It’s bye-bye to Brazil for Bafana Bafana
Despite a handsome victory over Botswana, SA will stay home
THE street posters adorning lamp posts along the road to the Moses Mabhida Stadium were emblazoned with posters screaming “Road to Brazil”.
But Bafana’s World Cup dream reached a cul-de-sac and went up in smoke yesterday at the scene where their quest for Africa Nations Cup glory ended in February.
It was deja vu for coach Gordon Igesund who lost out on his fifth league title when Moroka Swallows missed out on the PSL championship on the last day of the campaign two seasons ago.
Bafana’s elimination means Igesund has failed to reach both targets Safa set when he took the job last year — to finish in the top four of Afcon and qualify South Africa for a third appearance at soccer’s showpiece.
“I’ve got mixed feelings,” said Igesund afterwards. “I’m thrilled with the progress the team is making and the youngsters. I don’t think anybody is to blame for us not qualifying. It’s just the ball didn’t roll for us. We’ve got lots to look forward to in 2015 and 2018.”
Calls for his head will come but Igesund believes he is still the right man for the job.
‘“At this stage I’m still national team coach and I expect to stay there,” he said.
Asked why he should continue after failing to meet his mandate Igesund said: “I’ve got a contract until 2014. I didn’t do that. I couldn’t do better than I’ve done. After Afcon I was told by Safa they were happy with what has happened and I should continue until 2014.”
Trailing Ethiopia by two points going into the final round of Group A matches, Bafana needed to beat Botswana and hope that Ethiopia failed to beat Central African Republic.
With the matches played simultaneously, CAR went ahead in the 23th minute in Brazzaville, giving Bafana hope.
Bafana followed suit five min- utes later when, from a Simphiwe Shabalala corner, Parker flicked to the far post for Kermit Erasmus to head his first goal for his country in five starts.
Hope became real belief when Parker freed Furman with a stellar pass. The Doncaster Rovers midfielder fired home a low drive, his first Bafana goal.
But the emotional rollercoaster ride swung from joy to pain in Brazzaville as Ethiopia equalised in the 48th minute and took the lead in the 61st.
Parker scored his 16th and 17th goals with a brace, both from set pieces — the first a stupendous free kick and the second a penalty.
Jerome Ramatlhakwana crowned Botswana’s best move of the match. But Ethiopia’s 2-1 win meant they finished on 13 points, two ahead of secondplaced Bafana.
To be frank, Bafana’s dream died during the 2-1 defeat to Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in June. Their faint hopes were given a mouth to mouth resuscitation when Ethiopia were docked three points for fielding a suspended player in an earlier qualifier against Botswana.
GORDON Igesund has explained his decision to expel Thulani Serero from the Bafana camp on the eve of yesterday’s game against Botswana.
Flanked by team doctor Carl Tabane, assistant Serame Letsoaka and goalkeeping coach Alex Heredia, Igesund said: “On Wednesday I told Serero I was going to start him in a free role to express himself and get the team going. He was sharp at training, with great movement and beautiful touches.
“On Thursday he told the doctor that he had a tight muscle in his thigh. The doctor told him you’re fine, there are other players with tight muscles but it is nothing to worry about. And he was fine as we saw him at training. He was classy, movement brilliant.”
Tabane said: “We had a player who didn’t want to play for Bafana because he wanted to play in the Champions League for his club. We asked him repeatedly and repeatedly, are you injured and he said no.
We’ve got a big game on Tuesday in the Champions League
Continued Igesund: “On Friday Serame came to me and said Serero had approached him and told him that he didn’t want to play because he fears he might be injured and he needs to play for his team. I called a meeting with my technical team. In front of everyone I asked him ‘are you injured’ and he kept on saying I’ve got a tight muscle and I’m scared I might injure myself.
“When I asked him what he was going to say to the media he said ‘If they ask me I’d say no comment’. I tried to get him to say if he was injured or not. But he kept on saying ‘I don’t feel anything but I’m just scared that I’ll be injured. We’ve got a big game on Tuesday in the Champions League and I don’t want to get injured’.
“He didn’t want to play and wanted me to leave him out of the team. Why did he even come here in the first place? To get on a flight that costs R60 000 knowing you don’t want to play, what do you call that? I want a team of passionate players who are prepared to die for their country and give their all, at all times.”