Bafana must keep Burkinabe’s Traore in check
Ex-Chelsea star netted stunner for his new side Lyon in Europa clash Striker Dekeda believes Basetsana can make it Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt in big push for World Cup spots
BERTRAND Traore underlined his ability with a cracking goal for Olympique Lyonnais in the Uefa Europa League just last week and will be the player that South Africa’s defenders must keep the closest look out for when the two teams meet at FNB Stadium tomorrow.
The former Chelsea starlet‚ who turned 22 last month‚ is an ex-teammate of Thulani Serero at Ajax Amsterdam but after years of waiting in the wings is now out forging his career without the tag of “teenage prospect” on his shoulders.
Chelsea had him in their academy when he was just 14 but he only got to start 10 games for the English giants in the subsequent years.
In between they shipped him off to gain experience in loan spells in the Netherlands.
Chelsea eventually let him go at the end of last season when his contract elapsed and Lyon moved quickly to snap him up to lead their attack in Ligue 1.
The third youngest player in African Cup of Nations history when he made a substitute appearance at the 2012 finals in Gabon at the age of 16‚ Traore has played with elder brother Alain in the national team for the last five years.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is known for studying the opposition and will also be aware of these other potential match winners for the Burkinabe.
CHARLES KABORE: The BoboDioulasso-born captain is the midfield anchor of the team who was supposed to go to Barcelona in 2010 but they signed Javier Mascherano instead.
In five years with Olympique Marseille‚ he helped them to a French league and cup double before going to Russia where he earned a massive pay packet when he signed for Kuban Krasnodar.
Now 29-year-old‚ he has been in the Burkinabe national team since he was a teenager and already come out of international retirement‚ quitting after the Afcon finals in Gabon at the start of the year but then changing THUNDERBIRDS winger and women's U20 national team striker Zimasa Dekeda believes Basetsana have the potential to make it through to the final round of the 2018 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Basetsana progressed through to the next round of the qualifiers when they hammered Namibia 4-0 in the return leg played at the Sam Nojuma Stadium in Windhoek.
Mqanduli-born Dekeda (18), a Grade 10 pupil at Msobomvu High in Butterworth, said winning 5-0 against Namibia at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto before the away game was a big motivation for them.
“The game we played at home was a fast-paced game and I enjoyed it very much even though I missed chances to score.
“I just didn't finish well that day but I made up for that by creating chances for my teammates who made sure that we took the game.
“Playing was not that difficult for us even though we didn't have many shots on target but we made sure those ones we created we finished well.
“We can't wait to play against Nigeria because they are a feared club but we are always up for a challenge and we don't back down.” his mind.
PREJUCE NAKOULMA: The 30year-old is a dangerous winger who has had a nomadic career but finally now seems to have won the recognition his potential deserves at Nantes in France’s Ligue 1.
He is quick‚ likes to dribble and cut in and shoots with some venom … if not always accuracy.
He played league football in Poland for a decade before moving to Turkey
Dekeda will return to the Basetsana camp on October 25th where the team will prepare for their next encounter with Burundi under the watchful eye of coach Maud Khumalo.
As schools reopen next week, Dekeda will return to her club – the high flying Thunderbirds who are currently at the summit of the Sasol League log standings.
“I have scored six goals in the league this season and I want more because my coach always tell me I can do anything as long I keep telling myself I can and that's exactly what I'm doing now.
“It's a beautiful feeling representing your country as a player and I'm proud to be wearing these colours.”
While away on national duty Dekeda missed the tough encounter her team Thunderbirds won against PE's dominant side City Lads where the Butterworth outfit stole three points away at the Oval Stadium.
“I would have enjoyed that game because they are one of the most competitive teams in the league. Playing against them would have been enjoyable because they have a great side.
“I could have learnt something new about my game because Lads have some experienced players who are in the Banyana Banyana side. and now France.
BAKARY KONE: Nicknamed “General Bako”‚ the 29-year-old defender is one of Burkina Faso’s most experienced players.
