Bafana defenders will stick to the job at hand

BAFANA Bafana defenders Morgan Gould and Thamsanqa Mkhize are still expecting a very tough battle against Senegal in two crucial World Cupqualifiers despite the loss of

Sadio Mane for the Lions of Taranga.

Bafana have to earn victory in both encounters if they want to book their ticket to Russia. Mane who is on the books of Liverpool in England picked up an injury in Senegal in their last qualifier against Cape Verde.

He did a hamstring which ruled him out for the rest of the World Cup qualifiers. Mane has been pivotal for Senegal in the qualifiers. The Lions of Taranga are occupying top spot in Group D after accumulating eight points in four matches. They have won two and drawn two matches. Maximum points against Bafana will seal a place for Senegal in the World Cup.

Cape Town City defender Mkhize, who operated at the right-back position when Bafana thumped Burkina Faso a week ago at FNB Stadium, made it clear that Senegal have enough quality at their arsenal to do the job even without Mane.

“As much as it is our desire to play against world class players … they have other top players that will replace Mane. The majority of their squad (is made up of) players who are plying their trade in top European leagues. It is still going to be a difficult game like the one that we recently played against Burkina Faso. The clash against Burkina Faso wasn’t easy at all.

“The coach (Stuart Baxter) prepared us well for that game and on the day we were able to execute his plan and instruction. We want to thank all the people who supported us and they must keep on getting behind us,” Mkhize (pictured) said.

Mkhize together with Gould would have been tasked with marshalling Mane if he was available for the Lions of Taranga.

Gould said that despite Mane’s injury, their focus had not changed. “I’m not even paying a lot of attention to that (Mane’s injury). We have to do the job whether there is a certain individual or not. They are still a good side,” he said.

“Possibilities are endless (for us to qualify for the World Cup). We have the never-say-die attitude.

“We need the people to support us. They are the biggest let-down for us. When other teams are doing their best in other countries they get the support and when they are doing their worst they get the support.

“In South Africa we don’t get the same support. You only get support when you are doing well. We asked them to come there in their numbers and just support whatever the outcome, it is football,” Gould lamented.

Bafana are sitting at the basement of the group with four points from four matches. They need six points to qualify for the World Cup.

Next month they will face Senegal home and away in the must-win encounters.