Southampton's strategy going forward according to Les Reed... Sounds like they have other targets areas apart from this region as well. First Africa, next stop Saints academies all over the world...!
East Africa is nowhere near those countries North Africa would be more accurate. Interesting strategy utilising Radhi too. With Seidi in the youth team as well, and the African countries' performance at the last World Cup, Africa seems like a big region for talent now. Looking forward to see what happens
You're right to say that the countries mentioned are not in East Africa. It sounds like he is talking about East Africa as an ambition of the club but right now, with Jaidi, North Africa is more accessible. Have to say I can't think of many famous East African footballers. McDonald Mariga is from Kenya and has had success in Europe, any others? So I don't know if that's because it's an untapped resource or because most of the countries around there are extremely poor and ravaged by war... Fair to say they're probably wise to concentrate on other areas right now!
Yes if he goes to east Africa hoping to find these countries he will be very disappointed. However, few players have come out of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Malawi etc and I suspect their low FIFA rankings will make work permits hard to obtain. Whereas certainly from playing against north African footballers you can see their technique, skill and often strength is far great at a young age.
I wonder if it's worth looking into somewhere like Zambia, who just won the African Cup of Nations, or maybe even Libya? Two opposite ends of the continent but meh.
Well places like Kenya have produced players like McDonald Mariga who plays for Inter (but is on loan at Parma) and certainly countries like Burkina Faso, Botswana and Malawi are producing some players who will be used to high altitude. These are a different breed from the West coast players and many will come good, just depends if we can get work permits etc. Zambia also have some good looking players, but most of these African 'stars' play in South Africa where there is more money.
East Africa is really not French Africa. Mostly it was British while Zanzibar was a Portuguese colony IIRC as was Madagascar and Mozambique.
East Africa is just behind the West etc because of the infrastructure is not up to sctratch. Read a few articles that as of last year this is set to change, as money is being pumped into new stadiums and academys. So it would be worth a look.
Interesting you should say that as I was hearing today that Didier Drogba is definitely leaving Chelsea to go and play in Shanghai for a couple of years to get a big pay time for the hospital he's building for the Ivory Coast. I don't know the details, but it must show something of the lack of infrastructure that a private individual, albeit a very rich sporting hero, can make that much difference. Good luck to the man, and his efforts.
Southampton embarking on our own Waterloo against the French. Jaidi gives us a foothold in North Africa and I hope that we can join with the Saints foundation and help the communities out there. From a football point of view it's great that we're looking into places which have a low presence. No point joining flooded markets
Yes SecondStain, Ivory Coast, although in West Africa, fits that description pretty well also. I think it's difficult for us to comprehend exactly how deprived these places are. Good luck to him indeed.
Been watching Indian Ocean with Simon Reeves, on iPlayer these last few days. The two programmes I've seen have been about Africa's east coast. Extraordinarily beautiful part of the world with little of no infrastructure to speak of, where people live very simple but satisfying lives, if they have enough to eat, that is. Which reminds me, must get into Episode 3.
East Africa actually includes Kenya while below Kenya includes more of a German heritage.....Tunisia and Morocco are obvioiusly North west Africa and obviously of French persuasion, But I cannot see the French connection to include East Africa. Am I wrong or doesn't the Spanish main land teams have quite a few East African players.
I'm all for scouting for players in strange places where the infrastructure is not up to sctratch . We may unearth some hidden gems amongst the impoverished population, and give those poor unfortunates a better future in the modern world. If I was Les Reed I'd get down the M27 ASAP, and set this up.
Tanzania was indeed a German colony, though 'German heritage' might be putting it a bit strongly. I think Les Reed might have been a bit confused over his geography to be honest! Who are these famous East African players? I can't think of any except for Mariga...
Abdisalam Ibrahim who is 18 and currently at Manchester City - from Somalia. Other than that, notable East Africans in football: Saidi Ntibazonkiza at MKS Cracovia in Poland - from Burundi. Dennis Oliech at Auxerre - from Kenya.
Would like us to tap into the US market a bit more! Surely not that expensive! Perhaps we can unearth a "Clint Dempsey" clone!!
They are on the fingers of one hand though really. Not that surprising as it's basically the poorest region on the planet. I think Reed's comments have been edited together from a press conference for the website and thus don't really make sense. When he talks about the French part of Africa he clearly means the North, ie Tunisia/Algeria, where Radhi will presumably be involved. So perhaps we will be starting there and gradually expanding elsewhere.
Not sure playing for MKS Cracovia makes you particularly notable, though he deserves a mention purely for his name!
