Mashaba’s saving grace: two choice keepers in the wings
ers some excitement too,” said Keet from Belgium, where he is first choice for KV Kortrijk in the Jupiler League. “Shakes does what’s best for the team. His unpredictability is exciting.
“I think the fans in South Africa have enjoyed it too if you look at his surprise inclusions.
“We know it is up to the coach to pick his best team and I wouldn’t say I have always asked myself when my chance would come, but if I am picked I will be ready for the challenge.”
Siyabonga Mpontshane completes the trio of goalkeepers called up last week, but his lack of history with the coach almost rules him out.
Khuzwayo picked up the most caps under Mashaba — more than 20 — for the national under-23 side.
His heroics for Kaizer Chiefs recently in the absence of the injured Itumeleng Khune have been recognised by Mashaba .
Khuzwayo labelled the 64year-old as a “father figure” and said he was fascinated by the coach’s determination to reward hard work.
“It makes sense that he would have his own style, like most coaches would.
“What I admire is that Shakes doesn’t follow the norm by picking players from big clubs only. If he sees your hard work he will give you a chance,” Khuzwayo said.
“I have to admit that even though I have had some good times, ups and downs, with Shakes, I would not have expected a call-up so early.
“My main focus was to establish myself at Chiefs. I don’t have expectations for upcoming games. But what I do know is that no player can ever offer any less when Shakes is the coach.”
Keet probably has more of a reason to believe he’s the obvious choice.
The man nicknamed “Popeye” has been there from the beginning of Mashaba’s new era, deputising for Meyiwa in the 3-0 win against Sudan and in the goalless draw against Nigeria in September — and again as the second choice in last month’s back-to-back encounters against Congo Brazzaville.
He has Shakes to thank for bringing him out of inter- national limbo and looks forward to playing a significant role should Bafana qualify for next year’s Nations Cup.
“I have never been to any other major tournament except the under-20 World Cup. For a while I was a little bit unknown, and by the time I started playing for the under-23s our era was moving on,” Keet said.
“I have been in the national team set-up since I was 19, being able to make some camps and missing others.
“I would have loved nothing more than to play for my country at the 2013 Nations Cup but [then coach] Gordon Igesund made his choice and I understood that.
“There have been issues with my club allowing me to play for the national team in the past, but that has all been resolved because, for me, that is the highest honour,” Keet said. local businessmen bought the club for £1 and committed to building a team with young players that was intimately connected to the community.
McGowan vowed to use the club to help overcome what he saw as the biggest problem facing Hamilton — and, more broadly, the country.
“I’m a co-owner of the football club, but I’m also an alcoholic and a drug addict,” he said. “I’ve been in recovery for 31 years. I don’t forget the pain and suffering I caused others. I’m putting a wee bit back in.”
Les Gray, the club’s chairman, said: “It is a bit of a bizarre feeling, being top of the league.
“We’ve got a good young squad. They don’t play for a lot of money, they play for the opportunity.”
Gray declined to discuss the team’s budget or players’ salaries, but it is safe to assume that Hamilton is not wealthy.
Despite Hamilton’s storybook rise, generating interest in the team is hard work, especially with two of the most established clubs in the world nearby.
“The reality is that more buses leave here to go to Rangers and Celtic every week than come here,” Gray said. “That’s what we are up against.” No one, not least team coach Alex Neil, is talking about winning the championship just yet, even if the club has already beaten the teams that finished in the top three last season.
“Winning the league? That’s unthinkable, really,” he said. “We are the smallest club in the division. But if the team works as a unit we can overcome teams of superstars.” — © The New York Times News Service