Steyn lines up SA’s tour length-wise
AVING broken their scoring duck on home soil, Bafana Bafana will tonight strive to end yet another hoodoo when they take on Nigeria in the final African Cup of Nations qualifying match in Uyo.
The South African senior national team booked their spot at the 16-team tournament to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea when they finally won a home match with Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Sudan in Durban.
Prior to that match, Shakes Mashaba’s team had played goal-
Hless draws in both their home clashes against Nigeria and Congo-Brazzaville, leaving the coach worried about his team’s profligacy in front of goal. But when he left for Nigeria on Monday, Mashaba was cock-ahoop, confident in his team’s ability to break the opposition defence and expecting Bafana to finally beat the Super Eagles in a competitive match. In their 10 matches against their nemesis, Bafana have only won once, the victory coming in the friendly Nelson Mandela Challenge.
“We can always hope for the better,” Mashaba said “I’m very happy that we scored two goals at home but what will make me even happier is to get those two goals against Nigeria.”
For them to breach the Nigerian defence though, Bafana will need better finishing than the one that saw Bongani Ndulula miss a sitter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The AmaZulu striker will have to live up to his Drogba moniker and finish like the deadly Ivory Coast marksman to add to the two goals he has netted in the qualifying matches so far.
And then Tokelo Rantie, his strike partner, must show the kind of deft finishing that saw him slot home the second goal after Thulani Serero had opened up the scoring with his maiden Bafana strike.
“Beating Nigeria will bring back the confidence of people in Bafana Bafana,” Mashaba said, the fact that the squad has already earned huge respect by qualifying, notwithstanding “It will bring us dignity and the respect of the African continent.”
More than that though, Mashaba is keen to have Bafana finish the qualifying round unbeaten, so they can send a message to the rest of the continent that they’ll be a force at next year’s biennial, continental showpiece.
“We’re not going there to add to the numbers,” he said of their participation at the tournament. “We’re going there to compete and besides, South Africa are always the team to beat. And by winning we will let the others know we mean business.”
Easier said than done though, especially with Nigeria going into the match under pressure to win if they are to have a chance to defend the title they won in South Africa last year.
Placed second with seven points, Stephen Keshi’s team cannot afford a slip-up as that would likely allow Congo-Brazzaville – who are also on seven points – to sneak into second spot and book automatic qualification. The Congolese are favourites to grab maximum points away to bottomdwellers and already eliminated Sudan and the Super Eagles thus have all the pressure on them.
Mashaba believes Bafana can capitalise on that but says they will have to be much tighter on the wings where their hosts will be more dangerous.
“They have two good wingers that we will have to be wary of if we’re not to be punished.”
But, Mashaba believes it is the Bafana attackers that Nigeria must worry about – their win at the weekend having given them confidence that they can finally beat the Super Eagles in a competitive match. DALE STEYN, takes it personally when insults are directed at his teammates. Whether that’s from opposing players, the media, or even supporters, the great fast bowler isn’t one to sit back when his pals are being abused.
Michael Clark earned Steyn’s wrath for having a go at Vernon Philander in that infamous final session of the Newlands Test in March. The two still haven’t sorted out their issues.
Steyn pointed out yesterday how delighted he was for Morné Morkel, especially as his big fast bowling mate is often criticised for not having large numbers in the wickets column. “Morné exploited those conditions (in Perth on Sunday) beautifully. I really feel it’s important to talk about him. He’s one of those unlucky bowlers who doesn’t quite gets the rewards he wants ... and he really deserved that five-wicket haul.”
And then the question over why Farhaan Behardien seems to be a selectors’ favourite, but even after an excellent outing on Sunday in Perth, he can’t escape criticism from South African supporters. “I thought Fudgie bowled beautifully ... he picked up a big wicket (Shane Watson). That doesn’t just happen, the guy is bowling in the nets right now, working on it.”
You’d expect nothing less from Steyn. The scary fast bowler the opposing batsmen encounter stands in stark contrast to the strong, caring bloke, who is now comfortable in a leadership position and happy to dispense advice to the younger players.
If South Africa have to play with seven frontline batsmen, then so be it, especially if it helps the team to win. Sure, it means there is even more pressure piled on Steyn to strike up-front with the new ball but that’s okay; he’ll adapt to that and prosper.
“The use of part-time bowlers shows the importance of JP (Duminy), him being able to bowl off-spin that’s such a massive role for us.”
“We are so lucky to have him … and someone like (Jacques) Kallis, we got overs out of him, you only now start to realise now … well, we all knew it while he was playing and then when he retired we all wondered what were we going to do. But other guys step up to the plate,” said Steyn.
“It’s important that everyone contributes. And if David Miller didn’t have such a bent right elbow, he’d bowl a couple of overs,” Steyn quipped.
For all that though, it is necessary that Morkel, Steyn and Philander replicate their explosive Test form of the last few years for the ODI side. In this series, they’ve managed early strikes in one match, and missed out in the other – and the outcome of the two matches has virtually come down to those periods. “You’re still trying to find the right lines and hit the right lengths to find the edge of the bat, and that is specific to someone like Vernon,” explained Steyn. “That’s what he does, he attacks the top of offstump, so is always in the game with a caught behind, bowled or a lbw.
“He’s not the quickest guy in the world and maybe he can’t rush you with a bouncer, but he does try to rush you with a skiddy bouncer and can catch you off guard. His biggest strength is his line and length which is exactly what he does in the Test side.”
The World Cup being in these parts, there is even further emphasis on the pace triumvirate and between them Steyn said they were capturing plenty of data. “You do travel all over the world and the most difficult thing is to arrive here and be on the money from ball one. So it’s nice to be here now figuring out those lines and lengths, getting used to the crowds and fields”.