UNSHAKEABLE
COACH: WE ARE GOING TO SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE
Gabon a distant memory despite Nelspruit qualifier.
Shakes Mashaba believes Bafana Bafana are playing well and remains bullish about their chances of qualifying for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
There has been a distinct lack of local media presence in the Lowveld this week ahead of tonight’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania at the Mbombela Stadium, understandable given that SA have no chance of making it to Gabon.
If South Africa cannot make it to a continental showpiece, it is reasonable to wonder whether they have a realistic shout of qualifying for the World Cup a year later – only the winners of a group also containing Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde, will make it to Russia.
But Mashaba, speaking at the team hotel, was having none of it.
“I am upbeat, we are going to surprise a lot of people,” said the Bafana coach.
“A lot of people are saying this team is the best, and that team, but it shocks me that whenever a team is playing South Africa, people say they are better. Everyone will tell you the PSL is the biggest league in Africa if not one of the biggest in the world, so why must we play second fiddle to other countries? I think away from home, we have played very well, we must just try to make sure that when we come home, we go for maximum points.”
Bafana can certainly point to home goalless draws against Gambia and Cameroon as major stumbling blocks on the road to Gabon, though they were also embarrassed 3-1 in Mauritania this time last year.
“I challenge people in all the games so far to pinpoint one and say we didn’t play well,” said Mashaba, nevertheless.
“Including the Mauritania (away) game. When we were at 1-1 and were minus a player, we had an open chance. Had (Bongani) Zungu buried it then we were leading 2-1. The only problem is with converting chances.”
Bafana improved away from home with their 4-0 win in Gambia in their last qualifier, Keagan Dolly setting the senior international scene alight with a brilliant double, though a hamstring injury means he is unlikely to start this evening.
“We are still going to assess him, but for now he is a doubtful starter,” confirmed Mashaba.
That means Bafana are likely to be reliant on two players in attack who have served Mashaba well: Thamsanqa Gabuza and Tokelo Rantie. Mashaba believes that Rantie’s move to Turkish side Genclerbirligi has put a spring in his step in training this week.
“If you had seen him yesterday (Wednesday), he was vibrant, he didn’t look a player who had not been playing for some time,” said the Bafana coach.
“I think the new contract he has got has given him a second lease of life.”