Football coaches are not God

By Orville Higgins

A few days ago, new Brazil coach, Dunga, went on a rampage against the poster boy of Brazilian football, Neymar. 'New' coach is only a manner of speaking, because Dunga was in charge before. The Brazilian football authorities have turned to Dunga again, almost out of desperation, and I get the feeling that he is there as much for his football acumen as he is to toughen up the squad.

After that humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany and the 3-0 blanking by Holland in the third-place play-off at the World Cup, it seems clear to me that those in charge of football in Brazil feel that the national team lacked a sense of purpose. Brazilians have come to believe that it is written in the stars that they should always be brilliant in football, especially at the World Cup.

They don't always expect to win (well, maybe they do), but they don't ever expect to be embarrassed. The Brazilians clearly feel that to perform that abysmally is not so much a question of football, as it is a matter of commitment. Dunga's job, then, apparently entails more than planning tactics and strategies. He is part coach, part drill sergeant.

Dunga didn't disappoint. He tore into Neymar and others at his first major press conference. "I wouldn't have allowed these players to dye their hair while they were with the national team. Either they do it before or after, but they should be thinking about the World Cup." What nonsense is this! Where is it written that dyeing one's hair prevents one from concentrating at a World Cup? Indeed, what stops a man dyeing his hair from concentrating on anything? Is Dunga there to coach, or part of his job description includes that of personal groom?

The outburst was asinine. Coaches are not there to play God. Coaches should be about picking the best team and planning the best strategies to overcome the other 11 guys on the field. That is where their job starts and stops. I hate when coaches see their role as going beyond that.

But Dunga's words were unfair for an entirely different reason. The truth is that Neymar had an outstanding tournament before an unfortunate injury cut his run short. Clearly, the dyeing of his hair didn't prevent him from doing well. He, not Messi, may well have got the Golden Ball had he been able to complete the tournament.

Dunga was also seething that Neymar was allowed to wear caps to press conferences that weren't Brazilian caps. Why is he blaming Neymar? Is it occurring to anyone reading this that Dunga's broadside may well be aimed at the previous coaching staff? If management never had a specific rule against wearing casual caps, Dunga's beef should be with Scolari, not the player.

What Dunga is doing is subtly dissing Scolari for allowing it. It's not too far-fetched to believe that a lot of Dunga's words were aimed at the man who replaced him as head coach a few years ago? Is still lingering bitterness here? Blasting a player for dyeing his hair is also a subtle dig at the coach, isn't it?

When he goes on to say "Neymar won't play based on who he is. He will play depending on the team," isn't he clearly suggesting that the previous coach may not have been picking Neymar on merit or at least allowing Neymar to have too much of his own way?

That 7-1 embarrassed Brazil. The 3-0 for third place added insult to injury. Scolari was never going to be allowed to ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after. Short of declaring Scolari persona non grata anywhere in Brazil, this seems to me to be the best way for the nation to get back at him. Pushing him to resign wasn't good enough; getting the 'new' coach to throw, indirectly, darts at him was a parting shot that some in Brazil may welcome.

Dunga has started off on the wrong foot. Coming out swinging against your best player for frivolous reasons at the start of a new reign cannot be the smartest thing to do. Dunga is either subtly doing the bidding of his superiors or he is a complete fool. Time will tell.

Orville Higgins is a sports journalist and talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.