Unknowns hold Bafana to draw
Just returned from a ban, the Scorpions of Gambia sting SA in Afcon qualifier
SHAKES Mashaba would have had a better game plan if he’d spied on Gambia.
Shortly after announcing his key men for last night’s opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier here, the Bafana coach admitted he did not know enough about the Scorpions — a side that has been in oblivion over the past two years due to a ban by the Confederation of African Football for age cheating.
Those spy tapes would have helped a great deal. Instead SA got off to a disappointing start in their Afcon qualifiers.
Bafana had the lion’s share of possession, more shots on target and were clearly the better team. But the result suited Gambia, who return home with a valuable point and are probably confident they can beat South Africa there in March 2016.
Apart from Thamsanqa Gabuza, who joined the squad as a last-minute replacement for honeymooner Tokelo Rantie on Thursday, the Bafana lineup was predictable.
Mashaba had packed the midfield with intelligent and nimble-footed assets in Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu, Oupa Manyisa and Ayanda Patosi, with Andile Jali as the anchorman. That combination was not enough — Bafana needed a proven goal-scorer.
As early as the 12th minute, striker Gabuza could have silenced a stadium full of critics when he was sent through on goal by Patosi’s defence-splitting pass. But the lanky forward, who spent two days with the national team and was picked ahead of Vuyisile Wana, Bongi Ntuli and Siphelele Ntshangase, fluffed his chance by shooting straight at Gambia goalkeeper Modou Jobe. And that was sadly his only contribution to the game as he had faded poorly by the time Mashaba brought on winger Thuso Phala as a replacement in the 70th minute.
Gambia had a resolute defence that appeared to intimidate Bafana’s pint-sized attackers, leaving the midfielders no choice but to try long-range shots.
Some proved tame efforts, while others, like defender Thabo Matlaba’s attempts late in the second half, were inches wide of the posts.
Bafana should have done better. Mashaba, desperate to change a frustrating night for South Africa in their opening qualifier at home, had made all three substitutions by the 75th minute with Phala and Ntshangase replacing Thulani Serero and Gabuza.
Bafana also suffered a blow in the 39th minute when Manyisa hobbled off injured and Mandla Masango took his place.
These changes reinforced Bafana’s dominance, but a goalless draw would still prove to be the best outcome for the visiting team, who at times were given time on the ball to look for a shock winning goal.
With Itumeleng Khune in goal, South Africa were never really in danger. There are crucial moments never to be forgotten in this match and high up on the list was the 88th minute one-on-one miss by Ntshangase. That should have been the winning goal and the striker, who has just recently made a name for himself and become a transfer-window target for Premier League clubs despite playing for Black Leopards in the National First Division, knows it.
Phala also failed to convert from inside the box, choosing to attempt a tap-in when he should have blasted the ball in the back of the net not long after he had come off the bench.
Another one of Mashaba’s blunders may have been his decision to substitute Serero when it seemed like he would eventually break the Gambia defence. There were positives, like seeing Mahlangu play alongside Jali in the heart of midfield and dictating terms.
But such a poor start to Bafana’s Nations Cup qualification would have scared the nation, especially after a disappointing Cosafa Cup in which Mashaba’s men bowed out early without scoring a goal and with only four shots on target in those two matches, which they went on to lose on penalties.