Time for Bafana to step up against small teams
Mayo questions passion of players
Former Bafana Bafana utility player Patrick Mayo believes the national team cannot continue to let the country down against smaller opponents.
Bafana face Seychelles in Group E of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The return fixture is away at Stade Linite next Tuesday.
The last and only time the two nations met was in 2005, during coach Stuart Baxter’s first stint with the SA team.
At the time, SA beat Seychelles 3-0 in the group stages of the Cosafa Cup that took place in Mauritius.
Mayo was part of that Bafana team that secured the win courtesy of a Katlego Mphela brace and a strike from Lerato Chabangu.
The former striker-turned defender feels the current crop of players will have no excuse not to get the job done.
“These boys [current players], when they receive a callup, they do not have the same passion for the national team.
“If we can’t beat small nations like Seychelles then who are we going to beat? The current players need to represent the country with pride. We can’t have a situation where we are beaten twice by the likes of Cape Verde.”
Pressure is mounting on Baxter to deliver the results after a record of four wins, five losses and one draw.
Having played for him some 13 years ago, Mayo thinks Baxter has been put in a difficult position, where Bafana must win.
“I think he can be the right man if given a chance. But he was employed at a time where results were required immediately,” he said.
“In some cases we can blame the coach but in these instances where we play smalls teams the players need to step up and deliver the performances worthy of the Bafana jersey.”
Bafana are second in the group with four points after two games, while Seychelles are bottom with no points.