Anthony McLennan watched the Telkom Knockout Final, and then El Classico, and came to some conclusions about South African soccer.

(Follow Anthony on Twitter @Soccer_Ant)

Watching Saturday night's Telkom Knockout Final and Benni McCarthy's at times masterful performance highlighted what's missing in our game: football intelligence.

This was further compounded and emphasised when watching Barcelona shred Real Madrid to pieces in the second half of the El Classico later that night.

Back in Durban, McCarthy was sublime. Aging legs and extra pounds meant Benni did not exert his influence for the entire 90 minutes, but when he was involved, the former Blackburn and West Ham striker was a joy to watch.

Benni missed one relatively easy chance, but what has been setting him apart all season are his clever touches, and superb vision – how many magical passes have we seen already from him? This alone makes it money well spent by the Iron Duke.

To sum it up, what Benni has, apart from technique and composure in front of goal, is game intelligence. Off the field he may shoot his mouth off, but on the field, McCarthy has a football brain, far above the average PSL player.

But while Benni was demonstrating his finesse with clever flicks and defence-splitting passes, we got to see the other side of South African football too.

As witnessed by Ndumiso Mabena's embarrassing Moemish-of-the-Year miss. And as witnessed by several other incidents which saw players lacking composure, or simply taking the wrong option.

For a player to be successful, he or she needs skill and technique, physical fitness, and in modern football for the most part, pace.

The majority of our players have these attributes, in abundance.

But in the highly competitive and scientific world of football, this alone is not enough. With some exceptions, our players are lacking in intelligence, and with this I mean two types of intelligence: game intelligence, and emotional intelligence.

I believe also that our football culture, and our fans, need to take some of the blame. Far too much emphasis on individual skill, on shibobos, show-me-your-numbers, Scara Ngobese-like pirouettes. It's time we stop over-encouraging this type of showmanship, but rather applaud the teams that are able to implement Barca-style, one touch, triangle football.

Game intelligence is about making the right decisions, passing when needed to, shooting when the opportunity arises. Picking out a teammate in a better position. Reading the game. Making runs into the right spaces. Assuming the best positions to make oneself available for a pass. Envisioning a situation before it arises, like a defender getting back onto his line to cover a goalkeeping blunder.

To a certain degree, players are born with this intelligence. But it can also be cultivated at youth level, with the proper training, through coaches who instil these concepts into the players' minds until it becomes second nature.

Ajax Cape Town are one club who I believe have done this well – the Urban Warriors have successfully blended European discipline and tactical awareness with the natural skill of an African player. Thulani Serero is a great example of what can be achieved. Ajax's notable list of exports, and of turning average players into good, or great ones, speaks for itself. Granwald Scott is another; a player who expertly blends natural ability with tactical discipline.

But on-the-field intelligence is not always enough. (I believe McCarthy is a good example– if he had been more emotionally mature, I think he could have achieved far more in his career.)

Players need to be mature emotionally, to be able to handle the pressure when the chips are down. To come back from making a bad mistake or missing an open goal. Not to burst into tears when berated by a coach. To have the character and guts needed to be a really top performer. Not to flinch when watched by thousands or millions. This is what sets aside the Lionel Messies, Tiger Woods, Sachin Tendulkas and Novak Djokovices of our world.

In this respect, it's not easy in South Africa. Many of our most talented players come from the poorest backgrounds. What's key in this scenario is for players to be identified early, and placed in proper academies, where not only their football skills are honed, but where they are given top-class education and life-skills training, where their confidence and self esteem is built up.

Tuks are a good example. Over the years I must have spoken at least half a dozen Tuks players, and each one has proven to be a well-spoken, polite, intelligent, well-rounded and grounded individual. Your Bongani Khumaloes and George Malulekas. Look at the way Andile Jali's career is progressing.

Tuks are doing something right. So too are Ajax. If Safa, the PSL, and the clubs can tap into these two clubs' ideas and duplicate their methods, I feel we could start moving in the right direction.

By Anthony McLennan
ant@soccersolutions.co.za

* Please note this column is not the opinion of Maritzburg United Football Club *