Bafana a long way off being ready
THAT Bafana Bafana needed a Hlompho Kekana special to overcome Golden Arrows in a training ground friendly yesterday, highlighted the fact that it’s still early days in the build-up to the friendlies against Guinea-Bissau this weekend and Angola next week.In the final period of a third 30-minute session, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder cracked in one of his trademark long-range specials to win the clash 1-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi in front of a small crowd.
The solo effort showed that the team dynamics are still to emerge from this squad that is in transition.
Day three of the national squad’s Durban training camp was the first time the 25-man squad worked out together after midfielder Keagan Dolly joined the team, having arrived late on Tuesday from France. It’s been just over five months since the last outing, a 1-1 draw in Mozambique, so this is almost a fresh start for the senior national team.
It’s a side in a state of flux. When they step onto the Moses Mabhida Stadium pitch on Saturday at 3pm against the Wild Dogs, it will mark the second game at the helm for caretaker coach Owen da Gama, and possibly a second outing for Dutch-born striker Lars Veldwijk. Following the suspension of former coach Ephraim Mashaba before the Mozambique outing in November, and his subsequent dismissal, this is a period of new beginnings for the national team. A new coach is expected to be announced shortly, and for players like striker Kermit Erasmus and midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo, this is a fresh chapter – they’ve returned to the fold following fallouts with Mashaba.
Erasmus showed his appetite for national honours with a lively run-out against Arrows.
The stocky France-based forward was eager to latch onto the ball and tracked back to regain possession against Arrows in the mid-morning heat.
Come Saturday afternoon, the team should enjoy better interplay. Defensively the structure is more settled. Regular first-choice goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was announced as captain this week. In front of him the options are familiar names like Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo and Erick Mathoho.
However, Da Gama is looking forward to blooding Lorenzo Gordinho, the Kaizer Chiefs central defender, who is one of three uncapped players in the squad. The others are attackers Phakamani Mahlambi and Luther Singh, who recently helped Amajita qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup to be played in South Korea in May.
“The national team hasn’t been active since November so our mission is to prepare a team that will tackle the upcoming 2018 Fifa World Cup and 2019 (Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers.
Another player looking to make an impact is Thabo Mnyamane. He made his debut under Mashaba in 2015. A return to the Bafana set-up comes at the right time for the 24-year-old (pictured), who is eager to take his football journey to the next level.
“African sides are very physical, and they play with their hearts whether it’s a friendly or not, so we have to showcase our talents on the day,” said the soft-spoken Mnyamane.