournaments over structured football because somebody happens to lie to them that playing there will see scouts looking at them. The talent that TOUCHLINE witnessed during Easter tournament can walk into any PSL teams. But again, a lot needs to be changed because tournament football is not the same as structured football.

TOUCHLINE understands that this is a kind of supporters enjoy or want to see, playing to the gallery. But PSL coaches are not going to accept this because their job is on the line. Some of the talent is gone to waste because they don’t play progressive football. For, those who care to listen, Lionel Messi is the most skilful player in world but you will never see him kneeling on the ball.

Again, the other reason why so many talent gone wasted is those who promise these youngsters ‘heaven and earth’ but fail to deliver.

Like TOUCHLINE said before, education is key especially at time like this. It is sad that most of those youngsters who completed their matric don’t further their studies because they think they will play professional football. The talent that goes wasted has nothing to do with corruption or exchange of money but something to do with our football structure in this region.

The truth is that, our talent goes wasted in the SAB League because this is where most of them are stuck. The day we have our PSL club in this region, our problems will be solved. For now, we continue to be feeders to other regions and provinces. We must make peace with this, that we are feeders to PSL clubs.

Let forge about discipline, corruption or exchange of money. There is more than meets the eye!