In true gentlemen’s fashion, professional and respectful, Gerald Stober (pictured) requested that any reasoning for his departure from Seaside Spurs’ ABC Motsepe League side be channelled via the club’s executive member, Earl Cloete.
However, the former Bafana Bafana striker has opted to own up from a coaching perspective after things didn’t entirely go according to plan on the playing field after two seasons on the books of the coastal side.
“What I will say is that the buck stops with me and at the end of the day I’m accountable, and that is just how football is,” irrespective of what is happening behind the scenes, Stober pointed out to No Bones with Jones. “On the football front, if the results aren’t there, then I’m accountable,” he added.
Meanwhile, Stober has turned his attention to a vision that entails a football “curriculum” intended mainly for strikers called G-Zone 1417 – an initiative that has been simmering in the back of his mind for about 15 years, but the timing was never ideal until now.
“Look, it’s because we’ve obviously recognized the lack of goal scorers in South Africa, you know… And the stats show it. Last year, I finalized the curriculum with those working with me on the project and it was just to fine tune it, you know. It’s in a position where you can actually pilot it, you know,” Stober explained.
The 56-year-old former Hellenic, Santos and Orlando Pirates goal poacher has also given insight regarding the identity of his new initiative hoping that it could in the near future solve South Africa’s goal scoring woes.
“So, 14, 17 is derived and plays on my tactical board, zone 14 and zone 17, which are also referred to as scoring zones. It’s that area at the goals with that sports or strikers play on it. And then, in terms of research, that was done where…
“My belief is kids are kids and they must play with freedom until they come at the ages of 14 and 17 years. Between 14 and 17 years you now start developing them to see if they can push on and that is the whole reasoning behind the name as it’s more than just a random name, you know. Also, I’ve been mauling with this idea in my mind, you probably won’t believe me but for more than 10 if not 15 years now” Stober further added.
Stober also indicated that although his tenure at Spurs came to an end, he is still very much in touch with the club’s hierarchy as well as the football landscape in Ocean View which has grown immensely in recent seasons.
“We still have a solid relationship and there’s mutual respect which is important and I have high regard for what they are doing in the area,” Stober concluded
