Football is becoming absurd to the point of ridiculousness. Indeed, the latest farce concerns, drumroll…..wait for it, yes, towels.
However, there are implications that this carries with it an even more Machiavellian meaning; exemplified in the latest African Cup of Nations Final between Morocco and eventual winners Senegal as tensions erupted.
In rainy conditions, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Meny was relying on towels to keep his gloves dry for grip on the ball. Despite this, footage shows Moroccan ball boys, stadium staff and players, including Achraf Hakimi snatching towels away or throwing them over the advertising boards, with suggestions that this was a major time-wasting ploy.
It is a situation that became even more of a joke when back-up Senegal goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf had to physically guard the towels and at one point was seen being shoved by Moroccan officials while trying to hand a fresh towel to Mendy.
Similar tactics were used in Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who eventually retaliated on social media suggesting that their players use the towels to “wipe their tears” following their defeat.
Tactical Implications
There is a suggestion that using towels is no longer about just drying hands. The accusations are that this serves a number of strategic purposes. Especially as all goalkeeper’s gloves are supposed to be state-of-the-art and hydrophobic now; effectively, water resistant.
It is the theory that forcing goalkeepers to argue with ball boys or run to the dugout breaks their concentration and significantly delays the restart of play, shifting momentum, while in some African cultures, there is a belief that having towels near the goal is a form of “black magic”; a reason why, it is understood, this led to fans actively shouting for towels to be removed, to “break the spell”.
Some people believe that towels have been used to hide notes for a goalkeeper detailing penalty data and shooting preferences of opposing players, giving them an advantage via an easy memory recall.
The Long Throw Game
Especially this season, long throws have come back into fashion, essentially since Rory Delap rejuvenated these back in 2008 during Stoke City’s first season in the Premier League. A secret weapon that helped the club exceed expectations.
Delap had effectively trademarked his own brand of long throw, which in its own right was a marvel of modern day football. To full effect, he could launch it from near the half way line into the penalty area, which was a great tactical asset because it forced the opposition to drop deep, allowing Stoke territory.
Of course, to get such distance and trajectory on the throw, Delap did need a dry ball; especially “on wet, cold winter nights in Stoke” and would use a towel if one was available. No one thought twice. But the player himself never made a big deal about it either.
Now, it seems like this situation verges on madness. Whether rightly or wrongly, goalkeepers have towels near their goal is a topic that deserves masses of media coverage, the fact is that it is being hotly debated right now. Mendy for one, isn’t complaining.
