adminTalking Football with Cosmas Zulu
Chicken Inn v Hwange
I wonder why the match commissioner allowed the game to go ahead with the two teams’ uniforms virtually clashing. Both Chicken Inn and Hwange’s uniforms were dominated by the colour yellow. Both teams were scared of each other and the game was dominated by long balls from the back. A high ball is anyone’s ball. The passing accuracy was so pathetic to say the least and I heard one supporter shouting “this game is not worth paying $3 for, but $1 for two”.
There was only one shot on target in the first half by Edmore Chirambadare of Chicken Inn. Long throws gave Hwange problems resulting in a penalty for Chicken Inn.
It’s not only Hwange coach Nation Dube, but most coaches cannot deal with set pieces. Sending nine players into the box to defend a throw in just creates lots of confusion among the defenders.
If the nation is to place its trust in Dube as the stand in national coach, he must display some professionalism and not withdraw his players every time the referee gives a decision against his team.
Let’s look at just six items from the coaches’ code of conduct.
l Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat each other equally within the context of the sport.
l Coaches must adhere to all guidelines laid down by Fifa, Zifa and rules of PSL.
l Coaches must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
l Coaches must not use or tolerate inappropriate language.
l Coaches must co-operate fully with other specialists, eg other coaches, officials, sports journalists and doctors in the best interest of the player.
l Coaches must always promote the positive aspects of the sport, eg fair play, and never condone violations of the law of the game behaviour contrary to the spirit of the laws of the game or relevant rules and regulations of the use of prohibited substances or techniques.
How Mine v Highlanders
The most important aspect of any sport is the warm-up and the two teams did not impress in this area.
For example, the warm-up must be addressed in a stipulated time frame and in a sequence order. A portion of the warm-up should consist of skill drills and other movements related to the activity to follow like the goalkeeper coach taking his goalies through a warm-up.
How do you expect goalkeepers to perform well if they do not warm-up in their working area between the sticks?
The infield players from both teams did not work on their shooting during warm-up and how do you honestly hope to score goals without practising in the warm-up.
Highlanders have themselves to blame for being booted out on penalties as they could have wrapped up the match in regulation time had they converted the many chances they created.
Highlanders’ keeper Njabulo Nyoni again conceded a goal at the near post as he did in the league game against Dynamos. It’s a sin to concede in this manner.
Highlanders’ technical staff also got their sequence of penalty takers wrong. You cannot give the big responsibility of a deciding spot kick to a new boy who has never played in front of a big Barbourfields Stadium crowd.
To Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu, penalties are done at training where you actually come up with 10 takers in sequence.
The How Mine technical staff will have to address the way they conceded the goal from a free kick. The defenders were clumsy and had no idea which area to cover. The wall was poorly arranged and the players forming the wall did not jump or cover the side not covered by the goalkeeper.
Coach Luke Masomera will have to work at addressing this during training sessions. Congratulations though because your boys took good penalties and good luck in the next round.
Until next week. [email protected], 0773 842 671
Online Reporter