Africa Mia!

In 1980, the President of one of the two most important Clubs in Uruguay decided to hire three Africa players. John Yawson (Ghana), Abednigo "Shaka" Ngcobo y Ace Knomo (both from South Africa).

People called him "loco" (crazy man) because, how can a great team in the football world like Peñarol to contract African players, when the football in Africa did not have the relevance it has currently?. Moreover, the pride of the people of a country with 3M inhabitants with historic victories in Olympic Games and World Cups did not allow us to accept that. Big mistake!

Washington Cataldi, the President, said: "the future of the football is in Africa". Technically very good players that grow playing in fields like our kids play in Uruguay, and the most important, not so expensive.

With no doubt, Cataldi was a visionary. At the present, there are hundreds of talents in Africa that a few people know about them, although in the last years, the most powerful clubs in the world disembarked in Africa to get those young talents. Sometimes with serious programs, sometimes going simply from one country to another like a circus. Players require a right formation from the grassroots and it is essential to respect the times, idiosincracies and mentality of African people. Nothing new. It is the same in all latitudes.

I had and I have the privilege to train African players from many countries. Really a pleasure their sacrifice spirit and love for the football. Simply sometimes those players, like the europeans, americans, asian, should accelerate the process of adaptation to a more strict and professional discipline. As I say to my friends, in my teams, I need three left foot players and three qualified Africans. The rest is easy to assemble.

Just watching games of the youth world cups we can confirm that Africa is not more the future: it is a great reality!