Baxter and his charges must get act together
ITUMELENG Khune might have summed up Bafana Bafana’s inferiority complex perfectly.
The South Africans have a problem realising how talented they are‚ Bafana’s one reliable world-class performer said ahead of tomorrow’s must-win 2018 World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Although‚ even admitting now that a single Bafana player apart from Khune might be talented does not sit too well.
Bafana Bafana were so pathetic in their loss against Cape Verde twice last month‚ then some partying in the team hotel afterwards‚ that to portray this crew of PSL and obscure European club overachievers into anything more than that just seems uncomfortably wrong.
Yes‚ the players can walk through a mall and be mobbed.
But does that make them special? One might argue not even slightly.
Not when those same players‚ turning out for their country‚ forget where they are from.
Once most of them were that child from the township idolising stars just like themselves. A contract at a big South African club or small European one and their clubs become everything and the national SA team a distraction.
Their country that has invested its emotional stock in them takes not even second‚ but third or fourth or 10th place.
That is the tragic‚ true story of Bafana Bafana.
And that is why the organisers have battled to give tickets away for tomorrow’s game – from 3pm.
But the truth of it is that‚ as Khune said this week‚ this team who beat Nigeria 2-0 in Uyo in June in coach Stuart Baxter’s first game are talented.
Some are African club champions with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Many‚ though‚ need a dose of Khune’s warrior spirit‚ as the goalkeeper aims to battle his way through 90 minutes again for his national team, having suffered recent chest infections and head and shoulder injuries.
“When the results are not coming, I don’t blame the supporters for being so hard on us. We have to deliver‚” Khune said.
“It’s crucial that all of us have to know the importance of qualifying for the World Cup.
“We are very talented but we do not realise that – we always want to be reminded.
“It’s time we all realise how talented we are – and that we need to move this team forward.”
All Bafana’s talent‚ though‚ will count for little if Baxter again gets his selections wrong.
He had his first starting lineup spot on against Nigeria.
Since then, Baxter has shown a worrying inability to discern the best talent he has available‚ and how to use it. He – and his charges – cannot afford any further slip-ups.