Igesund intent on taking SA soccer back to its glory days

IT has become customary that South Africans sing the praises of our teams, particularly after a new coach takes up the reins.

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund went on his first two expeditions as head of the national team.

For the major part of the match against Brazil, the side held the five-time world champions at bay before going down 1-0 a week ago, before beating Mozambique 2-0 on Tuesday.

Truth be told, the Samba Boys that Igesund’s troops squared up against are probably among the weaker we have seen in recent times.

Undoubtedly the current Brazil side is one with the potential to one day be on the list of the greatest Brazilian soccer teams ever.

One of this young team’s goals is to have their names placed alongside those of the sides which won the 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

So, to pump our chests with pride following the mediocre display by the Brazilians last Friday could be seen as over zealous and premature. Could this mean we are a nation that celebrates mediocrity? I think not!

The result of that game does in no way deserve any sort of applause. A defeat is a defeat and does not at any point deserve celebrations.

However, one must look at the previous Bafana teams and matches and take into consideration that Igesund is still fresh in the business and consider the unending injuries which have plagued the team. What he is building seems to have equal potential to the possible world-beating Brazil outfit.

In that match there were clear signs of improvement from the Bafana team of recent times which had very limited success.

There has been more structure in the way they play, there seems to be more confidence in the players and they are playing with more heart than in recent times.

Every coach that has come before Ige- sund has introduced an unknown player with some going on to be household names in South African soccer circles.

Igesund has given caps to midfielder Dean Furman and striker Dino Ndlovu.

Both newbies have shown signs of greatness in the national colours and could form a big part of Igesund’s plans as he rebuilds Bafana. It may still be early, but Igesund looks to be headed in the right direction and taking SA soccer back to its glory days.