20 March 2008
Mark Williams is best known for scoring the two goals which won South Africa the 1996 African Cup of Nations. Now, the former Bafana Bafana star is scoring for beach soccer development, and the impact could, in time, overshadow his 1996 heroics.
In conjunction with the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Qualifying tournament next week, there is a full-scale development programme with about 200 children being coached to play the offshoot of traditional field soccer.
The coaches who will be charged with instructing the children are currently being taught by Williams, the only Fifa-accredited beach soccer coach in Africa.
In rare company
Williams is currently one of only eight coaches worldwide who have the top Fifa beach soccer coaching accreditation, and he is using his knowledge to develop the sport in South Africa.
The 41-year-old was first brought into the beach soccer setup for the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 Qualifying tournament as a senior player to give the young the team some experience as they aimed for a spot in the World Cup finals in Rio that year. Last year he coached and played for the national team at the qualifying tournament.
This year he will not be involved in the on-field activities, but his long-term contribution could be the catalyst which makes South Africa a beach soccer powerhouse.
Coaching the coaches
The former striker is conducting a coaching course for coaches, and his 12 charges, who include former stars such as Sazi Ngubane and Tsepo Ntsoane, will be thrown into the development programme later this week when they take charge of children ranging in ages from nine to 15.
"I believe it is vitally important to develop beach soccer in South Africa," said an obviously passionate Williams.
"The Durban City Council has put their money where their mouth is and has thrown their weight behind the beach soccer tournaments and will be bidding for the 2011 Beach Soccer World Cup.
"Beach soccer also has a lot of sponsors who are backing the sport, and I believe now is the time to take it a step further and get schools and youngsters involved in the sport."
Williams' plan
Williams' plan is to get a group of well-trained coaches all following a similar programme. He believes that in a few years time, when the young players are coming through the system, there will not be a clash of styles. He hopes the players will all be able to fit together in a team.
"I want the whole country doing the same thing and following the same programme. The hope and dream is for KZN to start the programme, and then for the Eastern Cape and Western Cape to follow, and then Gauteng and other centres.
"Brazil and France are the two most successful beach soccer nations, and I have taken the best parts of their game and put it together with some local stuff, and hopefully we will soon have all the teams playing in a South African style that will be world beating."
Developing the youth
For Williams, who is used to being in limelight, it is a change in focus to be playing a behind-the-scenes role. "I would love to still be playing the game, but sometimes there are better things, and I think it is time for me to be developing the youth.
"I think that when I am sitting on the stands next week and watching the South African team playing, I will miss the action. But I have moved on, and I sincerely hope the team does well.
"It will be a young team that plays in the qualifier next week, but that is what Safa wants and I do not fit into that."
Source: Gameplan Media
