SA’s goal hopes pinned on Veldwijk
DUTCH-BORN striker Lars Veldwijk arrived in South Africa on Sunday bearing the burden of a nation’s high expectations ahead of Bafana Bafana’s must-win 2018 World Cup qualifier against star-studded Senegal on Saturday.
Veldwijk – eligible to play for Bafana through his South Africanborn father – has not represented SA before and coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba‚ by his own admission‚ hopes the big striker can solve the national team’s long-running goal-scoring problems.
Bafana team manager Barney Kujane – responsible for the national team’s logistics – confirmed yesterday that the striker was in camp and had joined several other players who had been arriving in dribs and drabs since Saturday.
“[Netherlands-based] Thulani Serero arrived on Saturday while Lars and [Belgium-based] Andile Jali arrived on Sunday‚” Kujane said.
“[Romania-based] May Mahlangu and [Belgium-based] Ayanda Patosi joined the camp [yesterday].”
Kujane said the Kaizer Chiefs‚ Su-perSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns players were still en route to Polokwane after playing for their clubs in Telkom Knockout quarterfinal matches at the weekend.
‘‘The coach [Mashaba] will definitely have his full squad at training tomorrow and we are happy because this is a tough match‚” Kujane said.
Bafana are two points behind leaders Senegal in Group D and Mashaba himself said he intended to take the fight to the West Africans at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium if his charges are to close the gap in the 2018 World Cup qualifying group.
Bafana could only manage a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso in their opening World Cup qualifier last month.
The addition of Veldwijk‚ 25, who recently joined top-flight Belgian side Kortrijk‚ to the squad signals Mashaba’s intention to do just that.
Veldwijk has sparked massive curiosity and many fans in SA have taken to social media‚ wondering out aloud whether the big man is the goal-scoring answer Bafana have been searching for.
SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan is happy that Mashaba has handed a maiden call-up to Veldwijk, as the striker’s inclusion is in line with his demand that the net for Bafana must be cast wider and beyond the borders.
Mashaba will be asked to visit all South African players around the world after Saturday’s encounter and Jordaan expects him to have spoken to all overseas-based players by the time Bafana play their next 2018 World Cup qualifier next year.