Rivaldo Coetzee
Will the Ajax defender retain his Bafana Bafana berth?
“Is it 22 already?” Coetzee, dressed in relaxed gym attire following an Ajax training session, says in disbelief after being reminded of his accumulated Bafana Bafana caps. “I never thought it would be possible. I always told my mother I wanted to be a footballer, but I didn’t think I would ever make it to the national team, and at such a young age. “Coach Shakes Mashaba believed in me and gave me game time, that’s how I’ve gotten the experience, and so far it’s been great. I am now playing with players I used to watch on TV and admire – and I still do. And seeing how quickly things have progressed, it’s really motivating.” The Kakamas-born defender, who came through the youth ranks at Ikamva,Ik debuted for the Urban Warriorsri first team on 28 February 2014. EightE months later and former youth nationaln coach Mashaba gave him his firstfi Bafana Bafana start in an African CupC of Nations qualifier against Congo,C and he’s been a regular ever since,si featuring in 22 of the last 39 officialo matches played by the senior nationaln team. Yet Coetzee insists he hasn’t becomeb complacent in expecting a nationaln team call-up. “I never have that mindset – I alwaysa tell myself that even though I knowk Shakes had been calling me up consistently,co I had to be consistent in mym performance,” he says. “Week in anda week out, I have to step up my gameg and have to be better, because thereth are other players in my position whow know hard work is rewarded, so I always have to do that extra bit. I had a bit of an advantage as the coach called me up often, but now I have to step up my game and constantly improve.” Although a regular, many critics believe Coetzee had become too comfortable as a mainstay under Shakes, and the prime example Mashaba used to defend ‘Vision 2022’. Yet the talented centre-back insists he deserves his Bafana berth. “Of course I deserve my place,” he claims. “It’s not about what other people say outside of football. I do my job to the best of my ability. Every time I leave the pitch, I want to be able to say that I did everything I could. The only criticism I take is from my coaches – I don’t pay attention to anyone else as it’s irrelevant. Most of them have never even touched a football, so I just shut them out.
“There is pressure, but sometimes that pressure can be good. Where most people criticise me especially is that I’m too young, and don’t have the experience. But if I look back, each time I play for the national team I feel like I’m doing better than the game before. So it’s not about age, it’s about what you do with the game time given to you, doing your job and what’s required of you. You won’t get experience if you don’t play.” Coetzee, who pinpoints his involvement in the 2015 African Cup of Nations as the pinnacle of his career so far, has received just two yellow cards in his 22 games, and sees both the positives and possible negatives of this slim tally. “I’m not a player that gets stuck into tackles – if I have to take a yellow card for the team, I will – but in most instances, I don’t think that’s necessary,” he says. “I’d rather just win the ball cleanly, which I always try to do. “Some people see it as a lack of aggression, as coaches have often said I’m not aggressive enough. But I’m comfortable with the way I play, and in whatever situation I’m in, I do what I feel is best in that moment. Even if I’m told to be more aggressive – if I don’t see the need for it, I won’t.” One such coach is his former mentor at Ajax Cape Town Roger de Sa, who although is full of praise for the defender, has often questioned his lack of physical presence. “He’s got qualities that others don’t have … football wise, he’s pprobably y the best ball-player of all other centre-centrebacks in the league, and hishis passing ability and reading g of the game is very good,” ” De Sa says. “He’s improved a lot in the air, but I’m not so sure if he’s the ideal guy to play in rough African conditions. You never see Rivaldo make a huge tackle where sometimes you need to go through a striker, where other guys like Thulani [Hlatshwayo], [Erick] Mathoho or [Lorenzo] Gordinho will put their foot there, or put their head where other guys are scared to put their feet. Rivaldo wouldn’t do that: he’s always clean type of defender – a typical Ajax defender who builds up from the back. But that’s one thing you can’t take away from him – he can play. He’s very polished and good at that – playing-wise, he’s fantastic.” Coetzee’s former club coach feels the 2015 Ajax Young Player of the Year still deserves his Bafana spot, but will need to lift his game, especially with a change in head coach. “I think he is still good enough for Bafana,” De Sa says. “In the games he plays for South Africa, he certainly raises his game – I think he’s a little stale at Ajax as it has become a bit too easy for him. But I feel the change in Bafana coach puts him under a bit more pressure, and we might see a better Rivaldo as he’s acquired a bit of a complacent attitude.” Bafana Bafana’s next fixture is only scheduled for March, against a yet-tobe-determined opponent in the first 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier. Whether Coetzee retains his spot under a yet-to-be-confirmed Bafana coach, only time will tell.