Not about talent, but readiness

So the unpleasant reality is that the domestic league’s undisputed top players Gabadinho Mhango and Lucky Malata have been certified as not up to scratch for South Africa Premiership that is not even good enough.

There should be no doubts on Malata and Mhango’s talent alone. They are even better than some Malawian players who have graced South African football fields.

The issue is about their readiness. Let John Maduka and Patrick Mabedi be Malawi football case studies of what it means to be ready, lest we continue rushing players into foreign land with disastrous psychological consequences.

By 1992, Maduka was an established Flames player, yet he only signed for South Africa’s Umtata Bush Bucks in 1996.

So while he was banging in goals for club and country, Maduka had to first mature physically and psychologically to adapt to the rough and tumble of professional football.

And compare the physical attributes of Maduka to Mhango, then you see why the South Africans are reluctant to entrust scoring responsibility in a boy on a learning curve.

First impression matters.

Talent is a mere ingredient in professional football. That is why Jones Nkhwazi was able to pass Jomo Cosmos trials while skilled Bob and Albert Mpinganjira could not sign in South Africa in the 1990s.

We should question ourselves whether Gabadinho, with just seven caps and one goal, should be rushed into trials with AmaZulu that defeated Manchester City 2-1 last month.

If at all our football administrators are worth their salt, they should question anyone who thinks a defender with three caps Malata must be fast-tracked to try his luck at BidVest Wits University that has been stingy on featuring a player with European experience, Robin Ngalande.

Mabedi who recommended Gabadinho and Malata to the South African clubs knows better that he had over six years of Super League and international football experience before penning for Kaizer Chiefs.

Because he had endured earlier rejection at Bata Bullets, Mabedi coped with a frustrating start to the Chiefs’ career until he became the Amakhosi’s impregnable roadblock.

If Malawi is to export its raw talent, then the destination should be to academies or reserve sides.