Make us dream, Da Gama and your boys

KEAGAN Dolly was not even an idea in his father’s head when South Africa made their one and only appearance at the Olympics. It was year 2000. In Sydney. A shy seven years before Dolly’s dad could cradle his tiny tot — who would grow up to be a footballer of fine fettle — in his arms.

Ooh what an orgasmic experience that was. Erm, the football in Sydney that is. Not the making of Dolly — ek was nie daar nie.

Whether you watched it live like colleague Matshelane Mamabolo, who was the chief Amaglug-glug correspondent, or via the small box like millions of us did, I swear your chest still swells with pride as you recall witnessing one of the finest moments of South African football history.

Yes, that Shakes Mashaba team didn’t qualify for the knockout round, having won one game and lost two to Japan and Slovakia in group D.

But damn, they did something special. Super special. In that one victory, our boys claimed the scalp of Brazil.

Known as Amaglug-glug, because of the sponsorship power of Sasol, the boys stepped on the pedal and produced a high-octane performance.

Quinton Fortune and secondhalf substitutes Siyabonga Nomvethe and Steve Lekoelea sealed the deal. The thing is it wasn’t just Brazil.

In their midst the samba boys had he who would go on to become a two-time world footballer of the year, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. Or simply Ronaldinho.

It was a moment of magic. Madiba magic if you like. Like a mind-blowing one-night stand. Since 2000 several squads have failed to qualify for the Olympics. A great shame considering that those teams teemed with terrific talent.

Steven Pienaar. Gift Leremi. Itumeleng Khune. Thulani Serero. Sibusiso Vilakazi. Andile Jali. We can count them until the cows come home.

From Pienaar’s neck of the woods in Westbury comes Dolly, who looks up to the former Bafana Bafana skipper.

Today Dolly is captain of the current under-23 generation chasing their own Olympic dream.

He is in camp with his comrades at the CAF under-23 Championship in Senegal where the teams that finish in the top three will be African representation at the games in Rio Olympics next year.

He is having a super season for his club, Mamelodi Sundowns. Just like Phakamani Mahlambi, whose coach Gavin Hunt says is better than Benni, is having a helluva time for Bidvest Wits.

The Double M of Orlando Pirates, Gift Motupa and Menzi Masuku, have responded with distinction to the disappointment of their club’s Caf Confederation Cup final defeat.

The duo have been the wind beneath the team’s wings, between them sharing the four goals that led to defeats of Zambia and Tunisia.

The boys started off badly with that disjointed display in the 3-1 defeat but bounced back bravely. There’s an urgent need to tighten the screws in the rearguard. That defence still looks jittery, providing unpleasant bum-squeaky times.

It is a cause for concern going into Wednesday’s semifinal considering that they’ve conceded in all three group A games.

Now that we’ve reached the crunch-time stage, the situation of having a leaky defence will surely lead to calamity if it continues.

On the horizon lies one of Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt, who all had a chance to finish top of group B in last night’s matches.

Shoring up that defence should be the primary concern for Owen da Gama if we are to end a 15-year allergy to the Olympic soccer games.

Our boys are only one game away from reaching the goal of living their Olympic dream.

They should, because that squad in Senegal is dripping with plenty of quality to qualify for Rio 2016. That should be the idea in Dolly’s head.