Mbatha not short of super skills
SIBONGAKONKE Mbatha is the shortest member of Stuart Baxter’s recent Bafana Bafana squad that will take on Tanzania in today’s Cosafa Cup quarter-final tie at Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Kick-off 5pm).
A mere 1.55m means the Wits attacking midfielder isn’t built like most tall professional players he’ll be playing against in today’s clash. However, like most great players who have graced the beautiful game with their unique abilities on the ball though being short, players like Diego Maradona (1.65m) and Romario of Brazil (1.67m), Mbatha also does not allow his size to stand in the way of him performing wonders on the pitch.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder twists and turns, always eager to break loose from his markers, so that he can help his team tick in the final third.
His coach at Wits, Gavin Hunt, saw those special qualities he displayed in the three group matches he played in this year’s South Korea Fifa Under-20 World Cup edition, and decided to promote him to the first team leading up to the new season.
Hunt said there would be no better time of introducing him into first team football than now, as Wits are the Absa Premiership and MTN8 defending champions.
“This happens anywhere in the world,” Hunt said.
“If you win (the league title) you have to strengthen your team (leading up to the new season).
“We are also planning to introduce a few more young players as well. I did that during my stint at Supersport (United). We brought them in because we were winning.
“Mbatha is with us,” Hunt added.
“He hasn’t started training with the first team yet because he’s selected to form part of this year’s Bafana squad participating in the Cosafa Cup. It’s not going to be easy (for him to break into the starting XI), but he’s definitely with us (the first team).”
In today’s match, Stuart Baxter will miss the influence of Aubrey Ngoma, who suffered a knee injury leading up to this clash. However, Supersport midfielder Cole Alexander was roped in as a last-minute replacement, and might be given a headstart in the central attacking role, while Mbatha, who can play on either side of the wing and as a central attacker as well, might be forced to start out on the left wing.
The 19-year old midfielder said he was excited about his call-up.
He hopes to make a long-lasting impression, should he be given a Bafana debut in today’s match.
“It’s a privilege to have been called up to this Bafana squad,” Mbatha said.
“Looking at my journey so far, it’s been a breathtaking experience and I cannot take all the credit.
“For me, football is not just about the physique,” Mbatha added.
“If you’ve got the ability and brains, some coaches will see that and give you a head start, instead of using physically well-built but dull type of players.
“I’m hoping my skill here are recognised as being effective for the national team.
“But given a chance, I’ll give it my best, irrespective of my small frame.”
The only challenge Baxter’s men might in their first match of the tournament is that Tanzania, who finished top of Group A with a better goal difference to Angola with whom they were equal on five points, had more competitive game time to gel, while Baxter’s side havn’t.
Baxter, though, who said they were using the Cosafa tournament to nurture up-and-coming talent from the junior national teams, will be hoping his inexperienced side will hit the ground running in pursuit of becoming the first South African national side to defend their Cosafa Cup title.