The start of a ‘new era’ for Bafana
DURBAN: Despite the lack of clarity over midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo’s availability as well as the match-fixing allegations surrounding a Fifa World Cup qualifier, Bafana Bafana are ready to open a new chapter when they meet Guinea-Bissau in an international friendly at the Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow (3pm kickoff).
This is the start of a “new era”, declared caretaker coach Owen da Gama. The side issues of Mokotjo’s eligibility and the question marks over South Africa’s 2-1 Russia 2018 World Cup group qualifier victory over Senegal last year are administrative matters that won’t have a bearing on preparations for the Durban outing, and Tuesday night’s friendly against Angola in East London.
World governing body Fifa this week banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey for life after he was found guilty of unlawfully influencing match results during that clash between Bafana and the Lions of Teranga at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“We are focusing on these two games at hand, and that’s the most important thing. Administrative things that happen off the field we don’t focus on, whether it is the weather conditions or the flying time,” said Da Gama.
“That is an administrative question. Whatever happens, happens. We don’t want any distractions, so we didn’t even discuss it with the players.”
As for Mokotjo, pictured, his acquisition of Dutch citizenship last year cast doubts over his eligibility to represent South Africa again. The Netherlands-based midfielder retired from international football after a fall-out with former coach Shakes Mashaba, but recently expressed his desire to be reconsidered.
The national mother body Safa had enlisted the help of the Department of Home Affairs to look into Mokotjo’s situation, explained Bafana Bafana team manager Barney Kujane early in the week, although by yesterday afternoon there was still no answer.
Regardless, Da Gama was upbeat about the national team’s prospects and promised to give a run to several players who were called to the camp for the first time. Among them are
strikers Phakamani Mahlambi and Luther Singh, plus defender Lorenzo Gordinho.
The attacking duo helped South Africa qualify for the
Fifa Under-20 World Cup recently and represent the new generation that Da Gama is keen to expose in the senior set-up.
“It’s a new era. I’m here for these two games. A new coach will come in and it will be a new era for moving forward. There are so many other players that are waiting to come into the fold.
“Bongani Zungu in Portugal is one of them, so the competition is very high, and the door is wide open for everyone. No doubt the youngsters will get a run,” Da Gama promised.
Whether it’s against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau tomorrow afternoon or against the Sable Antelopes at Buffalo City Stadium on Tuesday (7pm kickoff), the coach will give everyone a run, but within a solid team structure aimed at winning the games.
That foundation comes in the form of captain Itumeleng Khune, who is set for his 83rd cap, with support from vicecaptains Dean Furman, Hlompho Kekana and Thulani Hlatshwayo who form the defensive core of the team.
In attack the return of France-based Kermit Erasmus offers hope in terms of solving the perennial scoring crisis, while Netherlands-born target man Lars Veldwijk will offer an aerial presence.
South Africa and Guinea-Bissau have never met before, but Bafana have played Angola 12 times. Both games are meant as preparation for the next World Cup qualifier, away to Cape Verde in September.
Before then South Africa return to competitive action with the opening qualifier for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, away to Nigeria in June.