--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think what African football needs is…" description: "\"I think what African football needs is better organization, better structure, and I think, after that, we'll help the players to be more professional w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg" --- # I think what African football needs is better… ![“I think what African football needs is better organization, better structure, and I think, after that, we'll help the players to be more professional when they're coming to play for their national team.” quote by Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg) > “I think what African football needs is better organization, better structure, and I think, after that, we'll help the players to be more professional when they're coming to play for their national team.” [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. African football needs structural reforms and professional standards to elevate player quality. **In simple terms:** Better organization improves football. Key Takeaway Support governance reforms and professional training. Themes sports development leadership Mood optimistic strategic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - national team preparation - youth academies - league administration - coach education Key Concepts management infrastructure professionalism Questions to Reflect On - What steps can be taken to secure funding? - How to change entrenched habits? A Different Perspective Implementation may be hindered by limited resources and resistance to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-football-3940454/) [Better Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-organization-5492448/) [Better Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-structure-5492447/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-needs-288835/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organization Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization-better-4999581/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [The truth is that technology is only valuable if it helps you run your organization better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safra-a-catz/the-truth-is-that-technology-is-only-valuable-if-it-helps-you-run/) [Safra A. Catz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safra-a-catz/) > [If I can join hands with FIFA and other continental bodies to promote football globally, then I can do more than that to raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-milla/if-i-can-join-hands-with-fifa-and-other-continental-bodies-to-promote/) [Roger Milla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-milla/) > [Abe Krok was a man of integrity who made a unique contribution to Mamelodi Sundowns and to South African football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/abe-krok-was-a-man-of-integrity-who-made-a-unique-contribution-to/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [When we play at the World Cup, any African will back any African team. Because we want to hear the different approach to African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/when-we-play-at-the-world-cup-any-african-will-back-any-african-team/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [I think sometimes players must have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-think-sometimes-players-must-have-a-wake-up-call-before-they/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [All things evolve, and European football needs to evolve as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/all-things-evolve-and-european-football-needs-to-evolve-as-well/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [I think football needs guys like Arsene Wenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-think-football-needs-guys-like-arsene-wenger/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-glazer/we-continue-to-believe-that-european-football-needs-to-become-more/) [Joel Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-glazer/) > [It's not that India, China and the United States need football, but football needs these three countries. Because it will be even bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/it-s-not-that-india-china-and-the-united-states-need-football-but/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [Despite all the billions now involved, football still needs heart and soul and owners who believe, care and honour their responsibility of being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jordan/despite-all-the-billions-now-involved-football-still-needs-heart-and/) [Simon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jordan/) > [Football needs its roots, it needs its connection with the supporters. But those in charge seem to think they can do without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-taylor/football-needs-its-roots-it-needs-its-connection-with-the-supporters/) [Graham Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-taylor/) > [Few people may realize that the Department of Homeland Security is the nation's largest law enforcement organization, with about one-third of our 240,000 employees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/few-people-may-realize-that-the-department-of-homeland-security-is/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More by Patrick Vieira > [When you're in youth development, you have to develop players - win or come in second. But the job where I am and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/when-you-re-in-youth-development-you-have-to-develop-players-win-or/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [You have some people who recognise the players or coaching staff, but there are a lot who don't have a clue, who look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/you-have-some-people-who-recognise-the-players-or-coaching-staff-but/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [I love London. I feel at ease there; I can push my trolley in the supermarket without being bothered. If I want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-love-london-i-feel-at-ease-there-i-can-push-my-trolley-in-the/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [You need somebody to open your eyes, to tell you there's things that you can do, and I had that person in Brian Marwood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/you-need-somebody-to-open-your-eyes-to-tell-you-there-s-things-that/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [Every single position has a massive part to play on a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/every-single-position-has-a-massive-part-to-play-on-a-team/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [You can buy any strikers you want, but this position is important, and you need someone there who can do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/you-can-buy-any-strikers-you-want-but-this-position-is-important-and/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [When, in 2005, there was an offer from Juventus, I was in the Bahamas. When I came back, Arsene said to me, 'There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/when-in-2005-there-was-an-offer-from-juventus-i-was-in-the-bahamas/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [You train far more in France than in England. Here, we still see football as a game. Football is a job. There is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/you-train-far-more-in-france-than-in-england-here-we-still-see/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [I think England has to change the way they are teaching football because football is changing, and the method isn't changing as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-england-has-to-change-the-way-they-are-teaching-football/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [It's important not to lose focus; so many things can happen. People try to build this fire between the clubs. The heat is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/it-s-important-not-to-lose-focus-so-many-things-can-happen-people-try/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [You have to choose the right club with the right people. That can have an impact when things aren't going the right way -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/you-have-to-choose-the-right-club-with-the-right-people-that-can-have/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [It's normal that people expect more from the French team,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/it-s-normal-that-people-expect-more-from-the-french-team/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [Arsene Wenger is an ambitious manager, and he knows deep in his heart that he needs five world-class players to compete among the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/arsene-wenger-is-an-ambitious-manager-and-he-knows-deep-in-his-heart/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [When I spent time in the academy, exchanging ideas with young players, being on the field, the way they were looking at me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/when-i-spent-time-in-the-academy-exchanging-ideas-with-young-players/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [I think when you move to a country like the U.S., you need to understand the culture, to understand how people see the game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-when-you-move-to-a-country-like-the-u-s-you-need-to/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) [Explore all 53 Patrick Vieira quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think what African football needs is better organization, better structure, and I think, after that, we'll help the players to be more professional when they're coming to play for their national team.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Vieira" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-better-organization-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-better-organization-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/patrick-vieira-12792_football_i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-b_1499272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think what African football needs is better organization, better structure, and I think, after that, we'll…” — Patrick Vieira", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Patrick Vieira", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think what African football needs...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-better-organization-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/i-think-what-african-football-needs-is-better-organization-better/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```