10 Apr 2013

The exit of both the country’s representatives in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions, first by Gaborone United and lastly and humiliatingly, by Mochudi Centre Chiefs, has thrown local club football on the spotlight.

While the 7-0 aggregate drubbing of Magosi by the mega rich and presumably well run TP Mazembe, is still fresh in the minds of many, the question to ponder is whether local teams are ready for the big football stage or not.

Unsuccessful attempts at continental competitions in the past by the likes of Notwane, BDF XI, BMC, Extension Gunners and Township Rollers is perhaps an indication that local clubs still have to make an impact in Africa.

The struggle in Africa was capped by the recent Centre Chiefs humiliating exit, and the same team is currently leading the be Mobile Premier League log, increasing its chances of having a second bite at the cherry next year in the champions league.

While the nation’s football at national team level improved two years ago, with the eventual maiden appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals before taking a nose dive afterwards, at club level, local giants still fail to make an impact.

A football blogger, Thuso Palai opines that the standard of football in the country is quite low when compared to those of other countries in Africa. “Technically and tactically we are inferior and this is mainly because of lack of development from an early age,” he notes.

To explain the status quo, Palai believes that most of the countries are doing better than the local lads because they have done the spade work in the development of their players. He says local players cannot stand the rigours of African competitions because mentally they are not strong or tough and often the slightest intimidation gets to them.

Furthermore, Palai believes that local players, who play football at an amateur level, cannot be expected to conquer players who are professionals who “live, sleep and eat football,” he says.

Although he admits that amateurs can conquer against big teams, like Gaborone United once did against South Africa's Orlando Pirates, the chances are often minimal or not there at all.

However, a local football fanatic, Andrew ‘Druzah' Modo, has a different view; he attributes the recent failure of local teams to the congested schedule of the domestic league.

Modo says teams are made to honour back-to- back fixtures without due regard for their engagement in the CAF competitions, which involve travelling long distances.

Modo believes that amateur players cannot cope in such situations and the result will be too much to bear once the teams trot into Africa, where they compete with professionals. We need to change the way we run things here. Teams can never progress under the current circumstances, where they are not given enough time to rest before embarking on their CAF mission,” says Modo. ENDS