Seems like Bafana Bafana is going nowhere

One can argue that South African football has improved but there are still factors that challenge the development of South African football. One thing that has always been a problem is the inconsistent form of the South African senior national team. The South African national team, popularly known as Bafana Bafana has not performed well in recent years, failing to qualify for both 2010 and 2012 African Cups of Nations. 

Bafana Bafana logo ( http://www.faraitoday.com/)

                                                                                                                                                
Embarrassing moment for South Africa
The national team embarrassed themselves in October 2011 by celebrating after playing a draw against Sierra Leone, thinking that they had qualified for the 2012 African Cups of Nations tournament. It was a game which South Africa needed to win in order to qualify but drew and misread the rules of qualification. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) mistakenly announced that Bafana Bafana had qualified for the cup finals while the South African Football Association (SAFA) president, Kirsten Nematandani complimented the national team for achieving, before realisation that SABC had communicated a false message. In a statement released by SAFA, it stated that it would appeal to the Confederation of African Football but later withdrawn. Damage had already been done as South African football supporters were furious and confused and SAFA became the scapegoats of what had been called " South Africa's football shameful moment". (http://www.sport24.co.za/)

  An exclusive interview with Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane as he gives his overview of future plans.(http://www.youtube.com/)

Way foward for Bafana Bafana

There has been a handful recommendations on how Bafana Bafana can improve their play and start winning games. Bafana Bafana coach, Pitso Mosimane has called for SAFA and the Premiere Soccer League (PSL) to work together in developing football in South Africa. Both SAFA and the Premiere Soccer League board should work on strengthening their relationship as there had been reports that some PSL soccer teams refuse to release their players to go represent the national team because of the busy schedule set by the PSL board. "We are working on a policy that will help us work with clubs as far as releasing players is concerned. As an organisation we have to flex our muscles and make sure that the national pride is not compromised by owners of clubs," said SAFA vice-president, Mwelo Nonkonyane. (http://www.supersport.com/)

Bafana Bafana's last five games results (http://www.safa.net/)

• 08 October 2011          South Africa vs Sierra Leone           Draw 0-0
• 12 November 2011       South Africa vs Cote d'Ivoire             Draw 1-1
• 15 November 2011       Zimbabwe vs South Africa                   Lost  2-1
• 06 January 2012           Equatorial Guinea vs South Africa    Draw 0-0
• 29 February 2012         South Africa vs Senegal                   Draw 0-0

Nothing can stop Messi

Barcelona FC player Lionel Messi, has being hailed as a living legend by the media. This was after he made history by being Barcelona's highest goal scorer of all time. He scored his 234th goal on Tuesday 20 March in their 5-3 win against Granada. It was claimed by the Spanish media that the 24 year old  Argentine could become the greatest player in football history.(http://www.bleacherreport.com/)

Record breaker Messi celebrating one of his goals on Tueasday's game against Granada
(http://www.faniq.com/) 

                                               

Messi relates well with teammates 
Messi has mentioned before that not only skill and speed is important in football, but also communication and understanding play a vital role in the success of the team. Messi communicates well with his teamates on the pitch, especially with likes of Xavi and Iniesta who have contributed more in assisting Messi to score goals. Messi and his teammates play well on the field and Barcelona's manager, Pep Guardiola, has emphasised that his players  also get along very well off the pitch and their relationships amongst each other are strong and encourages brotherhood. (http://www.supersport.com/)

Football record breaker 
The Argentine's record breaking deed has left many football fans wondering if his arch-rival Real Madrid player, Christiano Ronaldo should still be matched with him. In a press conference held by Barcelona after their win against Granada on Tuesday, Barcelona's Pep stated that "I feel sorry for those who would like knoch off his throne, because that is impossible." Football spectators have interpreted this message as being directed to Ronaldo.(http://www.sport24.co.za/)
                                                        The two best players in the world

Desperate Ronaldo is living under the shadow of Messi[www.blearcherreport.com]

Messi's  heroics has given Barcelona the spotlight. With a handful number of organisations wanting to be associated with the team in terms of sponsorships and player indorsements. Having close to 24 million fans, Barcelona FC has managed to reach out to its fans argueably more than any other team. They can also be refered to as a SocialCorp as it uses social media such as blogs and a Facebook page to interact with its stakeholders.

                      Messi's goals against Granada on Tuesday(http://www.youtube.com/)                                  

Will Pirates ship sink



Suspended Pirates coach, Julio Leal at a conference(http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/)



On Monday 12 March 2012, Orlando Pirates Football Club suspended coach, Julio Leal with immediate effect. Despite him winning two trophies since his arrival at the club, Leal has found it difficult to settle in at Pirates. With Pirates supporters claiming that Julio knows little about the club and that he is not behind the success of the team. The media also reported that he took over a star-studded team which was capable of winning any competition in the league.

