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Teenagers proven to improve senior sides

Cape Town - Ted Dumitru believes that the infusion of young players into a club’s first team is key to improving the side’s performances.

It is widely recognised that a strong youth development policy is good for clubs and countries in the long term. The narrative in South Africa often suggests that although good youth programmes would be a nice thing to have there are matters that require more immediate attention from clubs, such as avoiding relegation or fighting to win the league.  

In a chat to Sport24 Dumitru argues that PSL clubs have fallen behind the international trend - one that recognises that an injection of young players into a club’s first team directly relates to better performances and results.

“There are more than 130 young players signed currently by top international clubs all over the world, that situation is totally ignored in South Africa, and the continent as well,” Dumitru said.

“Because of that we need massive changes in terms of dealing with the technical development of the game.

“I am talking about exceptional Under-21 youngsters all over the world, this is a trend that is now very prominent.

“It started a few years ago with Barcelona’s infusion of young talent and all the analysts will now tell you that if you don’t have that periodical infusion of young talent your team will not improve.

“I am talking about high performance football at professional level,” Dumitru concluded.

Dumitru recently criticised PSL clubs for recycling experienced PSL players instead of looking to bring in youth. His belief is that South African coaches distrust younger players whereas the best clubs in the world have realised that youngsters are key to first team success.  

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