CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches have welcomed the tiki-taka philosophy after finishing their two-day coaching clinic under the La Masia coaches from FC Barcelona — Isaac Orio Guerrero Hernandez and Daniel Bigas Alsina — at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
PSL coaches and their team captains attended the coaching clinic.
La Masia is the famous Barcelona academy credited for being the conveyor belt of talent which has churned out some of the finest footballers on this planet who include Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Thiago Motta, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, among others.
The two coaches have been in the country under the partnership between FC Barcelona and SABMiller, in which Castle Lager is the official beer brand for the former European champions. They left for Zambia yesterday for a similar coaching clinic, but Zimbabwean coaches have learnt a lot from the masters of the passing game.
What the coaches said:
Methembe Ndlovu (Bantu Rovers): “This is a very useful system. We are getting the concepts, but it is being rushed. It needs time, but at Bantu Rovers we play an almost similar system. We play a passing game. We have been thriving on a passing game and we will try to implement what we have learnt from this course.”
Joey Antipas (Chicken Inn): “Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world and we have learnt a lot from their passing game. Our game has not been really putting emphasis on possession and passing. It’s good that we have all the Premier Soccer League coaches here. It will go a long way in helping develop our football although it needs a lot of time.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Jostein Mathuthu (Black Rhinos): “It’s a very rich coaching clinic. We have learnt a lot, but sometimes it might not be suitable for the position that my team is on the log because you need time to implement it. The other problem is that we need more time to grasp all the concepts. I am crying foul on the time frame because you may not be able to grasp all the concepts. We need more time.”
John Nyikadzino (Chapungu): “It has been a very good coaching course, but its implementation sometimes depends on the playing personnel you have. You also need to start it when the players are still very young at around six years. That is the only way it can bear fruits.”
Timothy Masachi (Buffaloes): “It has been an eye-opener, but we have to groom our own players using the system, not this business of buying from other teams. It will be difficult to have new players adjust to your philosophy. There is no doubt passing is a weapon in football, it tires opponents, but you need to gradually implement it.”
Bigboy Mawiwi (Harare City): “It’s a very good system which has been beneficial to all of us, but it’s not applicable where there are no proper structures. You need a long-term investment and proper structures. So you need all football stakeholders to be involved to take our game to another level.”
Kelvin Kaindu (Highlanders): “It’s a very good programme, but it takes time. It’s a long-term programme and we will try to implement, but it cannot be done overnight.”
Taurai Mangwiro(Caps United): “It’s an important coaching course which helps us to keep abreast of modern trends in football. I share the vision of a passing game. It requires a lot of repetition and eventually we will get there. I think at Caps United we are on track.”
Biggie Zuze (Triangle): “It has been very educative, but it’s a system that has to start from the juniors right to the senior national team like the case in Spain. That is why Barcelona and the Spain national team have been dominating tournaments. It is easy for those that graduate into the senior team, but it has been an eye-opener for everyone here”.
Lloyd Mutasa (FC Platinum): “It’s refreshing to have this kind of course. It instils confidence into our game and we will try to emulate what they do. I have always been a Barcelona supporter and I think this will go a long way in helping us as a team. It will help us to fulfil our objective, which is to win matches while keeping possession.”
Saul Chaminuka (ZPC Kariba): “We have learnt a lot from this course. I have been taught by some instructors that tactics are not taught at an early stage with emphasis being on things like ball control and passing. But here I have been taught that players are taught tactics at a very early age. They should know their positions and I believe this is why Europe is always ahead of us in terms of football.”
Kalisto Pasuwa (Dynamos): “This is a very good programme. We have learnt so much from this course. It puts emphasis on teaching players at a very early age and it would have been more helpful if the football administrators would have attended also.”
