I have a terrible memory, especially when it comes to recalling people’s names. It’s got to a point where I have mastered the art of pretending I remember someone’s name when I don’t have the foggiest idea who they are.
But when my memory behaves, it shows off.
I know the opening monologue of The Godfather word for word. I remember my first day in Grade 2, down to what I was wearing. And if there’s one thing I’ll never forget, it’s SA Football Asociation (Safa) president Danny Jordaan’s stopping short of telling me, Khanyiso Tshwaku from the Times Media Group and Busisiwe Mokwena from the Daily Sun where to get off.
Our sin had been to ask about the rationale behind Safa’s renewing coach Vera Pauw’s contract with Banyana Banyana after the team’s worst performance in a decade.
When Banyana finished fourth in the African Women’s Nations Cup (AWCN) in Namibia in 2014, it was the first time they had done so in 10 years. Since 2004, the side had been finishing in the top three. If they had finished third in Namibia, they would have qualified for the World Cup in Canada.
Pauw returned to her native Netherlands after that because her contract had expired. Safa begged her to come back, going as far as accommodating her in terms of how often she could return home to be with her husband.
When we asked Jordaan about the contract renewal, he didn’t know Banyana’s performance in Namibia had been their worst in 10 years.
When we told him this was the case, he went on to insult us by asking how many World Cups we had been to. Jordaan has been to every World Cup since USA 1994. He shared that with us.
Not only had he been to more World Cups than the three of us combined, he had been to more World Cups than Banyana, who have not been once to the showpiece event.
It’s a sad episode when the person in charge of football chooses to disrespect young journalists instead simply explaining the reasons for their decision to retain Pauw, who is, after all, a good coach.
However, Pauw was given unlimited power with little accountability. She failed dismally as a manager, antagonising players to the point that she created divisions. She killed the heartbeat of that team, banning them from signing autographs (because it’s a waste of energy) and controlling them like robots.
She dropped skilful players because they didn’t play to her liking. Her training sessions were stop-start. She blew the whistle constantly, telling players what they had done wrong without allowing them to fix those things themselves.
But even during that period there were players who did no wrong in her eyes. Her failure as a manager is part of the reason why a section of Banyana players are breathing a sigh of relief following her exit.
Pauw struggled to get to grips with the South African culture before imposing her ideas. That’s the first thing the next Banyana coach needs to understand, especially in a diverse country like ours.
That’s why I believe Tracy-Lee Pepper would be a good candidate for that position.
First, she is a South African who understands the cultural dynamics of the players who make up the team. Hailing from Cape Town, she managed a men’s side from Alexandra where she took over from the late John “Shoes” Moshoeu - she had to work hard to win over the community and the players.
And she is qualified. She discovered Banyana midfielder Robyn Moodaly while working with the under-17s and under-19s at Mpumalanga Black Aces.
The problem is it seems you have to know certain people to be hired on women’s national teams, where there are people less qualified than Pepper and who have leapfrogged her.
Life after Pauw should teach us to back our own. One of Pauw’s mandates was, after all, to help develop coaches who would take over from her.
Safa need to be bold in their next Banyana appointment by backing a South African. There are some quality coaches in the country. Safa need to look beyond their circle. They also need to decide quickly because the draw for the AWCN on the 18th is close, and the tournament starts on November 19.
Saturday Star