Pressure. What pressure? Bafana coach Ntseki is unfazed by calls for him to be sacked
Call for his head is unfair, says Bafana Bafana coach
● Pressure, what pressure? Beef, what beef? Control, huh, what control?
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki remains cool and defiant when asked if he has any of the above.
As we settle down to talk on Friday, three days after his late-night release of his squad for Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) matches against Sao Tome and Principe this month, the coach seems oblivious to the clamour of those shouting “Molefi Ntseki must fall”.
The noise got louder after Bafana’s forgettable performances in friendlies against Namibia (1-1) and Zambia (2-1 defeat) last month.
Explained
“I think it was a bit unfair because I explained why we selected the team we selected and I also explained the fitness of our players,” the 51-year-old coach said.
“It’s not an excuse, everyone knows that corona affected players badly when it comes to physical readiness to play. We played against the countries that had been in camp for four to five weeks while we were in camp not more than four days, and in those days we played two matches.
“If I entertain the negativity I don’t think I will be able to survive a day as a Bafana coach. What keeps me going is that one positive comment which is worth more than two million of the negative ones.”
Stint may end
Ntseki agrees that his stint as Bafana coach of over a year may end next month depending on the results his team gets against 182nd-ranked Sao Tome at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on November 13 and in the return match away three days later.
“We’ll work very hard on getting the six points because that’s the only result for us,” says the Free State-born coach.
Knowing the importance of Bafana avoiding another embarrassing result against teams they view as minnows, Ntseki explains why it is important that he brings back tried-and-tested players like Itumeleng Khune, Thulani Serero, Dean Furman, Kamohelo Mokotjo and Bongani Zungu into his squad.
Danny Jordaan
Strangely though it was the Safa president Danny Jordaan who mentioned most of the names of the players above as coming back to Bafana after the loss against Zambia, which raises questions of whether Ntseki is in full control of the squad selection.
Ntseki crushes the notion of being a lame duck, saying it was he who briefed Safa about who he was going to select for the recent friendlies and in the coming games.
“I believe in explaining and presenting to the bosses so that they understand what you’re working on. So he (Jordaan) was fully aware of what we’re working on. So it’s something he knew before we went into the last camp,” Ntseki explains.
The beef with Zungu
And then on to the beef — the one that everyone says the Bafana coach seems to have with Zungu, who recently joined Steven Gerrard’s Glasgow Celtic in Scotland on loan from French club Amiens SC.
“I kept on saying it was just disappointment [at not being selected] from the side of Bongani Zungu and also a misunderstanding of what actually happened.
“Players are human beings and when at times they’re not happy they end up saying things that might trample on other people’s toes. I think Bongani has learnt from that and we spoke about it.
“I said to him we must be very careful about what we say when we’re not in the team. Stay away from the media because you protect yourself and your teammates and you protect yourself from the whole of SA.
“There was never any beef between me and Bongani or any Bafana player. I’m happy that we’ve selected this team and I’m saying let’s give them the confidence, belief and have faith in their abilities to get us maximum points against Sao Tome.”
Khune and Furman were the other odd inclusions in Ntseki’s latest team.
But the Bafana coach insists their experience will be vital as they were both in the teams that were embarrassed by islanders Cape Verde in back-to-back 2-1 losses in 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in 2017 and in another shocking 0-0 draw away to Seychelles in 2018 in a 2019 Afcon qualifier.
“As a country, are we producing players who are playing in top leagues in Europe and if we are, who are those players?” Ntseki asks as he explains the selection of Furman, who now plays for Carlisle United in League Two in England.
“Are we saying now Furman who played regularly for SuperSport United (until last season) is no longer the quality we’re looking for?
“When it comes to the goalkeepers, again there’s no one in big leagues in Europe. Khune is the only goalkeeper with experience of playing in the World Cup. He’s been Bafana’s No 1 for many years.”
Are we saying now Furman is no longer the quality we’re looking for?
Molefi Ntseki
Bafana Bafana coach