Mashaba fights off criticism
Goalless matches not my fault, says coach
BAFANA coach Shakes Mashaba has fired another shot at his critics, saying they should stop asking questions about why the national team cannot score goals.
Naturally, the topic came up once again following South Africa’s goalless draw against Gambia in their opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The draw meant Bafana failed to pick up a win at home against a side widely regarded as a minnow, especially after a two-year ban from the sport by the Confederation of African Football for age cheating.
Bafana have now won just one game in their last eight.
Mashaba defended his approach and blasted a reporter for asking him to explain his game plan.
“I think that is a question aimed at undermining the coach and to imply he does not have Plan B,” Mashaba said.
“There was a clear game plan, and you can ask those who were around to see our training sessions . . . We missed an avalanche of goals, having created as many as 12 chances in the first half alone, but most unfortunately we couldn’t convert.
“We can’t address this scoring issue at this level because players have to grow up with it. At this stage it is difficult to change the habit.”
It is a crisis Mashaba inherited but was rarely a concern early in his tenure. Bafana qualified for the 2015 Nations Cup unbeaten, scoring in all their away matches but in only one of their three home games.
On Saturday night, the coach claimed it was not his job to get South Africa strikers rattling the net again.
“We shouldn’t be having a discussion about grooming players at Bafana level,” Mashaba said. “All 16 PSL clubs moan about the lack of goals, but we address these things at the wrong level.
“I have decided to start two of my grandchildren young by taking them to a [football] school in Randburg, and you can see the difference when they start at that age.
“How do we expect a national team that is only together for less than four days to solve this issue? We spend most of the time waiting for players to arrive. This is not a development level.”
Mashaba said the result against Gambia could have been different if striker Tokelo Rantie had been available.
“I would have played him because it would be foolish to keep him on the bench,” the coach said of the Bournemouth player, who withdrew from the squad on Thursday due to wedding commitments.
“He is the only striker in SA who can harass defenders and can create his own chances.”
‘ At this stage it is difficult to change the habit