SA players get off far too easily
The coach bears consequences of them failing to do their job properly
RACE, AND the concept of the other, is still inextricably intertwined with the prism through which South Africans view their world. In rugby and cricket, the performances of black players are constantly under the microscope; errors are amplified and their selection in the team regularly questioned. Simplistically, from the terraces, white players belong there, blacks don’t; white players are allowed room for error and time to grow and develop, black players aren’t.
The reverse is just as true in football. Here, the performances of white players are always under the microscope, errors are amplified, and their position in the team always questioned. In short, in football, black players are allowed room for error and space to grow, whites aren’t. Both scenarios are untenable, but it’s just the nature of this maddeningly frustrating country.
It is because of this that Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman has had to endure so much gratuitous criticism. It’s not that he’s a bad player, it’s not that he’s erratic – on the contrary, he’s probably one of the country’s most consistent performers – but, because he’s white, every move he makes is in the spotlight, every mistake is pounced upon; in essence, Furman has to be near-perfect to please the fickle masses who religiously follow the sport. He’s been the backbone around which SuperSport United charged to the final of the CAF Confederations Cup – and yet, still, he has to constantly prove himself.
I have nothing but respect for the manner in which Furman handles the pressure around which he has to base his game week after week. On Tuesday night, he again proved how invaluable he is in the centre of the Bafana midfield. He’s not flash, but he’s effective. He is the most unselfish of footballers, intelligent, committed to the team, composed and, when a teammate’s looking to pass, rest assured, Furman will be close by to support. Against Senegal, he snapped at ankles, made countless tackles, won possession, covered, passed, linked and was the gear that shifted everything in Bafana’s showing.
But, despite a sound, solid performance, as usual, Bafana somehow contrived to lose. Truth be told, like the previous game last week, it was again poor decision-making and errors from individuals, together with shoddy finishing, that prevented them from winning.
Bafana were dominant in the final 15-20 minutes of each period – they just failed to make the most of it. So, again, the spotlight is on Stuart Baxter. Everybody’s pointing fingers at the coach. Nothing wrong with that. Yet Itumeleng Khune was at fault for Senegal’s first goal for rushing out of his penalty area like a naïve schoolboy, but that’s okay. Khune stood flatfooted for the second goal when a header from far out trickled in, but that’s also okay. Themba Zwane’s missed penalty was so embarrassing and so far off the target it could probably act as a metaphor for the entire landscape of South African football, but that’s okay.
All of it is still Baxter’s fault; he’s got to go.
Don’t get me wrong, I am no Baxter praise-singer. In fact, if I reflect on the two defeats to Cape Verde, I’d say “sack his ass”. But I’ve long been of the opinion that the players get off far too easily. They are apparently untouchable (except Furman, of course) and the players are simply not responsible for their actions and errors. Someone else has to bear the consequences for them failing to do their jobs properly.
And that someone else is? Well, the coach, of course. So, hey, because Bafana did not qualify for the World Cup, just fire Baxter: it’s the solution to all problems ailing football in South Africa.