Against the odds, do it for SA, boys!

It has been a tumultuous week for Bafana Bafana as they prepared for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal.

Instead of focusing on the difficult task of getting six points against the Senegalese and book a place in next year’s tournament in Russia, we have seen upheaval in the camp in Polokwane.

It all started on Monday when Stuart Baxter’s men departed for Limpopo without Kaizer Chiefs players who had played the day before in Port Elizabeth. Why arrangements were not made for them to return to Johannesburg immediately after Sunday’s game is beyond logic.

We understand Itumeleng Khune was injured and thus unfit to travel immediately, but Siphiwe Tshabalala and Erick Mathoho should have joined the camp on Sunday.

As if that was not enough, some overseas-based players trained with Bafana for the first time only on Wednesday, after Baxter told us they had either missed their flights, or had them cancelled. This is completely unhelpful to a team facing such a momentous task ahead.

But the biggest disappointment for us was Thulani Serero once again deciding not to pitch for camp, citing he would only play for Bafana if guaranteed a place in the lineup, according to Baxter.

We thought this kind of entitlement attitude was no longer prevalent in our national team’s set-up. It should be remembered that Serero, for all the criticism he has received this week, has not had his say in this matter, so we are not exactly sure what his reasons are for opting out.

It is also true that he honoured the last two call-ups, even though he was reduced to a spectator and did not get a single minute of action. We didn’t hear him complain.

But at 27, he should have handled the matter better than to abscond, not least at a time like this, when a World Cup place is at stake.

We urge the SA Football Association to ensure this matter is resolved quickly and not be swept under the carpet.

In spite of the troubles Bafana experienced this week, we are confident they have what it takes to take a step closer to the World Cup by beating Senegal tonight, and again on Tuesday.

Good luck boys, make SA proud!