Our youth season has kicked off and I view the results with mixed feelings.

Yes, football at youth level is not all about results, but it is an important component of development.

Our under-11, 13, 15 and 17 teams won 1-0, 5-0, 13-0 and 11-0 respectively. It sounds good, but how does it help development.

To gauge how our players are developing, you need to play them against strong, competitive opposition. If not, then you will not be able to judge the progress of the team.

Judging by the results, I ask myself if our teams played well or were the opposition not competitive enough. I think the latter.

I personally think it is high time that a professional youth league is formed, if not nationally then at least locally.

If we in South Africa want to improve to be the best, then we need to compare with the best, and especially in countries where youth development is on a good track, like Holland and France where this is the norm.

We, in South Africa, talk far too often about development in the country… and I think we need to take that step sooner rather than later.