Last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Japan was Carlos Alberto Parreira’s first game back in charge of South Africa. You would be forgiven if you thought that the tenure of Brazilian compatriot, Joel Santana, as Bafana coach had just been a dream. The promise of good things that emerged from their Confederations Cup campaign had since dissipated into the ether. Not only was Carlos back, but the errant Benni McCarthy had been recalled, Elrio van Heerden was playing again and Siphiwe Tshabalala started. It was as if the Santana days had never happened.
Doubts still persist though; why did SAFA re-hire Parreira and not a local coach? After all, when he resigned, it was Parreira that suggested Santana as the most suitable replacement. If Santana was such a bad coach, then surely Parreira’s judgement is suspect? Why not Clive Barker? He was the coach for the victorious 1996 African Nations Cup side. What about Gavin Hunt? Having taken Supersport United to back-to-back PSL titles in South Africa and currently top of the log again, surely he’s proved himself able? The local v foreign coach debate is an ongoing saga throughout many countries but what has happened in South Africa feeds into wider issues of post-colonial power relations between Africa and the West. Europe consistantly takes the best footballing talent, the Essiens, the Eto’os and the Drogbas and in return gives third-rate mediocre coaches. After Stephen Keshi led Togo to World Cup qualification in 2006, he was abruptly replaced by the German coach Otto Pfister. Keshi had proven his worth but it was apparent that the TFF felt otherwise. African football is littered with these European coaches who have had little success at home but are still sought after in Africa. In Parreira, SAFA do have a World Cup winner but that was with Brazil. By choosing a coach from a traditional football powerhouse over local options, it threatens to continue the stagnation of local coaches.
Closer to home, power relations between Europe and North America aren’t that much different in some aspects. The EPL gets Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. MLS gets Adam Moffat, Carl Robinson and Jamie Smith (who??).
The level playing-field seems to be a little lop-sided.
