week Plays of the
Star
Bafana Bafana’s brilliant win over Burkina Faso last weekend was led literally from the front by Mamelodi Sundowns striker Percy Tau. In his first start in South Africa’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign, it took Tau just 48 seconds to make his mark, setting Bafana on their way to a 3-1 win. Tau was a constant menace to the Stallions defence and also had a hand in Bafana’s third of the game, a brilliant back-heel flick sending Sibusiso Vilakazi en route to goal. After leaving Tokelo Rantie out for the Burkina Faso game, Stuart Baxter needed someone to step up in attack, and Tau did that with aplomb. He now looks a certain starter for the two key games against Senegal next month.
Flop
Football has never been at the top of the list of the most popular sports in the US, but that cannot excuse the pathetic effort that saw Bruce Arena’s side fail to make it to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. Despite winning only three of nine matches in the final stage of Concacaf qualifying, the Bruce Arena’s (above) side went into their final game at Trinidad and Tobago knowing a point would certainly be enough. Instead they lost 2-1 to a side ranked 99th in the world. Wins for Panama, who will now make their World Cup debut, and Honduras, who will now play off against Australia, completed the misery for the US, who have missed out on the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986.
Quote
“I’m a footballer I don’t go around voting‚ I only play football. Voting is for supporters‚ it’s for fans‚ people should vote for him if they like the goal.” – Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane, in an interview with Power FM, on why he will not vote for Baroka FC goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke in the Fifa Puskas Award. Masuluke’s brilliant overhead kick, which beat Mabokgwane in the Pirates goal in an Absa Premiership match last season, has made the top three in Fifa’s nominations, the first time an African player has managed to achieve this. Mabokgwane later tweeted that he was being sarcastic and that “I urge all South Africans to vote”, but one has to question why he felt the need to make such an unwise comment.