Whether a player is left or right footed matters little in modern football as evidently, soccer has evolved from the days when teams used to play with a sweeper, the traditional number five or the box striker (number nine).Players' roles are no longer defined by the foot they use; instead, tactics have overtaken positions.When the Zebras played South Africa recently, coach Stanley Tshosane played Musa Ohilwe on the left, leaving out two left footed players, Edwin Olerile and Otse Ntesa. Lemponye Tshireletso has featured prominently on the right wing for the Zebras although he predominantly uses his right foot.
In fact back in the day, it was considered fielding a player out of position. But as Tshosane explains, the nature of the game dictates what player is needed for a certain position and not how they kick."If you look at it, most teams these days use wing play to bring in crosses. One might prefer a right-footed player on the left to confuse the opposition and get that edge. A right footed player on the left first has to cut in before making a cross, which is a huge advantage as it gives the player plenty of options when he is facing the goal," Tshosane says. However, Tshosane notes there are some players who use both feet, like Ohilwe and Phenyo Mongala, who both effectively drive the ball with both feet and can therefore be deployed anywhere.
