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John Moeti: Bafana is lacking quality players
11 Jan 2013 11:35:00 AM
Bafana legend and 1996 Afcon winner John Moeti feels South Africa does not have the quality players to compete with the best teams in Africa
Former Bafana midfielder John Moeti has told Goal.com South Africa that Bafana does not have the quality of players that they imagine they have. Moeti won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in 1996, and was part of the runner up team in the 1998 Afcon.
Moeti fears that the nation believes we have high calibre players with the ability to match the top African teams, and these unrealistic expectations could play against South Africa.
“I don’t think we have the quality of players that we think we have. Yes these are the best players the country has but they are not of high calibre,” said Moeti.
Moeti said the lack of proper development programs at grassroots level is now catching up with the Bafana players as they are failing to master the basics. The former midfielder criticised the players for the 1-0 defeat against Norway on Tuesday.
“At this level you should know that composure is important and we cannot be giving the ball away so much. Our players cannot hold the ball and be comfortable with it. Not only that but even the issue of positioning is missing in some players who look lost in the field which allows them to end up chasing shadows,” said Moeti.
Moeti's criticism does seem harsh, when you consider that coach Gordon Igesund admitted that he hasn't had enough time for the team to play the way he wants them to. It is a learning process which requires time, and there were signs against Norway that Bafana were improving step by step.
“Our other challenge is that our players are too soft or should I say, 'They are too sweet.’ When you are playing at home the opposition must feel the pressure, which is not the case with this crop. These are some of the things that we should be using to our advantage but we are not. We need to be aggressive enough to win the match through our will and determination,” he said.
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