Bafana coast to victory
Young, local players become instant heroes as they take down the mighty Elephants of Ivory Coast
IT JUST KEEPS getting better, doesn’t it? If the recent qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals helped Bafana Bafana win back some continental respect, this Mandela Challenge victory over the Elephants of Ivory Coast told the story of a bright future that lies ahead.
Granted, it might be a bit premature to suggest you start saving up for Russia 2018.
But at this rate there’s every good reason to believe Shakes Mashaba can lead Bafana Bafana to World Cup qualification.
Deprived of his first choice players due this match not falling on an official Fifa weekend, Mashaba cobbled up a squad that most felt wasn’t worthy of the national team jersey.
But boy did the second stringers do the country proud. Not only did they win this match, but they did so playing with a youthful exuberance and enthusiasm that would have had many proclaiming “this is what South African football is all about”.
The regulars who were key in the qualifiers must no doubt be sitting uneasy in the knowledge that this lot have left the coach with a slight selection headache ahead of the trip to Equatorial Guinea in the new year. That they only won 2-0 was largely due to that good old local problem of a lack of killer instinct, Bafana fluffing a number of chances that could have seen them hammer the Elephants. But they were impressive alright, Bafana attacking the Ivorians right from kick-off and never ceasing until the final whistle.
It was in the way they confidently knocked the ball about, that they truly impressed with Bongani Xungu playing the role of both conductor and soloists of Bafana’s fluid passing game.
They played short one-twos to open up the opposition defence and mixed it up with long passes when the situation demanded to the delight of the over 20 000 people who came out to watch.
When they scored, it was largely through their persistent play that had been so lacking in the squad in the previous years – the youngsters hardly looking intimidated by their much stronger opposition.
Zungu slotted in the opener with a simple tap-in after a slick interchange of passes involving four Bafana players.
Once ahead, they seemed to grow in confidence and another combination, this time between Themba Zwane and Patrick Phungwayo nearly ended with the second goal but the former shot wide.
Just before the break Zungu also fluffed an opportunity for a second, failing to beat the keeper after Puleng Tlolane had threaded him a perfect through ball.
The Ivorians almost equalised on 45 minutes but Phungwayo thwarted their move by hoofing the ball out of the danger area. David Zulu made it 2-0 with an easy tap after the visiting goalkeeper had collided with Vuyisile Wana having left his line to try and clear danger.
At 2-0, the game looked settled but Bafana were hardly content and they went in search for more goals.
And they could have got them had substitutes Lerato Lamola and Siyanda Ngubo converted their chances.
The Ivorians also fashioned a chance as Bafana’s naivete in defence showed on 71 minutes, but Ibrahim Diomande passed the ball to substitute goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi who had come on for Jackson Mabokgwane.
In the end though, it was the bunch of unknowns prancing about the field with medals in their hands and the Nelson Mandela Challenge trophy aloft, with Mashaba no doubt sitting with a nice headache as he contemplates his squad for Afcon.