Walter Steenbok's appointment as SAFA Technical Director last October was lauded by the footballing fraternity, what with his impressive resume that includes stints in the scouting and youth departments of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, as well as coaching spells at the likes of Benoni Premier United and Basotho Tigers, the latter in the second tier. He is a well-respected figure who has accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience over the years, and so his current role seems to have been tailor-made for him. Just as well, he has been walking the talk this past year, even ruffling some feathers with his comments on coaches and their qualifications… or lack thereof. In this interview with his namesake, Soccer Laduma's Walter Mabeba, Steenbok reveals what he still wants to achieve at South African football's mother body.
Walter Mabeba: As SAFA's Technical Director, how much do you value the development of soccer in South Africa?
Walter Steenbok: I value it very high because that is the biggest job of a Technical Director. It covers youth football, elite football, grassroots football, school football, amateur football, women's football and professional football. It is something that is at the heart of my programme. It is something that SAFA, FIFA and CAF have to uphold.
WM: There is a thought that the development of football in this country is stagnant compared to many other countries around the world.
WS: The main difference is the structure and the programmes. There's been forward thinking in their approach. For instance, in Spain they have a programme for juveniles. They play seven v seven at U10 and U11 level. So, their structure and programme have evolved to the level that they've been able to develop better products than what we have in South Africa. But that doesn't mean they are ahead of us. It is just that the structures and programmes that they have are a little bit modified and a little bit advanced.
WM: So, what is your impression of the progress of our development?
WS: I think it can be better. I have only been in the office since October last year, but you will appreciate the programmes that we have introduced. We have now gone back to U15 where we introduced provincial selection, where the LFAs first have to select players in all their competitions and all leagues, and get into the provincial selection and they come into the national team. For the first time, we have a development U15 national team that has been selected and next year we hope to put them in a specialized academy where they can develop. We are also going to move into the girls programme and soon we will announce an U13 programme also, that looks at girls at U13 level. The rebooting process has already started. You have seen an African school tournament that caters for boys and girls, and they're also going to COSAFA to compete continentally. There is also school's football that is also developing the programme. So, the sensitization and the consciousness that our football administrators needed is happening now with our technical programme. Already in Gauteng, they have the Champions League that is catering for schools. So, there is little pockets of development, but through the help of FIFA, and through the help of the talent development skill, South African football will be in a better place.
WM: What does your job entail?
WS: I am glad that you're asking this question. I see a lot of situations where everybody is appointed as Technical Director. The Technical Director for a club and a Technical Director for an association have different functions. The biggest function for the Technical Director in an association is like an architect. The one that designs the strategy of the technical development plan, of youth football, grassroots football, high performance programme, coach education… basically all the entities fall under the ambit of a Technical Director for a football association. But when you are a Technical Director for a club, the responsibilities are different. Sometimes the recruitment becomes very important, and again, you might also need to work with the academy. If you have a women's football team, then you will also need to work with them. Then your job is to design the strategy, where the club is going.
WM: Since you came on board, are you happy with how things have gone so far?
WS: I must admit that the National Executive Committee has been very supportive since my appointment, but more so, all the committees that I work with – technical committee, the women's football committee, competitions committee and the schools committee. You would have seen the programmes that I have brought into the association: coach education, youth football, national teams are taking a different direction. Also, the space they have given me to implement what I have studied and what I know and what direction South Africa must take. So, I am very glad for the support I've been getting right from the President, to members of the National Organizing Committee and all the committees has been excellent.
WM: In days gone by, there was no such thing as age groups, where a boy had to play in his specific age group. If you were technically good, you could play at a higher division compared to a boy older than you who played in the lower division. Nowadays we see boys at development playing in their age groups – i.e. U13, U15, U17 and U19.
