I can not be sure if the term: ‘Youth Scouting’ has ever come across you or not as you are reading this chronicle!
Even the devoted soccer lover with decades or years of experience, could easily be lost if he or she was to attempt to answer what ‘Youth Scouting’ entails in the context of managing and leading a football club or national teams.
By all accounts, when I grew up playing football in the townships of Cape Town, in the 1980s, there wasn’t much Youth Scouting around.
Or visible and inclusive enough to give little upcoming stars a chance to shine.
And by the look of things, some progress has been made since South Africa was readmitted into international football in 1992, as Soccer Academies keep on springing up every now and then!
Even in the rest of the African continent, much has been achieved regarding the development of youth stars who ply their trade in top leagues across the globe, since Zaire became the first African country to participate in a FIFA Soccer World Cup in 1974.
Yet, it must be mentioned, the number of kids and youths, outside football, boys & girls, is alarming, to say the least.
The unavailability and non accessibility of Academies in many communities; the lack of football in many schools and lack of support from governments and national associations, is a disservice to millions if not billions of children and youths around the world. This is not just bad for the children and youths but also for the growth and development of football.
We have seen big football clubs and national teams followed by millions getting multiple and multi million deals due to the massive fanbase these brands enjoy.
Local Football Associations'(LFAs) and partners and stakeholders innovations are crucial for player identification and evaluation.
Even the number of well qualified Youth Scouts is another area of great concern, which requires the LFAs and its partners and stakeholders to overcome, if football is to thrive and benefit everybody in society.
There’s also an obligation for all football clubs to be runned and managed professionally. If they truly love the game and are committed to the welfare and wellbeing of all players.
On this front, if clubs are managed professionally, this increases the chances of the clubs’ sustainability; and this would help clubs to get sponsorship deals.
Other spin offs of professionalism range from a successful internal scouting program for clubs, where players are not lost within the clubs Academies and/or development structures; but they actually graduate to bigger things.
For all these things to materialize, clubs would have to invest in Adult Education and related educational football programs for the management and players.
And an evidence based and scientific study and application of international best practices on everything related to football and player development, must form part of strategic plans.
This is where the likes of V Agency, the global brand which provides sport consulting and adult education programs, must be put in motion for maximum growth, as their globally recognized, Introduction to International Football Scouting Course is fast confirming, with an overwhelming worldwide support and response.
We need to be producing not just star players but also build up quality footballers who will continue to add value to the ‘Beautiful Game’ long after their professional playing days are over.
Thandisizwe Mgudlwa is a participant in the Introduction to International Football Scouting Course. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Regenesys Business School
