Tasked with Ethiopian onslaught

DEFENCE SPLITTERS Bhele, Killer ‘ ’

SIYABONGA Nomvethe and Katlego Mphela will spearhead the goal-shy national team’s effort to breach Ethiopia’s defence in today s World Cup qualifier in

’ Rustenburg.

The two strikers, recalled veteran Nomvethe and Bafana’s current top scorer, Mphela, will play the key role as South Africa open their Group A campaign at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Group winners progress to a final, home and away knockout round to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The catastrophic misunderstanding of Rule 14.1 in their final Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Sierra Leone last year cost Bafana qualification for a second Afcon finals in succession.

The Nelspruit debacle was a blow to a growing confidence under coach Pitso Mosimane, who had also sported a spring in his step as South Africa led their group following a win against Egypt at home and draw in Cairo.

This afternoon marks a fresh start for Mosimane in his almost two-year tenure.

South Africa need a win against 138th-ranked Ethiopia to go into their next qualifier, against Botswana in Gaberone on Saturday, with the chance of seizing a six-point lead of the group.

But they will need to reverse an eight-match winless streak in which they have Afcon in Egypt in 2006, in a 1-0 defeat to Zambia.

Mosimane said, with the back-up of Pirates’ Tokelo Rantie and Santos striker Eleazar Rodgers, he has one of his best attacks he’s had available.

Mosimane identified 21-year-old striker Oumed Okri, who has scored nine goals in 19 games for Ethiopia, as potentially dangerous on the counter-attack.

And you know people from Ethiopia when it comes to endurance and running. They re very stubborn so

the first injured in training this week and will be replaced by Bongani Khumalo.