Andrew Muchineripi : Soccer
After the carefully selected, diplomatically correct words of Clive Barker, new Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono has hit the scene like a bolt of lightning from the blue.
Sono resembles those gunslingers we worshipped as children at the bioscope. He walks with the same self-belief and is ready to let rip verbally at the slightest sign of provocation.
The Black Prince from Soweto, once a star on the field and now owner-coach of Castle Premiership club Jomo Cosmos, has been appointed caretaker coach of the national team until February 28.
Sono then vacates the bench to be replaced by Philippe Troussier, a Frenchman who looks much younger than 42 and has spent the last decade coaching around Africa with considerable success.
It will be the task of Sono and assistant Trott Moloto, who resigned from Premiership title challengers Bush Bucks this week, to mould a team for the African Nations Cup in Burkina Faso next month.
Come March and Sono steps aside to become technical adviser to all national coaches with Troussier and Moloto facing the daunting task of preparing Bafana Bafana for the World Cup in June. To call the arrangement unusual would be putting it mildly. What if South Africa retain the African title? Will Sono become the first coach to lose his position after winning a continental trophy?
Sono is clearly relishing the challenge of resurrecting a national team low on morale following a series of poor results at the Confederations Cup which cost Barker his position after nearly four years at the helm.
The days of the “tired and trusted” dominating the team are clearly over. Some may get another chance, others have probably played their last game.
Barker came under increased media fire for using off-form or unfit players from the 1996 African Nations Cup-winning team and Sono has stressed that a player is as good as his last performance. “I will judge national team candidates on their last club match,” he said. “When it comes to foreign- based players, I have friends all over the world and they will not let me down.”
For his first match in charge away to Namibia in the Confederations of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup on January 24, the Prince will rely heavily on local players.
In a classic example of double-speak, Sono said he would not drop the “old guard”, just give the “young guard” a chance. Read that as a team including several fresh faces and an emphasis on youth.
Sono feels strongly about age, a controversial issue with thirtysomethings like Neil Tovey and John Moshoeu the targets of relentless criticism for timid performances. “Pele played in the World Cup at 17,” Sono reminded reporters, “and if I find a 12-year-old who is good enough for Bafana Bafana, he will play at the 1998 finals.”
While Sono obviously seeks success in Windhoek against a team Bafana Bafana will also face in the African Nations Cup, he certainly does not view the tie as a make- or-break affair. “We will have an experimental line-up to test youngsters. I want to see what they are capable of. Can they handle the pressure or will the occasion cripple them? We need answers to these questions.”
He did not want to look beyond Namibia, who held Zambia, upset Zimbabwe and trounced Malawi in the inaugural Cosafa Cup last year, although he must name his 22-strong Nations Cup squad just five days later.
Once Sono releases his names, he will not be dialling any European codes seeking the release of players like captain Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, David Nyathi, Philemon Masinga and Benni McCarthy.
“It was pathetic,” he noted, “how coaches, assistant coaches, administrative managers, kit managers and some guy in the hotel lounge who was bored took turns at contacting foreign clubs regarding players. I will hand my list to the South African Football Association and what they do with it is their business. The release of players should be handled on an association-to-association basis.”
While no one can read the mind of Sono at this stage, one player who stands to benefit is McCarthy, the 20-year-old Ajax Amsterdam striker who was playing second division football on the Cape Flats less than one year ago. McCarthy received a raw deal from Barker, who questioned his loyalty to the national team and used him sparingly and out of position. Sono seems certain to offer him more time, and in the right position.
BAFANA BAFANA PROGRAMME January 24: Cosafa Cup vs Namibia, Windhoek February 8: African Nations Cup vs Angola, Bobo-Dioulasso
February 11: African Nations Cup vs Cote d’Ivoire, Bobo-Dioulasso February 16: African Nations Cup vs Namibia, Bobo-Dioulasso June 12: World Cup vs France, Marseille June 18: World Cup vs Denmark, Toulouse June 24: World Cup vs Saudi Arabia, Bordeaux
* Additional Nations Cup and World Cup fixtures depend on first-round results
Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi, Paul Evans, Simon Gopane Defenders: Willem Jackson, Andrew Rabutla, Themba Mnguni, Mark Fish, David Nyathi, Lucas Radebe Midfielders: Helman Mkhalele, Dumisa Ngobe, Quinton Fortune, John Moeti, Jabu Mnguni, David Kannemeyer, Brendan Silent, Thabo Mooki
Strikers: Philemon Masinga, Benni McCarthy, Pollen Ndlanya, Brendan Augustine, Thabang Lebese