By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
SENEGAL under-20 coach Joseph Koto says poor remuneration has negatively affected player retention in African football.
Koto said it was every African team’s dream to retain most of the junior players to the senior team but the process was always disturbed by young players being lured by clubs with money.
He said African teams are mostly always rebuilding from the junior level but few players make to the senior team.
“In Africa it is always the case. When young players are not well remunerated or due to poor remunerations, you will find that they seek trade elsewhere so that they can earn more. That affects our team build up and player retention. They go and we have the task of starting all over again,” Koto said.
He said as a coach of the junior team he had to experience the same problem for some time now with young players being signed immediately they make a mark.
“This is not a new experience. Even in the past I have lost players and I have been obliged to start assembling a new team of young players,” he said.
Senegal qualified to the final of the CAF under-20 final after beating Guinea 1-0 and will face hosts Zambia on Sunday who recorded the same victory margin against South Africa in the other semi final.
Senegal was a losing finalist to Nigeria two years ago in a tournament they hosted.
