Andrew Muchineripi: Soccer
The national team returns to its African roots on Saturday with a regional championship first-round match against Namibia at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
Since clinching qualification for the World Cup last August with a tense home victory over Congo, the African Nations Cup holders have met France, Germany, Brazil, Czech Republic, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. It was an extremely ambitious three-month programme that proved too demanding for Bafana Bafana, who snatched a draw against the Czechs through a brilliant Helman Mkhalele goal and lost the rest.
When it was all over the myth of superiority had been shattered, the reputations of many players had been severely damaged, and coach Clive Barker resigned (well, that was the official line) after 45 months in charge.
Enter former star Ephraim Matsilele Sono (alias Jomo, The Black Prince and Troublemaker) as caretaker coach until March 1 when Frenchman Philippe Troussier assumes command.
Sono and Troussier will be assisted by Trott Moloto, the quiet man from Pietersburg whose elevation stemmed from establishing unfashionable Bush Bucks among the leading clubs in the national championship.
Sono has the twin objectives of eliminating Namibia from the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup and retaining the Nations Cup in faraway Burkina Faso next month.
The focus of attention then switches to the “White Witchdoctor”, the World Cup and first-round matches against hosts France, Peter Schmeichel-inspired Denmark and Asian champions Saudi Arabia.
While no long-serving Bafana Bafana player would admit it publicly, it must surely come as a relief to face African opposition again. Learning curves are all very well, but what the national team needs right now is some victories.
True to his word, Sono takes a mix of old and new faces to Windhoek with Nations Cup heroes Andre Arendse, Sizwe Motaung, Neil Tovey, Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, “Shoes” Moshoeu and Mark Williams among those omitted.
Uncapped newcomers include goalkeepers Paul Evans and Simon Gopane, defender Themba Mnguni, midfielder David Kannemeyer and striker Thabang Lebese.
Only the inclusion of Kannemeyer appeared to cause a stir, but the left-sided midfielder from in-form Cape Town Spurs has already represented his country at youth and under-23 levels and deserves the call- up. Assuming Sono starts with his strongest line-up, Mnguni from championship leaders Sundowns may be the only new cap because Namibia are no pushover at home where they restricted Cameroon, Egypt and Tunisia to one-goal victories last year.
Brian Baloyi appears the obvious first- choice goalkeeper and should Sono opt for three central defenders, Mark Fish, Willem Jackson and Andrew Raputla (in the absence of injured captain Lucas Radebe) are likely starters.
Mnguni is a natural right-footed wingback, and the same applies to David Nyathi on the opposite flank, so they offer balance and width when it comes to attacking options.
The absence of Helman Mkhalele (needed by his Turkish club for a relegation battle) robs Sono of a potential matchwinner and leaves likely stand-in captain John Moeti as the only obvious midfield starter. Quinton Fortune, Kannemeyer, Jabu Mnguni, Thabo Mooki, Dumisa Ngobe and Brandon Silent contest the other two positions and I would like to see Mnguni and Ngobe start.
Philemon Masinga, whose goal for little Bari last Sunday brought a stunning away victory over leaders Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A, is as assured as any player can be of a place under Sono, who says players are as good (or bad) as their last game.
Most fans would love too see “Chippa” partnered by Benni McCarthy, whose transformation from second division on the Cape Flats to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam represents the biggest fairytale in recent South African football history.
Expect Namibia to raise their game before a capacity 20 000 crowd in a dress rehearsal for the African Nations Cup clash on February 16, but Bafana Bafana should survive with a couple of goals to spare.