SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi
National coach Andre Markgraaff dropped idol Francois Pienaar and his life turned miserable overnight as a rugby-obsessed country vented its anger against him.
Soccer counterpart Clive Barker could risk a similar backlash if he omits off-form midfielder Doctor Khumalo from the World Cup team to face Zambia in Lusaka on January 11.
While Markgraaff took his bold decision against a background of five defeats in seven matches with traditional rivals New Zealand and Australia, Barker stands on firmer ground.
The man who, by his own admission, was no more than an average professional footballer, guided Bafana Bafana to first place in the 1996 African Nations Cup finals.
Only one prize can better that glorious afternoon at FNB Stadium last February ‘ qualification for the 1998 World Cup finals in France at the expense of Group Three rivals Zambia, Zaire and Congo.
South Africa struggled in their opening match at home to opponents who arrived in the country less than four hours before the kick-off because of an airport strike in Turkey, where the squad prepared.
It took 72 minutes for South Africa to pierce the defence as Jerry Sikhosana cut in from the left and sent over the cross that Philemon Masinga rifled into the net from close range.
The drama did not end there as the visitors had a late penalty appeal turned down by the Moroccan referee and the Leopards returned to Central Africa promising fireworks when the teams meet again on April 27.
Barker was accused of paying too much attention to household names and too little to form, and if form is the criterion for Lusaka, Khumalo is unlikely to be in the starting line-up.
In defence of the midfielder who rivals swashbuckling defender Mark Fish at the top of the local soccer popularity polls, he went into the Zaire match under a series of dark clouds.
His beloved father and former footballer, Pro, had been murdered by hijackers in a Soweto street. Doctor was visibly shaken and kicking a ball must have seemed almost irrelevant at the time.
The American season had finished by the time Zaire arrived and the two South Africans playing major league soccer, Khumalo and forward Shaun Bartlett, were not in peak mental or physical condition.
Bafana Bafana used a 4-4-2 formation against Zaire with Khumalo, ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, Eric Tinkler and Innocent Buthelezi manning the posts in a midfield that never managed to assert its authority.
While Barker will understandably declare that he is going to Lusaka to win, a draw would keep South Africa on track for a first appearance at the showpiece of international football.
The last time Bafana Bafana visited the Zambian capital was November 1994 for a Nations Cup qualifier and, ironically, Khumalo scored an early second-half goal cancelled by a late penalty from Kenneth Malitoli.
South Africa soaked up the pressure against a strangely ineffective attack that afternoon, snatched the lead from a counter-attack down the left and only a clumsy tackle from Masinga deprived them of victory.
Zambia are likely to be more motivated at the 35 000-capacity Independence Stadium this time following a shock 1-0 loss to Congo in the opening round.
Another defeat and Zambian dreams of reaching France would effectively be dead, and with it, the hopes of inspirational captain Kalusha Bwalya gracing the World Cup tournament.
So what options are available to Barker ahead of his most important match since that fateful day when substitute Mark Williams struck twice within three minutes to conquer Africa.
He could stick with a tried and trusted system of four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards, or he can follow the line of many European sides and use three defenders, two wingbacks, three midfielders and two forwards.
Wingbacks come in two forms ‘ defenders like Sizwe Motaung alternating between the roles of a rightback and a rightwinger, or wingers like Helman Mkhalele dropping back to defend.
Should Barker opt for 4-4-2, the team could be: Andre Arendse; Sizwe Motaung, Neil Tovey, Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe; Thomas Madigage, Tinkler, Buthelezi, Moshoeu; Masinga, Sikhosana.
A 5-3-2 formation might see David Nyathi coming in for Madigage. Barker is blessed with fullbacks like Motaung and Nyathi who are natural wingbacks as they can defend and attack.
So why no place for Khumalo? The reason is simply one of horses for courses. Playing at home, South Africa can afford two offensive midfielders with little appetite for defending; playing away it becomes a luxury.
Faced with a straight choice, Barker is more likely to choose ‘Shoes’, who also struggled against Zaire, but is in competitive action each week and has not sustained the same emotional blows as Doctor.
While South Africa would love to spend most of the Lusaka match in their opponents’ half, that is wishful thinking with a more likely scenario being a cup tie that develops into a bruising midfield battle.
Tinkler and Buthelezi will play crucial roles as they are the acknowledged hard men, the duo who will come face to face with the Bwalya gang, brothers Kalusha and Joel and Johnson.
Barker plans to announce a 19-strong squad next week with local players to begin training on January 2 followed by the ‘Foreign Legion’ a few days later.
Gazing into the crystal ball, these are the players who could fly to Zambia for a match that may determine whether a visit to the Eiffel Tower is on the itinerary come mid-1998.
Bafana Bafana:
Goalkeepers: Andre Arendse (Cape Town Spurs), Mark Anderson (Bush Bucks)
Defenders: Neil Tovey, Jacob Tshisevhe (Kaizer Chiefs), Sizwe Motaung, David Nyathi (Saint Gallen, Switzerland), Lucas Radebe (Leeds United, England), Mark Fish (Lazio, Italy)
Midfielders: Dumisa Ngobe, Helman Mkhalele (Orlando Pirates), Innocent Buthelezi (Sundowns), Eric Tinkler (Cagliari, Italy), Doctor Khumalo (Chiefs), Thomas Madigage (Supersport United), Shoes Moshoeu (Kocaelispor, Turkey)
Forwards: Philemon Masinga (Salernitana, Italy), Jerry Sikhosana (Pirates), Mark Williams (Corinthians, Brazil), Shaun Bartlett (Amazulu)