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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 10:57:51 AM
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2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
Parreira: We have to start with the basics
Carlos Alberto Parreira is excited about the challenge of developing South African football in time for the FIFA World Cup finals of 2010.
(AFP)
(FIFA.com) 02 Oct 2006
Preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa are moving ahead at high speed, not only in terms of organising the world's biggest sporting event, but also on the sporting front, where the hosts are doing everything in their power to ensure a good showing four years from now. The Bafana Bafana qualify automatically and are determined to go further in front of their home public than the last time they appeared on the world stage, a campaign lasting just three matches in 2002.
To this end, the country's football association has turned to one of the best and most respected coaches in the world, entrusting Carlos Alberto Parreira with leadership of the team over the four years leading up to the festival of football on home soil. The 63-year-old Brazilian cannot be beaten for experience: he has already led four nations to FIFA World Cup finals, first Kuwait in 1982, then the United Arab Emirates in 1990, and Saudi Arabia in 1998. He has also twice managed his home country at the finals, although last summer in Germany he was unable to emulate the triumph of 1994, when Brazil claimed the trophy.
FIFA.com asked the charismatic South American about the task lying ahead with his new team.
FIFA.com Mr. Parreira, tell us about your new job as South Africa coach.
Carlos Alberto Parreira: All I've done so far is sign a contract, as I'm not due to start work until mid-January. But I've already watched a 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifier, and I'll be present at the next match against Zambia. That'll help me get up to speed, because since the end of the World Cup I've had so many commitments in Brazil, including time with my family. But at least we have plenty of time until 2010.
Why have you chosen to take on the South Africa job?
Obviously the main reason was the fact South Africa are hosts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which means the country will be the focus of world football for the next four years. Going there and building up a team is just fantastic, a real challenge. The South Africans were looking for someone with experience, because it's all gone downhill over the last seven or eight years there. It's high time the tide turned again. Expectations there are extremely high, so we'll need to work very hard to make sure the team performs well in 2010.
What are your priorities right now?
Planning, organising and team building. There's a great deal to do.
Carlos Alberto Parreira visits the Soccer City stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg on 1 September 2006.
(AFP)
You have watched one match so far. What are your initial impressions of the team?
They're technically good, but they have problems in front of goal. They've not scored often enough in most of their games, which is what we have to work on. It's a long-term plan, and hopefully we'll meet our targets. There will definitely be lows and any number of obstacles on the journey, and I don't know how people will react to that. But I've told them we have to take on the big names such as Germany, Italy and England if we want to learn. Results are not important. It's the only effective way to prepare for the World Cup.
What's your opinion of South Africa's youth set-up?
It's the saddest story ever told. They have no youth development programme whatsoever. There's no U-18, U-20 or U-16 league, which is unbelievable. It's a situation we have to change very rapidly, because basically it's already very late in the day. We still have to do something, at least at U-20 level. The players who should currently be playing at the U-19 level would be 22 or 23 years old at the World Cup, and would be contenders for places in the team. An U-12 set-up wouldn't help us at the World Cup, I admit, but it's vitally important for the future here. And another important point is a reserve league, to make sure the players who aren't first-team regulars at least get match practice. These are important fundamentals. We have to set up this and establish an U-20 league.
How much time will you spend in South Africa?
I'll spend most of my time there, except for July when the league takes a break. I'll go back to Brazil then.
Will you be bringing in a coaching team from Brazil?
I'm going to bring over my assistant and the physio, but we'll also be supported by a South African coach.
How would you rate the mood in the country?
Everyone's immensely excited in South Africa. It'll definitely be an extremely good World Cup, and very different compared to the tournament in Germany. You just can't compare the cultural and historical aspects. The country is exceptionally interesting and well developed. People are in for a surprise.
What are the main differences between coaching Brazil and coaching South Africa?
Coaching the Brazilian national team is a little bit special. I've been coach on three occasions, first in 1983, then 1991, and a third time in 2003. The Brazilian association is superbly organised, maintains exceptionally high standards and boasts a very good infrastructure. I don't believe there's anything better in this respect. At most you might find equivalent standards. On top of that, you're obviously working with players of outstanding quality. You have an embarrassment of riches. So you can't really make the comparison. You come to South Africa knowing that all these things still have to be established. You have to plan, organise and piece together a new national team. It's a stiff challenge.
So you'll be concentrating on the basics for the time being?
It's a different situation. I spent eight years in Kuwait. At the time, every single player was based in Kuwait; we had no-one playing overseas, so we spent months training together. That's how we managed such good results. Many of South Africa's best players are based overseas, so we naturally don't have as much time together. It was the same problem with Brazil, where nearly all the players are based overseas. So we have to start with team work. I reckon the players are much better developed and more disciplined than 20 years ago. At that time, African teams were hard-running and not much else, but now you have the Cameroons, Nigerias and Côte d'Ivoires. These nations have sent plenty of players to Europe, where they've learnt about discipline. That's incredibly important, although you mustn't neglect individual ability.
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Karl |
Edited by - Karl on Oct 04 2006 11:02:19 AM
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Building national team-Parreira: Start with basics
