Squad Parreira’s rugby move?

Carlos Parreira has given journalists and Bafana Bafana supporters some food for thought when he announced his squad for the fourth and final training camp in Gauteng. In fielding the experienced Benni McCarthy and some other seasoned veterans, he has indicated that experience would be paramount if Bafana Bafana is to survive the first round – or perhaps he has taken a leaf out of the book of his adviser Jake White who, at the previous Rugby World Cup, fielded players such as Bobby Skinstad.

There is a real chance that local supporters would feel downcast after the first round due to the realistic possibility that the lowly rated South Africa would be eliminated. Parreira has urged the South African public not to inflate their expectations of Bafana at the World Cup.

The coach is aware that it is customary for the host nation to provide a good showing at the global showpiece, but also pointed out his side's standing in world football. Bafana are placed 90th in Fifa's latest rankings, but that has not stopped the likes of President Jacob Zuma and South African Football Association boss Kirsten Nematandani from predicting that Aaron Mokoena and company will secure a place in the World Cup final.

Parreira knows this is highly unrealistic, and warned the country's supporters to lower their expectations.

The Brazilian was speaking at a press conference after announcing his 29-man preliminary squad for the month-long tournament.

He reacted angrily when asked about his lack of achievement at World Cups – apart from his tenure at the helm of Brazil. Aside from the Samba Boys, Parreira has yet to guide another nation past the first round of the football spectacle.

"I don't know if you have any idea what you are talking about," he said. "With Kuwait [whom he guided at the 1982 World Cup], they only had 11 000 amateur players, and we won the Asian Cup for the first time, we reached the quarterfinals of the Olympics. Qualifying for the World Cup was a trophy in itself.

"With the Emirates [in 1990], it was the same... I hope South Africa can be in the final, but what are our credentials at the moment to be in a World Cup final?

"Let's be very realistic. Brazil have played in 18 World Cups, have reached seven finals and won five times. [Even] they stayed 24 years without reaching the World Cup final," he added.

"Let's not put pressure on our boys, my staff, our officials. We have to give our best, we have to fight for our country, we have to be proud of them, to create this spirit.
"[But] England won only one World Cup so far. That is the situation, the World Cup is very difficult," concluded Parreira.

Looking at the world rankings at the moment, Spain is featured in second place and Portugal is placed third, but not one of these highly rated teams has ever won a World Cup, which gives fuel for thought and supports the view by Parreira that one does not easily reach a final or win the entire tournament simply by hosting it.

Brazil won the World Cup five times and Italy did it four times, while Germany was the holder on three occasions.

South Africa’s extraordinary soccer implosion from 26th in the world in 1996 to 90th in 2010 did not occur due to discrimination or bad luck, but mostly because of bad discipline, bad planning and poor administrative quality.

Nematandani made an excellent point when he said that soccer in South Africa should learn from Springbok rugby by borrowing some of its principles.

The introduction of lifeskills training at the Sports Science Institute and a better and more fluent production line at schools and tertiary level may boost Bafana Bafana’s chances in the long run.

But the lack of warm-up games before the World Cup and Parreira's frustration with it simply points to one factor – and that is extremely poor management and running of the beautiful game in South Africa.

All is not lost for South Africa in the World Cup, however. The start against a two-time former World Cup holder Uruguay could be vital. If South Africa could build on an excellent start and if the team could peform as a unit, they may surprise a few teams.

But do not expect Leadership Intelligence Bulletin to suffer any time soon from foot-in-the-mouth disease as the president does!