HOME > NEWS > IVORY COASTS FRANCOIS ZAHOU IS THE ONLY AFRICAN COACH LEFT IN NATIONS CUP

Ivory Coast's Francois Zahou is the only African coach left in Nations Cup

Zahoui: Coaching nationality means nothing

Posted: 2012-02-08 10:51

There were four African coaches at the start of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, but by the end of the group phase, Botswana's Stanley Tshosane,  Senegal's Amara Traore and Niger's Hamidou Doula were already out of the campaign, leaving Ivory Coast's Francois Zahoui with the only chance to repeat Egypt's Hassan Shahata's previous victories.

But Zahoui wants to avoid any comparison with foreign coaches or any sympathy from African analysts, asking to be judged based on what he does with his players and not where he comes from.
 
"I really don't see any difference between an African coach and a foreign one at a competition like this one," Zahoui told a press conference in Libreville on Tuesday.
 
"The issue is how competent is the person handling the job and the means provided for the job to be done. Anybody can coach or handle a team. The origin of the person shouldn't be used to judge what he has done during a campaign or what he will do."
 
However, the former Ivory Coast international acknowledged how African football federations neglect or underrate local coaches.
 
"It's a pity that many African FAs don't give value to their indigenous coaches, but tend to depend mostly on foreigners, it's not a crime to place some amount of confidence in local hands, try them and see what they can deliver," he said.
 
Zahoui also revealed that his goalkeeper Copa Barry, who picked up a slight thigh injury during their previous game against Equatorial Guinea, was still doubtful for Wednesday's meeting against Mali.
 
"I can't really say for now if Copa will play tomorrow (Wednesday)," Zahoui said. "The medical staff are doing their best but after Wednesday morning's training session, I'd be able to confirm whether he'll be fielded or not." 

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Dodo: 2012-02-08 11:31

Sorry Mr Editor, there were four African coaches, you forgot Tshosane of Botswana.

I do howver agree totally with Zahoui, its not the nationality but the competency that works. Its a pity that at this stage we still put a lot of emphasis on foreigners, or should I say Europeans. The asians and south americans always have local coaches, why cant we?

Another point, why cant we wear jersey's/kits made in Africa. Whats the point of making the european and american manufactures rich at our expense. Botswana were using a localy made kit which was as good as the european made kits.

We as africans are really pathetic, after so many years we still rely on europenas for everything at our expense

Dooba OPC: 2012-02-08 12:00

Yes, try telling safa about coaches- Pitso is the only local coach who was also a bad footballer... god knows how he made it that far- those lucky wins against chiefs when he was SSU coach must have aroused his reputation, and since safa is clueless, they went for the clueless- it's simple: nationality matters less, so long you are competent. South africans wanted a local coach because safa was hiring semi-skilled rejects from all over the place- who can today justify the appointment of Carloes Santana- because Perreiara said Carlos was good with club teams the whole safa thought they were getting Perriera with much to save since their Carlos Perreira was Brazilian too... eish, this safa mara!

meg7113: 2012-02-08 12:08

Well said DODO and DOODA. I was also wondering why our leaders think quality only come from Europe. The best ever Zambian team was coached by Alex Chola and Peter Kaumba all locals. The kits from Europe are actually made in China. Our football management should'nt try to tell me we cant sew our own. I remember in Zambia there was a very good company called SERIOS making suits for European market, sown by locals. So whats the big deal to import kits at exaggerated, exorbitant prices?

LEBZA : 2012-02-08 12:17

whr daz de sudan coach coming from mr. Editor

Pierre: 2012-02-08 14:10

@Dodo you did not read the article well, the editor did name Stan Tshosane of Botswana but he forgot to mention that there were five African coaches in the AFCON this time. He forgot the Sudanese coach and Trabelsi of Tunisia who were all coaching their respective countries. @Dooba OPC you right Pitso never achieaved anything as a coach, he went to six cup finals and he lost four and won. The other final was SAA Super Eight lucky controversial win against Chiefs through dubious penalty scored by Phil Evans after Arthur Zwane wanted to clear the ball and he missed it and went to heat his hand, a penalty was awarded by Daniel Bennet towards the end of the game. This was the game where Suportsport was defending for their dear life the whole nighty minutes. Chiefs eventually avenged that defeat the following season in the same competition in Durban. In short Pitso beat Chiefs once in cup competition and his other victim was Wits for only two trophies he has ever won as a coach.

Mukai: 2012-02-08 15:23

As much as coaching should be about competence, there is however a reality that the football associations tend to listen more to and take direction from foreign coaches and in contrast want to dictate to the locally sourced coach. Perhaps that is why foreign coaches do not experience as many problems of non-cooperation from either the national or club executives.

The saying a prophet is without honour among his kin is all too true and we should stop thinking foreign is always better.

Dodo: 2012-02-08 16:11

@ Pierre I read the article correctly. Its only that the Editor is trying some monkey tricks. When the article was first posted he said there were 3, but after pointing out that to him he made the correction, without acknowledging the error. Unfortunately he still got it wrong as there were 5, talk about poor reporting. PLEASE MR EDITOR I DEMAND AN APOLOGY!

@ Mukai, you are so spot on. our federations can give a european coach all the support and the local coach none at all. If we dont want to go local why cant we at least hire someone from africa? TOGO went to the world cup with an african coach, cant remember whether it was Keshi or Sia Sia

Meg7113, what irritates me is that our federations dont realise that we are not only buying these kits at crazy prices, but also exporting our money and leaving ourselves poor. Can you imagine how much money puma is raking in out of replicas? Why cant we keep the money home were it will help alleviate our own?