Conceding just six goals means little if Bafana are useless at the other end
JOHANNESBURG: Scoring is better than sex, someone who must have been in a frustrating, loveless marriage once said. Bafana Bafana certainly don’t appear to believe such an ethos, so reluctant are they to bulge the back of the net these days.
“We don’t take our chances,” said Pitso Mosimane after a goalless draw against Senegal this week, entering an early candidacy for 2012’s Stating the Bleed- ing Obvious Award.
Since Mosimane took over the helm of Bafana, following the 2010 Fifa World Cup, he has, to his credit, tightened up his defence to scrooge-like levels of concession. Unfortunately, at the other end of the field, South Africa have slid backwards faster than an uncoordinated teenager stepping on to an ice rink for the very first time.
Mosimane’s reign has seen Bafana net 13 times in 15 inter- nationals, giving them a paltry goal-per-game ratio of 0.87. That is, technically speaking, worse than the Seychelles, who have scored nine times in nine games since the World Cup.
If that’s a bit of a cheap shot – Bafana have faced tougher opposition than the Islanders – other comparisons leave absolutely no doubt as to the paucity of Bafana’s record.
Bafana, if South African Football Association vice president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana is to be believed, have ambitions to be Africa’s best. Well the Ivory Coast, the current incumbents of the African No 1 spot, have smashed in a whopping 39 goals in 21 games since the World Cup. Zambia, who knocked over the Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup final, have matched that tally, if in a few more games, netting 39 times in 25 matches.
And what of world champions Spain? Put 47 goals in 19 games on your cake and digest it.
In some sense, it’s difficult to blame Mosimane for his side’s inefficiency. The Bafana coach could hardly be blamed for Tlou Segolela failing to beat the goalkeeper when clean through in Cairo last June; or for May Mahlangu on Wednesday night shooting straight at the Senegalese keeper when also in the clear.
Yet the statistics do also point to a generally over-defensive attitude from the Bafana coach. South Africa have conceded just six goals under Mosimane, but this becomes essentially useless if nothing is happening at the other end of the field.
Zambia have let in 17 goals in 25 games, a worse record than Bafana, but it has hardly affected their progress, partly because of their attacking prowess.
Mosimane basically has until June to find a solution to this malaise, when Bafana will face Ethiopia and the aforementioned Botswana in World Cup 2014 qualifiers.
With Katlego Mphela the only striker Bafana have who looks capable of scoring these days, pressure will increase on Mosimane to bring back Benni Mccarthy, particularly if he has a strong finish to the season with Orlando Pirates.
Mccarthy is 34 and well past his best, but the situation is desperate. Mosimane’s job, indeed, might just depend on it.