Head coach Steve Komphela has issued a plea to South Africans to evolve with the times in response to criticism of Moroka Swallows' insistence to play out from the back.
The Dube Birds suffered their second defeat on the bounce as the Buccaneers walked away 2-0 winners at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The defeat was the third consecutive occasion in which Swallows failed to win the match and the poor run of form has cast questions over Komphela's playing style.
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Speaking at the post-match press conference, Komphela said possession-based football was the modern way of playing and that South Africa ought to catch up with the times.
"My biggest question to us as a nation as South Africans is are we ready to adapt? We are reluctant, South Africans are not quick to adapt to the trends of modern football,"
"We tend to be rigid, and we are stuck in old ways even when the game is moving.
"We've got to move fast if we must improve the game. Not only players, not only coaches, not only the wonderful people sitting on couches in front of me in terms of educating people (media).
Tshegofatso Mabasa under Steve Komphela has been reborn ?? ?? Tonight at 19:30 (CAT) on SS PSL, Swallows take on Richards Bay as the #DStvPrem returns. pic.twitter.com/xyNYiqoPJD
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) September 15, 2023
Komphela used former side Mamelodi Sundowns as the ideal example of a team that is thriving on innovation.
"If you look at Mamelodi Sundowns, you will learn a lot when they build. If you look at Orlando Pirates, you will learn a lot when they build. You will learn a lot from Manchester City, from Brighton," the 57-year-old added.
"All those components should not just be stuff that we watch on TV because the game is universal. If you do that (build from the back), then they say: 'you are risking the thing'.
"I'm saying, of the teams that build from the back and perceived be at high risk of conceding goals, they are teams that concede the least number of goals.
"Before this match, we conceded seven and Sundowns have conceded three. They build from the back; we build from the back and two of the teams that build from the back have conceded the least goals so far."
Swallows host SuperSport United at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday. Kick-off is at 15:30.
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