Confident Mashaba picks strong squad
HE IS reportedly expected to be sacked this afternoon by his SA Football Association bosses, but a confident Shakes Mashaba yesterday named his 25-man Bafana Bafana squad for next month’s crucial World Cup qualifier.
The national team coach was on a charm offensive, walking around after the usual press conference, smiling with journalists and posing for pictures.
This wasn’t the look of a man whose job hangs by a thread, but Mashaba will know that anything other than a victory in Ouagadougou on October 8 will have him on the ropes again before the second qualifier against Senegal in South Africa a month later.
Safa will hold a national executive committee meeting this afternoon, but it is highly unlikely that there will be a decision on Mashaba’s future.
Perhaps only how to clamp down on his complex relationship with the media and his occasional outbursts will be discussed.
Maybe reinforcing his mandate of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be on the agenda.
Although anything is possible with Safa, Mashaba will probably not be getting the boot – for now.
“I have not been distracted,” said the coach when asked whether speculation about his job had interrupted his planning process ahead of naming his squad for perhaps the most important fixture of his tenure.
“I did indicate that only sticks and stones will break my bones. I remain focused on the job at hand and have full confidence in my ability as a coach to lead this team forward. Much has been said about my future, but I am still the coach.”
Safa president, Danny Jordaan, had given the impression that the association’s hierarchy wanted Mashaba out and had even lost faith in whether he was the man to get them to the World Cup, having missed out on next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon by finishing third in a group that included Cameroon, Gambia and lowly Mauritania.
Jordaan’s anger in a postmatch interview after Bafana had played to a goalless draw in a dead-rubber qualifier against Mauritania last month opened the door for wild speculation.
Mashaba picked a strong team yesterday, recalling Ayanda Patosi, a player he had frozen out of the national team for several months, and sprang a surprise by selecting new Wits striker Eleazar Rodgers to give regular player Thamsanqa Gabuza some competition.
Both can be quite physical forwards and could be pivotal in countering the strength of Burkina Faso.
It’s a team of heavyweights that the coach is banking on, a clear sign that he is going all out for victory against a side that Bafana have beaten four times in seven matches.
Mashaba is also hoping he wins back the trust of those who believe his time is up, including Jordaan.
“If you want me to talk about my job security, that would be difficult because you have to direct that question to the office of the CEO (Dennis Mumble),” the coach said.
“Yes, we are expecting support from the association and you can see it is there with early flights and those kinds of things. I can’t answer beyond that, but no one takes a role without expecting to win.”
Safa also confirmed that Bafana will be hosting Ghana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium three days after their return from Burkina Faso.
BAFANA SQUAD Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane, Itumeleng Khune, Brighton Mhlongo. Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Abbubaker Mobara, Diamond Thopola, Tebogo Langerman, Eric Mathoho, Thabo Matlaba. Midfielders: Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Thulani Serero, Oupa Manyisa, Ayanda Patosi, Keagan Dolly, Aubrey Modiba, Mpho Makola, Hlompho Kekana. Strikers: Eleazar Rodgers, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thobani Mncwango, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Tokelo Rantie.