When I heard that FIFA had allocated R0.5 billion to SAFA for soccer development in South Africa, my spatial mind went into gear.  

• Where are the existing soccer fields and stadiums in the country?
• What are the condition of the soccer fields and stadiums, especially the soccer fields located at schools?
• How will SAFA provide soccer facilities as close to where the youth are concentrated in the country?
• How will SAFA go about creating a network of soccer facilities from the rural soccer fields to those stadiums located in urban areas?
• How will SAFA show where this money is being spent to ensure accountability and transparency in the allocation of these funds?

Clearly, there is a need to have an understanding of where all the soccer fields and stadiums are in the country and what their condition are. To develop the potential of our youth in sport requires knowing where the soccer facilities are located in relation to where the highest concentrations of our youth are. This information will enable SAFA to make more informed decisions about allocating funds to schools or communities where the soccer fields are of a poor quality. Using accessibility studies like those done by AfricaScope for the national government will enable SAFA to identify areas where new soccer fields and stadiums need to be built.

There is no doubt in my mind that to ensure that South Africa becomes a force in world soccer that there is the establishing of a network of soccer facilities across the country. Firstly, suitable soccer fields need to be placed at schools or communities in the country. The next issue is to ensure that teachers are trained to become coaches of school teams. The school soccer pitches can then be used for training purposes.

To ensure that our youth are playing on the best surfaces and having enough competition will require the establishing of soccer fields and stadiums within towns located within a reasonable distance of a number of schools. Schools can then meet at these regional soccer facilities to play matches. SAFA will have to look at how transport can be organized and paid for to get the school teams to these facilities. This approach I believe will ensure that the immense soccer talent we have in this country will be identified so that they can be linked to soccer clubs and nurtured through academies.

One final comment, which has already been picked up by the media, is the need to monitor how these millions of Rand will be spent on developing soccer in the country. This comment is not only relevant to SAFA but to all tiers of government, the private sector and the donor community. It is for this reason that AfricaScope in collaboration with Trialogue have developed the Social (Investment) Mapping tool. This will show at a project level where SAFA is allocating funds. It will also enable them to identify priority areas (eg schools with no soccer fields) and communicate to the South African public where the funds are going.

I hope that these comments are of some use. I would hope that this is done so that in the next World Cup Bafana Bafana goes beyond the second round and South Africa is recognized as one of the top footballing nations of the world.

Craig Schwabe