Polokwane City coach Boebie Solomons is hoping that Varsity Football tournament will help to fast track the development of the sport in Limpopo.
Solomons, who is a vastly experienced coach in the Premier Soccer League, will closely monitor the progress of University of Limpopo in this year’s tournament.
Limpopo will make their eagerly awaited debut in the second edition of Varsity Football. They take on the University of Cape Town away from home on Monday night.
Solomons, who also coached Santos and Wits in his coaching career, has expressed his concerns about the development of football in the North, but he is hoping that Varsity competition will inspire the youngsters to dare to dream.
Last year Solomons missed out on the chance of signing the competition’s player of the tournament Thabo Mnyamane, who was
snatched by University of Pretoria.
But this year he has promised to sign a player with potential from Limpopo. Solomons said: “We nearly signed Thabo, but Tuks beat us to
his signature. Development is a solid foundation, but there is a slowly progress in Limpopo.
“There are few home grown players at Polokwane City and we are looking to change that and we are hoping that Limpopo will shine at the
Varsity Cup.
“We have not had many dealings with young players from this province, but I will seriously monitor their progress in the competition,” he added.
Solomons says that it’s time for professional coaches to put their faith in young players.
“I watched the World Cup in Brazil and saw many countries use their young players,” he said.
But Solomons is worried about the lack of competition for young players in South Africa. He praised Varsity Football and their sponsors for
coming up with an initiative to get young players playing and also broadcasting the matches on television.
Solomons said: “There is a lack of competition at junior level and this gap has to be narrowed.
“We have a lot of talent in SA but where are the youngsters going to play. Competitions such as Varsity Football offer them with the
opportunity to play competitive football,” he explained.
Solomons also revealed that it’s a mission to sign talented young footballers for the so called smaller teams in the Premiership because
of the influence of soccer agents and the money.
He said: “The big clubs offer agents 10 000 or more to convince the young players to sign for them, but they don’t even play for the big
clubs as they warm up the bench.”
So what is his advice to the young players that will be spotted and signed by National First Division and PSL teams?
“Well, its simple players must agree to sign for teams that will give them game time and not for fame or the privilege of playing for a big team only to warm up the bench.
“They will be forgotten quickly and shipped out on-loans to other clubs.”
By Charles Baloyi – Sports writer for the Daily Sun and Sunday Sun newspapers
