GO BAFANA GO!
SOUTH Africans are being urged to wear green and gold today to support Bafana Bafana in their key 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Senegal and to back the country’s final push to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Bafana face Senegal today in a must-win game to keep alive their Russia 2018 hopes, while the final decision on the 2023 Rugby World Cup host will be made on Wednesday.
World Rugby announced a week ago that South Africa had produced a “superb bid” and was the “clear leader” on a competitive tendering process to host the tournament, but the country still faces bitter competition from Ireland and France in the final days before the announcement.
“We are within touching distance of realising a long-held dream to host the Rugby World Cup once again,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Thulas Nxesi.
“But we cannot falter just short of the finishing line and we need to send a clear message to the World Rugby Council that South Africa is ready and excited to host the most memorable Rugby World Cup tournament there has ever been,” the minister said.
“That is why we are calling on all South Africans to unite behind this wonderful, nation-building event that will also bring significant economic, emotional and inspirational benefits to our country.
“I would urge all South Africans to wear their Springbok jerseys or something green and gold on Friday (today) as well as on D-Day – Wednesday – to show their eagerness and excitement to welcome the Rugby World Cup back to South Africa,” said Nxesi.
Corporate South Africa has been urged to back the initiative by allowing their staff to wear green today and on Wednesday.
“We want to turn green the factories, the schools, shops and offices and malls of South Africa each week to underline the message to the Rugby World Cup board that South Africa is the best choice to host the 2023 tournament. We are asking the country to get behind us in this scrum and help push us over the line,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.
Safa urged the country to “come show your love” for Bafana countrywide and to fill the stadium in Polokwane, with messages of support for the team coming from the likes of Olympian Caster Semenya, singer Judith Sephuma, former South African soccer great Doctor Khumalo and others this week.
SOMETIMES the most glorious moments in sport can happen just when everyone is writing you off.
That is what South African soccer fans will be hoping for from their beloved Bafana Bafana tonight.
Lose to Senegal tonight, and there will be no more dreams of lifting the World Cup in Russia next year.
Win tonight, and win next Tuesday in Dakar, and Bafana will be able to do their thing on the biggest stage in soccer.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, 64, has been involved in high-pressure situations throughout his career at the highest level, but even he admits that it’s never quite been this intense.
And what a week it has been for Baxter.
First star goalkeeper and talisman Itumeleng Khune was injured 24-hours before he was supposed to report for national team duty. He now faces a late fitness test before he is cleared to play.
Then Thulani Serero told Baxter to go jump in the nearest lake if he couldn’t guarantee him game time.
The Holland-based midfielder subsequently ruled himself out of playing for Bafana this year and in the coming years. Well, at least while Baxter is still in charge.
But that was not the end of the drama.
Midfielder Hlompho Kekana, who was probably in line to start given suspensions to Andile Jali and Bongani Zungu for the first leg, received the tragic news that a close member of his family had died in a car crash in which his wife and child were also involved, but were unharmed.
The Mamelodi Sundowns skipper asked for permission to be with his grieving family and was replaced by club teammate Tiyani Mabunda.
Then Baxter all but ruled out captain Thulani Hlatshwayo. “It would be a big gamble if he plays,” Baxter said.
“Tyson (Hlatshwayo) looks like he is going to struggle for this one and we are not going to take a chance.
“I think we need to make sure we won’t have a player that is going to come off after five minutes. At this point we are doubtful that he will take part.”
In the midst of all of that, Baxter had to still work with what he’s got – a group of talented players who are missing some key figures ahead of what is an absolute must-win to reach Russia next year.
Worse, this game is a replay of an encounter Bafana thought they’d won 12 months ago under then-coach Shakes Mashaba at the same venue, but was annulled by Fifa because of an alleged match-fixing scandal.
Referee Joseph Lamptey was handed a lifetime ban from football. The Ghanaian is still fighting to clear his name through the Swiss courts to date.
The coach is more under the microscope, because he’s been on this journey before with Bafana and has not been successful, as he failed to take the national team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
A lot wiser in many respects and a two-times Premier League winner while at Kaizer Chiefs between 2012 and 2015, Baxter will not want to be remembered as the man who got to have two bites at the cherry and still produced the same unflattering outcome.