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Stow the stereotypes African Nations Cup worthy of attention
Posted: Tuesday January 25, 2000 05:54 PM
There was a time when Europe and South America sneered at African soccer. There was a time when African teams would go to the World Cup and get steamrollered by halftime. Actually, it wasn't even that long ago -- 1974 -- that Zaire was trounced 9-0 by Yugoslavia. That time has passed. The quality of play currently on display in Ghana and Nigeria at the African Nations Cup is now close to the level we'll see at Euro 2000. Teams like Nigeria, Cameroon and Morocco could probably challenge for a top four finish in the European Championships or Copa America. In case you hadn't noticed, African soccer's day of destiny is drawing closer ... and not just because some people say FIFA wants to pump the continental game by awarding South Africa the World Cup. Stereotypes are crumbling every day. It used to be said that Germans were disciplined but devoid of flair, Brazilians wonderfully skilled but tactically inept, Italians defensively obsessed and brutally cynical and Africans (no distinction needed -- to the ignorant of yesteryear the countries were all the same) powerful and fast but with little skill and no sense of position. Well it's plain to see that as the game becomes more global, these so-called national characteristics are quickly melting away. If (and it's a big if) they ever held a molecule of truth, it's rapidly falling apart. You want examples? Andreas Moller and Stefan Effenberg are German. The former has flair, the latter would make Conan the Barbarian on mescaline seem disciplined. Vampeta and Junior Baiano are Brazilian. The former is one of the most tactically intelligent footballers around, the latter's touch on the ball is about at as feathery as a bed of nails. As for Italians and their supposed love affair with the "Catenaccio" philosophy, well, times have changed. Milan, Parma, Juventus all play with just three defenders. Roma features three strikers (Totti, Montella and Delvecchio), plus an offensive midfielder (Nakata). It's time to say goodnight to Mr. Catenaccio. It's the same deal with African players, except the stereotype is even uglier. Suggesting they are merely superb athletes with no clue how to play the game is not just ignorant and offensive, it's patently untrue. Eusebio, lest we forget, was from Mozambique and was one of the greatest players in history. Roger Milla didn't score all those goals because he was a great athlete or indeed a naturally gifted player, but because his sense of position and intelligence in the penalty box were second to none. Today, Lucas Radebe isn't just a big lug who jumps higher, runs faster and kicks (opponents) harder than others. He is a modern, versatile defender and a natural leader. So is Noureddine Naybet. Nwankwo Kanu's skills are so exquisite, you'd think that he was born in Rio. Guys like Youssef Chippo and Sunday Oliseh are precious tactical counterweights with vision and intelligence. So why hasn't Africa achieved more on the world stage? The obvious answer is that they haven't had the time. When Pele lifted his first World Cup in 1958, only three of the sixteen countries contesting this year's African Cup were even independent (and one of those, Ghana, achieved independence only the year before, in 1957).
When you're trying to build a country out of scratch, establishing a powerful soccer presence isn't exactly a major priority. Creating a strong national side entails more than assembling 11 gifted players: you need quality coaching, widespread scouting and access to first-rate training facilities. In short, you need money, and that isn't always easy to come by. African countries have done their best in adverse situations. For starters, many have entrusted their national team fortunes to international coaches -- 10 of the 16 have picked overseas managers. On the one hand, it's a shame, because African countries need time to develop their own managers just as they are developing their own players. And, as the good folks at the U.S. Soccer Federation like to remind us: "No country has ever won the World Cup with an overseas manager." (Then again, no country has ever won the World Cup with a U.S.-born manager either, but I guess that's another issue.) On the other hand, managers from soccer-savvy nations bring a wealth of experience and expertise which would be difficult to find in Africa. Competing at the highest level makes you stronger, whether you are a player or a coach. And, whether we like it or not, there isn't too much high-level competition going on in Burkina Faso or Togo. The African Nations' Cup is more than just a showcase of talent (although you wouldn't be able to tell from the swarms of agents lurking behind every corner). Nor is it just a nuisance to wealthy European clubs who, as usual, went up in arms when they discovered that they'd be missing their top players in the middle of the season. In fact, every European club official who whined "Why can't they just play it during our off-season?" (i.e. when the temperature in Nigeria is only slightly higher than the surface of Venus) should be forced to spend a week in July running on a treadmill in central Abuja clad in a fake fur coat and moon boots. It is the premier soccer event of the year 2000, after the European Championships. If you know African soccer, none of this will be news to you. If you don't (and you happen to live in one of the 86 countries with television coverage), grab a cold drink and reserve some time in front of the TV. You won't be disappointed.
Extra TimeWill he or won't he? Numerous newspapers announced Rivaldo's US$63 million move from Barcelona to Lazio as a done deal, only to be proved wrong a few days later. The Brazilian's future is still uncertain, but there is no doubt that any move will prompt a domino effect across Europe's biggest clubs. If he does join Lazio, look for the Rome club to jettison either Juan Sebastian Veron, Pavel Nedved or Diego Simeone (or all three). It's a wealthy club, but not that wealthy, and it will still have to finance the deal somehow. Also, Rivaldo's departure will clear the way for Arsenal's Flying Dutchman, Marc Overmars, to rejoin his old boss Louis Van Gaal at the Nou Camp. Speaking of Lazio, Roberto Mancini announced that he will retire next June and take a stab at managing. Expect him to seek advice from his best friend and alter ego Gianluca Vialli. Mancini was one of the most gifted players of his generation, though perhaps he didn't achieve as much as he might have. He had the misfortune of having to deal with a national team manager, Arrigo Sacchi, who had no place for him into his tactical vision. And his generation of Italian players included the likes of Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Baggio, so competition was always tough. But he did lead an unfancied, unglamorous team with little money to a national championship while at Sampdoria. And his place in soccer lore is forever guaranteed. Vasco Da Gama's Romario scored his 700th goal in official competition against Palmeiras last week amidst much pomp and celebration. The Brazilian striker now needs just 581 more to equal Pele, but even if he does (don't worry, he won't), he still won't be world's all-time leading scorer. Artur "El Tigre" Friedenreich (the answer to many a trivia question) netted 1381 goals between 1910 and 1930. In case you're wondering, Nicolas Anelka has another 1350-plus goals to go... London-based Gabriele Marcotti writes a weekly column on international soccer for CNNSI.com. To submit questions or comments to Gabriele Marcotti, click here.
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