Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
The constant demands of many Bafana Bafana supporters are finally going to be met when the national team play a friendly against Germany at the Rhein Stadium in Dusseldorf on Saturday.
But it is by accident rather than design that coach Clive Barker will send out a dramatically-altered team for the biggest challenge faced by South Africa since its return to international football five years ago. Rothmans Cup commitments rule out Kaizer Chiefs trio Sizwe Motaung, Neil Tovey and Doctor Khumalo while Turkish- based Shoes Moshoeu and Andr Arendse from English club Fulham are unavailable.
Barker, who jokingly claimed that he had turned to prayer as the enormity of the task facing him this weekend sank in, undoubtedly will not agree, but the absence of five regulars is a blessing in disguise. Conservative by nature, the diminutive native of Durban has constantly turned a deaf ear to calls from the media and fans for the sort of experimentation pursued by England and France this year against Bafana Bafana.
In defence of the coach, he exceeded realistic (as opposed to idealistic) expectations by guiding South Africa to the 1996 African Nations Cup title and qualification for the 1998 World Cup. Understandably, Barker trusts most those heroes who brought success, and appears extremely reluctant to drop those clearly struggling to maintain top form like midfielder Moshoeu.
Shoes was an anonymous figure in the 2-1 defeat by France last month – the latest episode in a gradual decline since the African Nations Cup almost two years ago. Even heroes carry sell-by dates, Clive. With Doctor Khumalo also absent and Helman Mkhalele not deserving a place in the starting line-up on the basis of his performance in Lens, only Eric Tinkler of the “tried and trusted” quartet should face the European champions.
Into the reckoning come Thabo Mngomeni of Bush Bucks, Jabu Mnguni of Vaal Professionals, Charles Motlohi of Bloemfontein Celtic, Brian Sebapole of Jomo Cosmos, Junaid Hartley of French club Lens and Alfred Phiri from Vanspor of Turkey.Carlos das Neves, another player to win a last-minute call-up following the withdrawal of Moshoeu and Khumalo, was included among the midfielders although he performs as a sweeper for Cape side Hellenic.
None of the newcomers hasplayed for Bafana Bafana, so gambling is certainly going to be the order of the day with form in training probably playing a greater role than usual in team selection. In the absence of Arendse, 35-year-old Mark Anderson seems certain to be recalled for his first cap since October 1992 when he conceded four goals against Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier.
David Nyathi, back in favour following an unexplained mid-year axing, should win a defensive place if only on the basis of experience and Mark Fish and captain Lucas Radebe are certain starters. Pierre Issa is not a first-team regular with French club Olympique Marseilles and has been injured, but Barker believes the Germiston-born defender is a potential star and he looks poised for a first cap.
The midfield berths are so open as to defy speculation although Mngomeni should be reminded that he was lucky to escape a red card last weekend after elbowing a QwaQwa Stars player when making an aerial challenge.
Attack is perhaps the area of least concern because normal first-choices Philemon Masinga and Shaun Bartlett are available plus Benni McCarthy, Brendan Augustine and Pollen Ndlanya.
Germany have selected a virtual full- strength squad, lacking only injured defenders Matthias Sammer and Jurgen Kohler, and the word from Dusseldorf is that Bafana Bafana can expect no mercy. The last visitors from Africa, Ghana, left licking their wounded pride following a six-goal mauling and Morocco were hit for five several decades ago in a country where friendship clearly does not extend to the pitch.
Bafana Bafana restricted England and France to one-goal victories, and a similar result in Dusseldorf against Jurgen Klinsmann-led Germany may be considerably more difficult to achieve.