Life must go on for Bafana
SHAKES Mashaba is bracing himself for a tough week of mental preparation for Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
The coach said he’s not sure how individuals in his squad will react to the murder of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in Vosloorus on October 26 as the team returns to the pitch where the captain’s public funeral was held last week.
A win against Sudan will wrap up qualification for the Afcon. A draw or defeat will leave SA needing a result from their last game against Nigeria in Uyo next Wednesday.
Before Itumeleng Khune’s injury, Meyiwa played a major role in pushing him to the form he was in. Once Khune returned — the moon boot has recently come off from an ankle injury — there was going to be a struggle for the Bafana goalkeeper’s jersey. Meyiwa’s loss is a blow from a playing perspective.
“If one member goes missing it becomes a serious problem,” Mashaba said. “But the others will have to work hard to make sure they measure up. In the goalkeeping area anyone there now stands a chance to prove themselves.”
Mashaba has called up three interesting goalkeepers. Darren Keet has been a faithful reserve. He was KV Kortrijk’s 2012-13 player of the season, and because South Africans barely see him, it’s hard to judge how far the shot stopper has progressed since leaving Bidvest Wits in 2011.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Brilliant Khuzwayo has that something special Khune and Meyiwa had. Mashaba, as has been his habit, will not make decisions until he’s seen his goalkeepers in training.
“We’re not going to look at who’s what and who’s where at this stage,” the coach said. “That’s the purpose of the camp. With the selection criteria being form, if they’re all good we’re going to see who’s going to be the best.”
After Bafana have visited the grave in Chesterville, Mashaba WE’LL SEE: Shakes Mashaba has a selection dilemma has the task of impressing on the team that there’s still a job to do.
Sudan have been Group A’s whipping boys — winning one against the hapless Nigeria and losing three. A packed Moses TUSSLE: Patrick Phungwayo of Orlando Pirates and Thuso Phala of SuperSport United compete during the Telkom Knockout semifinal match at Orlando Stadium last night Mabhida Stadium, atmospheric in normal circumstances, will be more emotional in a match moved from Nelspruit to Meyiwa’s home city.
Bafana beat Sudan 3-0 in Khartoum so should be able to wrap things up at home.
It’s not quite so cut and dried though.
The South Africans, inspired away, have not won at home. And there is pressure and potential distraction from a match that could serve as a point where South Africans begin to deal with their collective national grief.
“That’s my responsibility — to see that the team is focused and ready for the assignment of the last two games,” Mashaba said.
“What could bring joy to people is to qualify in these two games. Sudan would like to restore dignity because we beat them at home.
“Nigeria never expected us to hold them to a draw at home here. When we go there it’s about more than just the three points. It’s going to be a fight, a war.” SENZO Meyiwa’s shadow appeared to distract a grieving Orlando Pirates early on in the match, as SuperSport United clinically capitalised to reach the Telkom Knockout final.
Goals by Lebogang Manyama in the 21st minute and Dove Wome in the 36th earned Matsatsantsa a semifinal victory.
It was an understandably nervous performance from Brighton Mhlongo, the Bucs youth product handed the unenviable task of taking slain Meyiwa’s place between the posts. Making just his second appearance from a lone start in 2013, the 23-year-old especially struggled in his communication with his defence.
Oupa Manyisa took the captain’s armband.
Pirates would hardly want to use their teammate’s slaying as an excuse. But it’s hard to imagine the Buccaneers not having been affected by the events of the past fortnight in their first game back in action.
Certainly, for the first half it was a far cry from the Bucs who were rampant in their last match, also at Orlando — a 4-1 thrashing of Ajax Cape Town in the quarterfinals on October 25.
Once the Bucs predictably rallied in the second half, it was too late.
Matters off the field aside, SuperSport deserved a hardearned victory. They notched up a seventh win from eight matches since Gordon Igesund took charge from Cavin Johnson. Igesund bounced back from a torrid end to his tenure as Bafana coach by steering SuperSport to the first cup final he has entered with the trophy- hungry club. Pirates coach Vladimir Vermezovic gave rare starts to Lehlohonolo Majoro and Tlou Segolela.
It was a tough beginning for Mhlongo. It could not have helped his confidence that a miscommunication with rightback Happy Jele led to Matsatsantsa’s opener.
To be fair to Mhlongo, Jele got in ahead of the keeper’s attempt at a punch to David Mathebula’s free kick, allowing Thabo September a shot that was cleared for a corner.
Mathebula took that delivery, and Clayton Daniels’s header onto the crossbar bounced a foot in front of the line. Manyama prodded in at the far post.
Pirates appeared distracted at both the crucial sides of the field. A Segolela free kick fell to Majoro, who volleyed over. The striker’s header from Sifiso Myeni’s cross was straight at Ronwen Williams.
And the Buccaneers’ defence opened up to concede a second. Mhlongo could do little as Thato Mokeke set Manyama down the left, who squared for Wome to slide in on a finish.
It could have been 3-0 soon after, with Mathebula marginally ruled offside when he had the ball in the net.
Pirates could have done with a goal pulled back just before the break, but were unfortunate not to capitalise on a double chance.
Myeni, played through by Khethowakhe Masuku, forced a save from Williams.