BAFANA JERSEY TOO HEAVY FOR RANTIE
TOKELO Rantie has given an honest account of his unpredictable form when he turns out for Bafana instead of Swedish club Malmo: “The pressure is too intense.”
Not that the expectations from his employers in the Allsvenskan league are watered down, but Rantie, despite how quickly he has become a national team regular under Gordon Igesund, is still battling to adapt.
The former Orlando Pirates forward is a hit at Malmo and, after 15 starts, plus three matches as a substitute this season, has scored seven goals to help the club to second place in the league.
Rantie’s take on why Bafana players often fail to make the same impact for the country as they do for their clubs might explain the two losses against Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in June and Nigeria in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday.
While he doesn’t know that for sure, he can confirm he feels somewhat burdened by the Bafana jersey.
“I think I try too many things when I play for Bafana,” said Rantie, who has 13 caps and three goals for the national team. “We try to deliver, but it is not always easy or possible to get it right. There’s a lot to consider when you play for your country, and that is why sometimes there are [missed] chances I think I could have converted if I was playing for Malmo.
“I don’t know how other players deal with the expectations and pressure, but I am still growing.”
Rantie has proved he is made of sterner stuff, having left SA and been forced to return to Sweden when Pirates did not fight to keep him at the end of his loan spell from another Swedish team, IFK Hassleholm, a year ago.
While Bafana players such as Siboniso Gaxa have bemoaned the loneliness that comes with playing abroad, packed their bags and headed home to settle for life in the PSL, Rantie has only profited from staying overseas.
“I honestly wanted to stay in South Africa and the fact that Pirates didn’t keep me was disturbing, but I got over it,” said Rantie.
“Now I am happy I didn’t stay because I have done well in Sweden, blended into the culture, where we have a young and ambitious team. There are bigger clubs with good offers elsewhere and I am ready for a challenge.”
At 22, Rantie doesn’t want to waste time in a division that is not comparable to the top leagues in the world: “For me, Malmo has always been a stepping stone. I met a coach from Holland who, after seeing me play, said it was time to move to an even bigger league.
“When I asked him why, he said I had done what I came to do in Sweden and it was time for a new challenge.”
And a move away from Malmo appears to be on the cards.
“There are good offers from Blackburn Rovers [English second tier] and Saint-Etienne [French Premier League], but a change is unlikely now because Malmo said they would struggle to get a replacement as the transfer window in Sweden is closed.
“Maybe I could move in January because I am ready. I think both leagues suit my style, which hasn’t really changed much since I left Pirates. I did not have experience at Pirates, but now I am at a level where I can perform and make good decisions to score goals,” said Rantie.