Mendes on beach soccer and SA
22 September 2006
If the South African beach soccer team makes it to the 2006 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Rio later this year, they will have a group of 30 Brazilian models to thank.
Marcelo Silveira Mendes, brought in to coach the SA team ahead of the World Cup African qualifier kicking off in Durban on 26 September, started his beach soccer coaching career with what many would consider to be a dream job: teaching beach soccer to 30 models on Copacabana Beach in Rio.
Modelling meets beach soccer
Mendes landed the job through good fortune and an informal game of beach soccer. "I was studying Physical Education at University in Rio at the time," he says. "A few friends of mine and our girlfriends used to play soccer together, and sometimes we would play on the beach for a bit of fun.
"A famous model in Brazil saw us playing and joined in," Mendes continues. "She was seen by a dress company and they made an advert using
her playing beach soccer. Soon we had other models playing beach soccer, and I was coaching them.
"A dress company in Rio sponsored the 'school', and a year later I started coaching kids."
The 36-year-old now owns a beach soccer coaching school in Brazil, and has coached some of the top teams in the world.
"In 1999 I was working at the university and I received a phone call asking if I wanted to coach the Portuguese team," he says. "I also coached Uruguay, and in 2003 I was the coach for Thailand at the World Cup."
Giving street children a chance
But Mendes has not forgotten his roots, and speaks with great passion about developing beach soccer among the youth of Rio.
"Rio has a lot of poor street children, and they do not have very much to make their lives good. I had a chance to make a difference for them. I was able to teach the children beach soccer.
"There are sponsors who would give me clothes and soccer balls
and I was able to give these to the children," says Mendes. "I also saw that a lot of my players needed food and so I would go and collect the food and give it to the kids. I felt that if I had a chance to make a difference to the kids, then why not. I think most people would do the same."
Developing the game in SA
Youth development is also an extension of Mendes' role as coach of the South African beach soccer team.
With the assistance of G3 Lifestyle Management Network, the promoters of the World Cup qualifier in Durban, Mendes has brought four of the coaches from his schools in Brazil to help develop the sport of beach soccer in South Africa.
Mendes and his assistants are coaching coaches, referees, and young players so as to leave a legacy of beach soccer in Durban when they return to Brazil.
His first priority, however, is to make sure the South African team is ready to beat their African opponents in the qualifying
tournament next week, and then perform with honour at the finals in Rio later this year.
Qualifying for Rio
"I am impressed by the South African players," Mendes says. "Most of them have never played beach soccer before, but they have good skills.
"I am impressed with Mark Williams and Mark Fish," Mendes adds. "They are big names, but big names do not win matches. They know this and know they are here for their skills and experience.
"They are working hard and they are here because they want to train. Williams has surprised me. At 40 people are not normally as fit as he is."
And what does Mendes think of South Africa's chances at the qualifying tournament?
"We need to work step by step, but I think we will qualify, and then I think we have a chance to reach the quarter-finals in Rio. After that anything can happen."
South African Beach Soccer Team
Mark Williams (captain), Gary Johnson, Siyabonga Mbatha,
Riaaz Conthitoo, Mark Fish, Fani Shange, Prince Gumede, Alric Coles, Thando Mthembu, Siyabonga Ntetha, Lowell Kinsey, Siyabonga Dlamini, Brian Sebapole.
Coaches: Marcelo Mendes, Lindani Shezi
For more information, visit Beach Soccer SA.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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