Shakes looks for helping hand for Senegal battle
Coach takes dig at the critics – again
It’s become an all too often told story: Bafana Bafana have an important match to play‚ and in the buildup instead of focusing on the game coach Shakes Mashaba rambles incoherently about lack of media support.
Matches don’t come much more crucial for Bafana than Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
At a press conference in Polokwane yesterday Bafana coach Mashaba pleaded for media support‚ which would have been all very well had it not been a plea tinged by veiled and paranoid accusations of perceived press treachery.
Mashaba went as far as to suggest his technical team had not received credit for qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
They did – a chorus of it from almost all corners.
Bafana’s coach increased the perception that‚ at 66‚ he is out of touch with modern football; unable to take legitimate criticism‚ such as for his acknowledged errors not qualifying for Afcon 2017; and out of sync with a world of social media‚ which he pays too much attention to.
“I know everyone has been talking and saying‚ ‘ We are playing against a very strong Senegal‚ and we have never beaten Senegal’‚” said Mashaba.
“Senegal has never beaten us as well. Let’s stop playing second fiddle to other people. Let us be proud of ourselves.
“We are always inviting dead lions as ourselves‚ instead of us projecting ourselves as lions. It’s a plea – it’s not to say we are fighting with you.
“I’d like to stress this point. Bafana hasn’t beaten Senegal. Senegal hasn’t beaten us as well. So I don’t know what makes it difficult and different. Yes we accept they have brought very good players. … We have played them three times [under Mashaba]. Twice in the Mandela Challenge‚ we beat them‚ the other one we drew at Ellis Park [in 2002‚ where Bafana won on penalties].”
For the record Bafana have met Senegal seven times‚ with two wins to each side and three draws.
Again‚ Mashaba‚ as he had in his disastrous opening draw and defeat of the failed 2017 Afcon qualifying campaign‚ played down the need to research the opposition.
“And one other thing – there’s this kind of a question that comes all the time. What do you know about the opposition?
“To me it’s a bit of a dicey question. There’s no way we can sit and say‚ ‘We played so and so‚ don’t worry about them‚ we’ll see them at 3 o’clock on the day of the match’. We have been watching Senegal. They have played three games recently and won all of them. So we know what to expect from them.” — TMG Digital DEFENSIVE midfielder Dean Furman and left-back Tebogo Langerman have been released from the Bafana Bafana squad to face Senegal in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday with injuries.
This is according to a tweet on the official Bafana Bafana Twitter page.
The move stands contrary to earlier assertions by national team management to the Daily Dispatch that Furman had only received a minor injury‚ and was “90%” certain to meet Senegal at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“Tebogo Langerman & Dean Furman have been released from the Bafana squad after picking up injuries. Replacements to follow‚” the Bafana Bafana page tweeted.
Furman has been in form for club SuperSport United – notably in their 6-1 league win over Orlando Pirates then penalties Telkom Knockout victory against Mamelodi Sundowns last week – and country.
He scored Bafana’s goal in their 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso in their opening World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou last month.
Furman and Langerman were two of four niggling injuries ahead of Saturday’s Russia 2018 qualifier.
Two picked up injuries in training since their arrival in camp for the crucial match against a strong Lions of Teranga. Two others arrived with injuries. Bafana team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said yesterday that Andile Jali is being treated but should start against Senegal‚ while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was to have a scan along with Furman and Langerman.
“Andile Jali missed the last World Cup qualifier with a quadricep [thigh] muscle injury‚” said Ngwenya.
“He trained with the team in the morning fully yesterday‚ but we are managing him‚ hence he missed the afternoon practice game.
“But he’s fine – we’re treating him‚ we hope he will be ready.
“Dean Furman had a ribcage injury from his club match [quarterfinal against Downs] for SuperSport. He never felt it until he came here.
“Ronwen Williams fell badly during training yesterday and had a clavicular [collarbone] injury.
“Tebogo Langerman pulled his hamstring yesterday afternoon.”
Bafana‚ ranked 62nd in Fifa’s world rankings‚ began their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign with a 1-1 away draw against Burkina Faso. Senegal‚ 32nd‚ started with a 2-0 home win against Cape Verde Islands.