MONDAY, 9.05AM:
BAFANA BAFANA suffered major defeat on the eve of their game against Brazil on December 7 at the Ellis Park Stadium, on the hands of Germany in Dusseldorf on Saturday. South Africa lost 3-0.
Bafana Bafana, who played without several of their regular players, never looked a threat to the Germans. South Africa lost the game in the midfield where there was no playmaker. Coach Clive Barker played only attacking midfielders — Hellman Mkhalele, Brendon Augustine and Jabu Mnguni — and left Bush Bucks playmaker Thabo Mngomeni and Turkey-based Alfred Phiri on the bench. Newcomer Mnguni was, however, the most influential of the midfielders. Mkhalele was out of form from the first whistle but Barker kept him until late in the second half. They missed John Moeti’s man-marking abilities as German midfield general Thomas Haessler did all the damage from the middle.
South Africa had to wait until midway for the first attempt at goals when Mnguni made a run from the left flank and crossed to Phil Masinga who headed the ball straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. Debutant Dietmar Hamann scored the first goal and Olivier Bierhoff made it 2-0. Substitute Jorg Heinrich increased the tally when he met Haessler’s cross with a diving header that left Mark Anderson helpless. Anderson failed to impress the selectors when he failed to rescue his international career when he could not make brilliant saves.
Barker brought in Pollen Ndlanya, Bennedict McCarthy and Junaid Hartely for Shaun Bartlett, Mnguni and Mkhalele. Ndlanya and McCarthy combined well up front and looked dangerous whenever they were in possesion the ball.