WS: It is a good point you're raising. I am also a product of those yesteryears. But the difference now, compared to yesteryears, is age-appropriate training. What FIFA and CAF have tried to do in this era is to try and produce a particular age group training. It does not stop you from having a different programme that allows players to move quickly within the system. An example that was used by Ajax Cape Town in Ajax Amsterdam, they will have an U13 team but the boys who are playing there will be two years younger. It's the same route that I am taking now with the U15 that I have selected – they are born in 2008. That team will be going to COSAFA this year to play at U17 level. They will play with 16- and 17-year-olds while they are 15 because at times we need to move them faster and allow them to have freedom at an early age. Ansu Fati, from La Masia ranks, played for Barcelona when he was 16. So, when talent is emerging, there shouldn't be restrictions if it can be accelerated. Relebohile Mofokeng at Orlando Pirates, from the School of Excellence, one season in the DDC (DStv Diski Challenge), straight into the first team. That is allowed. But two things that are very important is that the idea of age groups is to provide specific training, which is very important because kids are not young adults. But that does not stop us from saying if you are good enough to play in the D division, you can play there. The example I gave you now is the U15. I want them to go to the World Cup when they are 17. There must be movement and promotion of players who are deserving.
WM: But it seems most of our coaches don't believe in the youth!
WS: I call it quota promotion. That is where you need the Sporting Directors and also the Technical Directors, to be able to ensure that, a player who is promoted has a number of games to get in a particular season. Maybe play 15 percent, coming from the bench, and seven percent in the starting line-up. That is where the concept of a Sporting Director becomes important. It is the role of the club to take care of. When you are promoted and you don't get game-time, it stalls your progress as a player.
WM: Let's talk about the goalscoring problem in Mzansi…
WS: I have already had meetings with some of the yesteryear strikers, such as Fani Madida, Jerry Sikhosana, to mention a few, and through the Clive Barker Academy, one of the courses I included is the finishing course. We need to make this call to our ex-players who were exceptional and prolific in that position. Let's go to international football. In the last two years, Liverpool had a throw-in specialist. Even in rugby, you will see coaches for different positions. Specialized coaching becomes very important.
WM: Benni McCarthy has also been doing well with Manchester United strikers.
WS: I would like to say let's learn from that. I think in his case, we have a wake-up call. He is the only South African who has won the Champions League. UEFA pro Licence coach. And Erik ten Hag has seen that he has a huge potential and an ability to help his strikers. This is where we're supposed to say, Clive Barker Academy, former midfielders, strikers, defenders, where are you? There is a role for you. There is a role for you to play in the development of South African football.
WM: We have heard football pundits talking about the South African style of play. How do you describe our style of play?
WS: It is a question that has long been debated. If you check the SAFA Technical Masterplan, from the last Vision 2022, you will realise that there is a national playing philosophy which was crafted. Not sure if it was Simon Ngomane or the late Ted Dimitru – may his soul rest in peace – or Conti Kubheka, but they were part of those who designed the national playing philosophy. Since I came to office, we have adapted the same document and it will be available very soon. But it is a no-brainer how South Africans want to play. The national playing philosophy comes from the culture and tradition of South Africans. It talks about how we want to play. How we want to express ourselves. It embraces possession play, it embraces a lot of inter-passing and combination play, and a lot of movement from our players, and freedom for creativity.
WM: What is your impression of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos since he took over the reins?
WS: What is interesting is that the coach has settled, and I am happy with the open policy he has developed for the team. It is no longer about age. As a country, we need to give coach Hugo a lot of praise. Reflecting back on the game that we played against Morocco, their coach showered our team with praise. We are also in a good relationship. Our offices are opposite (each other) at SAFA House and I can always go to him and ask for advice. I think Bafana Bafana are in a good space under his tutelage and we expect them to have a good Afcon run in Ivory Coast next year.
WM: The coach has shown his faith on Zakhele Lepasa, who was instrumental in Bafana qualifying for the Afcon and has been in a rich vein of form so far this season. Do you think he is the messiah for the South African goalscoring problems?
WS: Let's continue to support Lepasa and also commend the coaches who have been working with him at club level on a daily basis, and also coach Hugo Broos for keeping faith in him.
WM: TD, thanks for the interview and good luck in your endeavours.
WS: You are welcome, Bra Walter.
