[EvertonDiehard]

Apart from raising the standard of our coaching at the grassroots level, there must be continuity through the various age groups. This is sorely lacking, and was a major factor behind the break-up of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games squad that defied all odds to finish third. A relatively small population cannot be an excuse for our lack of talent. Some of the strongest teams in the world include Denmark with a population of 5.8 million, Uruguay with 3.4 million and Iceland which has only 337,780 inhabitants. A deep-seated passion for the game as well as an efficient system of identifying, developing and retaining young talent probably propelled these 3 nations to consistently compete at the highest level.