Negativity tarnished the team
The negative hype around the suspended coach has not done good for Orlando Pirates, both on and off the field. Pirates communication department have also done matters worse by refusing to give details and comment on the suspension of coach, Leal. Though Pirates' spokesperson has refused to comment, it has been reported by the Soccer Laduma newspaper that there has been instability in the team and that the coach had lost control over his team. Rumours that Leal cannot discipline his players have portrayed Orlando Pirates in a negative light. Leal has been coach of Orlando Pirates for six month and has kept a good record of defending the MTN8 and winning the Telkom Knockout. There has been a few setbacks during his time as Pirates coach which are, Orlando Pirates has been inconsistent in its league campaign and it is knocked out of the African Champions League. (http://www.news24.co.za/)

Pirates refuses to talk
Orlando Pirates issued a statement during the announcement of the suspension of the Brazilian coach. The statement read that "Orlando Pirates Football Club has with immediate effect suspended the coach, Mr Julio Cesar Leal, as the club embarks on a fact finding investigation into reasons why, during performance evaluation sessions, the coach expressed that he could not see his way forward and offered the chairman to do what is right for the club." (http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/).
From a communications point of view, the chairman's interpretation from the coaches expression could be that the coach wanted to leave the club. Pirates refusal to comment further on the matter does not do any good for the team as it leaves the media and club fans to make their own assumptions, which could negatively impact the team and tarnish Orlando Pirates' image. Julio Leal's last match as Pirates coach was against a weaker team in the lower league, Ethekwini Coastal, which saw Pirates win 1-0.


Orlando Pirates last five match results

• 14/03/12     Santos vs Orlando Pirates                                 3-0 ABSA Premiership
• 03/03/12     Recreativo Libolo(ANG) vs Orlando Pirates     1-1 Africa Champions League
• 26/02/12     Orlando Pirates vs Maritzburg United                1-0 ABSA Premiership
• 22/02/12     Platinum Stars vs Orlando Pirates                      3-4 ABSA Premiership
• 19/02/12     Orlando Pirates vs Recreativo Libolo (ANG)     1-3 Africa Champions League

The Brazilian coach has been under pressure since he joined Orlando Pirates, as he was appointed to defend the cups that Pirates had won in the last season and also win the African Champions League which which Pirates last won in 1995. The coach took over, using his preferred philosophy which some players of the star players could not adapt to. His preferred philosophy could be the reason why some players have gone astray and the team being inconsistent in its league games. (http://www.wettpoint.com/)

   

Chelsea should hire a long-term manager



Former Chelsea manager frustrated as his team is defeated by Everton

Andre Villas-Boas' firing from his managerial position as Chelsea FC manager came as no surprise. The former Chelsea manager had been under pressure since he took over as manager in June 2011. The Portuguese coach had a bad run with the team, with his latest record of only winning five games in the last sixteen games. Villa-Boas is also former FC Porto manager, a Portuguese team which reached success under him, winning the Portuguese league and Uefa Europa Cup.(http://www.espn.com/)

Questions were raised whether the 34-year old coach was the right cancidate for the job as Chelsea FC is a big team which competes for both domestic and continental honours. Vila-Boas was given the job as Chelsea manager after his success at FCPorto but Chelsea ignored the fact that handing the club over to the 34-year Portuguese as manager would be a challenge because of the following reasons:

• He is unfamiliar with the English football and culture.
• He is younger than some of the senior players at Chelsea.
• The standard of football in England is higher than of that in Portugal.
• He would have to deal with the huge egos at Chelsea.
• He is unfamiliar with Chelsea's philosofical formations. 

From a communications point of view Chelsea FC created confusion amongst its supporters and the media when it emphasised at a press conference that Villa-Boas was hired on a long term basis and would be given full support by the team, only to find out a month later that he is fired. Chelsea supporters and the media were divided over Andre Villa-Boas, with a group who were tired of Chelsea constantly changing managers and wanted the coach to stay for a long period regarding long term ambitions. The other group were fed up with Chelsea's poor perfomance under Villa-Boas, as the is fairly out of the league title race. The media and supporters also realised that the there had been communication problems between the manager and some players. 



Desperate Vllia-Boas giving instructions to striker Daniel Sturridge(http//www.guardian.co.uk)



Who is next in line for the job 

League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan stated that a communication breakdown could occur with foreign club owners such as Roman Abramovich and the supporters. This breakdown is likely to occur as some owners know little about about English football and do not regard themselves responsible for football in England. Criticism on Chelsea's managerial policy aroused as it is a club with the highest record of hiring and firing coaches in the past three years. With a record of six coaches in three years, the latest being Roberto Di Matteo who is temporary in charge of the club.(http://www.skynews.com/)

It has also being reported that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is likely to return to Chelsea as he wants to leave Spanish league leaders Real Madrid only after winning the Spanish league and if possible the Uefa Champions League. This would bring controvesy to Chelsea because Maurinho had a fall out with club owner Roman Abramovich. Maurinho is the club's most successful manager in Chelsea history, winning all domestic cups in England including two league titles. Again from a communication point of view it would be in Chelsea's benefit to rehire Maurinho because he understands the club's culture,has a good relationship with the players, engages better with the supporters and fans simply love him.

        Video clip of Mourinho vowing to return to Chelsea (http//www.Youtube.com)