He moved to France in 2006 to play at Guingamp‚ starting at the same time as Didier Drogba.
He was a regular at Lyon for five years before moving to La Liga where injury curtailed his appearances for Malaga.
This season he is back in France on loan at newly-promoted Strasbourg.
ARISTIDE BANCE: Former Chippa United striker is now playing at Al Masry in Egypt‚ the 20th club of his journeyman career.
The 33-year-old was born in the Ivory Coast and began his career in the West African country but is a Burkina Faso international because his parents come from the neighbouring country.
Bance has also played for clubs in Belgium‚ Finland‚ Germany‚ the Ivory Coast‚ Kazakhstan‚ Latvia‚ Qatar‚ Turkey‚ Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
The highlight of his career was a season in the Bundesliga with FSV Mainz under Jurgen Klopp after his goals helped them gain promotion.
He scored 10 goals in the top flight in Germany in the 2009-10 season. — DDC THERE are five places reserved for Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and Nigeria, Tunisia, and Egypt could fill three of them this weekend.
Nigeria will secure a sixth appearance at the global football showpiece by winning in Uyo against Zambia, the only other Group B contenders.
Tunisia are away to Guinea and must better the result of second-place Democratic Republic of Congo, who face Libya, to clinch qualification from Group A.
Egypt can end 28 years in the World Cup wilderness with a home victory over Congo Brazzaville if Uganda fail to collect maximum points against visiting Ghana.
The other mini-leagues, topped by the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, cannot be decided after the penultimate series of matches, whatever the results.
Having won 2-1 in Zambia last year, Nigeria are understandably optimistic, especially after impressive home and away performances against African champions Cameroon last month.
Inspired by current and former Chelsea midfielders Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi, the “Super Eagles” triumphed 4-0 in Uyo and drew 1-1 in Yaounde to end the Cameroon challenge.
Germany-born Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr does not expect another multi-goal romp against Zambia, who would draw level with Nigeria on 10 points by winning.
“I do not believe another four-goal victory is a realistic expectation, winning by one or two goals will do fine,” Rohr told reporters.
“Zambia are now a much better team than when we beat them last year. Watching videos of their wins over Algeria, I was struck by the speed of the strikers.
“I believe Algeria underestimated them and we dare not make the same mistake. Zambia have introduced some of the African youth championshipteam with good effect.
“It is nice that we have control of our destiny as a win takes us to Russia. The players, my technical staff and I are totally focused on that objective.”
Tunisia travel to Guinea with a three-point advantage over DR Congo having taken four points in backto-back matches between the countries last month.
But the “Carthage Eagles” have a woeful record in Conakry, losing four previous World Cup qualifiers in the west African coastal city.
Libya host DR Congo in Tunisia for security reasons and the Congolese hope Cedric Bakambu can transfer his Spanish club form to north Africa.
The striker scored a hat-trick for Villarreal last weekend – his first in La Liga – and is overdue some World Cup goals.
Egypt have nine points in Group E, two ahead of Uganda and four in front of Ghana as they hope to end a longrunning World Cup nightmare.
The last of two appearances at the tournament was in 1990 with the record seven-time African champions suffering several heart-breaking failures since.
Despite three withdrawals through injury, Argentina-born coach Hector Cuper can call on a formidable mix of local and Europe-based talent.
Centre-back Ahmed Hegazy, midfielders Mohamed Elneny and Ramadan Sobhy and striker Mohamed Salah are with English Premier League outfits.
Saudi Arabia-based goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is 44 and set to become the oldest footballer to play at a World Cup if the “Pharaohs” qualify.
Group D is tight with only one point separating Burkina Faso from thirdplace Senegal with Cape Verde in between.
South Africa are five points behind the front-runners having had a victory over Senegal annulled due to manipulation by a Ghanaian referee, who has been banned for life.
Ivory Coast, seeking a fourth consecutive World Cup qualification, are one point ahead of Morocco and two above Gabon in Group C.
The Ivorians are away to Mali today in the first of 10 fixtures scheduled for the weekend while Morocco host Gabon in Rabat. — AFP