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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
With more than 100 international caps, German legend Andy Köpke was ranked as the top goalkeeper in the world in 1996. He holds World Cup and European Championship winner's medals and is now contracted as a goalkeeping coach for the German Football Association until 2010. Following the successful establishment of the German Goalkeeper's School, Köpke has now teamed up with former Bafana goalkeeping coach Farouk Abrahams to establish the African Goalkeepers School 2010. Project 2010 asked him….  How has the idea of establishing goalkeeping schools throughout Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup been received? It has been welcomed everywhere we present this unique project. Facing the benchmarks of the existing goalkeeper schools in Cape Town and Germany (in 14 cities), it become much more easier to adapt the concept and the message and set up local goalkeeper schools all over the continent. With Farouk Abrahams' Mission to upgrade the goalkeeper training in Africa, we give strong support and build the bridge of specific knowledge transfer between the two FIFA World Cup host countries - Germany and South Africa. What do you see as the major hurdles with setting up these schools in Africa? Because it is a people-to-people project, we need time to find the right and reliable persons for the key positions in the areas. Farouk is well known and well connected in the football, from SAFA down to the communities. He has now more and more time to establish a team of head coaches in the nine host cities and then next near in other African countries. The equipment and the kids are there, but we need the support from the cities to provide the facilities. What do you view as the biggest strengths of African football at this time? Individually, African football is close to the top of international football, but the teams, the organisation behind them and the mentality for training and professionalism must be improved. Once African teams can close these gaps, they have the chance to be one of favorites for the World Cup trophy. And the biggest weaknesses? There are too many wasted talents and I can't see any African goalkeeper talent so far. Are you confident about South Africa's abilities to host a successful World Cup in 2010? We know that South Africa will host a successful World Cup in terms of hospitality, friendliness and atmosphere. It can be another big and countrywide fan fest for everybody like we experienced in Germany. And if Bafana Bafana uses its home advantage, the World Cup fever will help the country to clear all hurdles inside and outside the stadiums. I wish all the best for it and look forward to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. more interviews... |
