Bafana have a lot to do before Brazil World Cup

FOUR years ago today, even the biting cold that was threatening to have its way with my corns couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm ahead of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup.

This traditional appetiser to the main course — the Soccer World Cup — was held in this neck of the woods that year and was used to test venues, transport, hospitality, security and other requirements that are critical in the smooth running of the massive operation that is the global showpiece.

So if the 2009 Confederations Cup was the bacon-wrapped potato bites with sour cream appetiser, then the 2010 Soccer World Cup was the lemon and rosemary roast chicken with crispy potatoes.

And now it’s the turn of the Brazilians to savour the delights of this event and they will be opening their doors to the world when they host the 2013 Confederations Cup from June 15-30.

World Cup and Euro holders Spain, African Nations Cup champions Nigeria, AFC Asian Cup winners Japan, Concacaf Gold Cup holders Mexico, Copa America winners Uruguay, Euro runners-up Italy, and Oceania Football Confederation champions Tahiti will get an early opportunity to experience the hospitality of Brazil next month before the hosts welcome the rest of the world next year.

While Bafana will not be in Brazil to participate in this year’s Confederations Cup, they have their sights set on the bigger picture — the 2014 World Cup — and a lot of things will be put into perspective when the dust settles this month.

Bafana resume their qualifiers for the 2014 global showpiece when they face the Central African Republic in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on June 8. Fifa acceded to the South African Football Association’s request to move the match to a neutral venue after political unrest in the Central African Republic raised safety fears.

The Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé may be a neutral venue but coach Gordon Igesund and his charges will be aware that winning points away from home will be a challenge.

Things do not get any easier after that qualifier as Ethiopia are next and that tricky assignment will be played in Addis Ababa on June 16.

These two games are massive and Igesund knows there is still a long way to go before anyone can start dreaming about carnival parades, beaches and samba music.

Injuries have proved harder to tackle than any opponent since Igesund took over last year and I’ve often imagined the Bafana coach muttering unprintables under his breath every time one of his players has succumbed to the curse over the past few months.

Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, and defenders Tsepo Masilela and Siboniso Gaxa are the latest casualties after they were withdrawn from the squad this week. The defence has been the hardest hit by injuries and if you think that the Bafana coach is sporting more grey hairs these days, now you know the reason.

“We have really had some bad luck with defenders lately missing out due to injury; this is really a big blow to us in that department,” he said this week.

“Already we are without Morgan Gould, Siyabonga Sangweni, Thabo Matlaba, and now Masilela. Siyanda Xulu recently returned from an injury, but they say when one door closes the other opens, so I believe this is a chance for the players in the squad to raise their hands and help their country in these difficult times.”

Indeed, these are difficult times and Igesund knows that even if the chips are down, the public expects him to pull a rabbit out of the hat. The latest injuries have forced him to change his plans and the public is not amused.

The groans could be heard from Sea Point to Tzaneen when Slovakia-based Ricardo Nunes replaced Masilela, and Igesund will hope the player — who seemingly performs more brilliantly on YouTube than on the field — doesn’t put a foot wrong if he plays next month.

So for Bafana and South Africans, far more pressing matters than the Confederations Cup loom on the horizon and we will know soon enough if all the gambles pay off.

Follow Ntloko on Twitter at @ntlokom.