/ 8 May 1998

Crunch time for Bafana coach

Andrew Muchineripi Soccer

Today is D-day for the Bafana Bafana World Cup hopefuls as national coach Philippe Troussier trims his squad to 26 footballers with four more to drop out before the tournament begins.

The squad faces friendlies against Zambia at FNB Stadium on May 20 and twice world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires five days later. The final 22 must be named by June 2.

In a late change of plan, Romania have replaced Slovakia as opponents for a final warm-up match in Bucharest on June 6 – six days before Bafana Bafana make their World Cup debut against France.

Players like captain Lucas Radebe, Brian Baloyi, Mark Fish, Willem Jackson, John Moeti, “Shoes” Moshoeu, David Nyathi, Helman Mkhalele, Phil Masinga and Benni McCarthy seem certain of places.

They form the core of the team and represent the easy part of the job for Troussier, assistant Trott Moloto and team manager Augusto Palacios.

Filling the other 16 slots could prove much more difficult.

Troussier is nothing if not unpredictable and it would come as no surprise if “dark horses” like Jethro “Lovers” Mohlala, Naughty Mokoena and Jerry Sikhosana made the cut.

So much will hinge of the attitude of the French coach towards the foreign-based professionals with initial “leaks” from the Bafana camp suggesting few locals would be lekker.

Troussier denies this, saying all are equal and that the pick of the local crop are going to France. This writer remains unconvinced and believes at least 16 “exiles” will make the final 22.

Perhaps the only certainty is that the four surviving goalkeepers – Andr Arendse, Brian Baloyi, Paul Evans and Hans Vonk – will be included with one losing out before France.

Baloyi and Vonk seem likely candidates with Evans and Arendse fighting for the other places. Evans has youth and promise; Arendse experience and a proven record.

Assuming Troussier is going to use the 3-5-2 system that worked so impressively for him when in charge of Burkina Faso at the African Nations Cup this year, he would be looking at no more than five defenders for France.

And five defenders is all he has got with Fish, Radebe, Pierra Issa, Willem Jackson and 17-year-old Aaron Mokoena, who is being courted by European clubs, including Ajax and Monaco.

Troussier probably plans taking about 10 midfielders, including wingbacks, and competition is fierce with at least two players vying for each position, and few certainties.

This writer has never been a Moshoeu fan, believing he last performed at an acceptable high level for his country during the 1996 African Nations Cup.

That said, the coach believes he is a cornerstone of the team.

There has been much speculation about Doctor Khumalo, still a national idol despite being axed in the January purge of Jomo Sono.

His recent performances for Kaizer Chiefs have been adequate rather than brilliant. Themba Mnguni, Mkhalele and Nyathi should make it as the right-side and left-side wingbacks and unless the rumour machine has got it horribly wrong, the good form of Alfred Phiri in Turkey will be rewarded. Bafana insiders claim German-based Marc Arnold was a revelation at the training camp in Switzerland last month and the good form of Quinton Fortune in Burkina Faso can hardly go unnoticed.

Masinga and McCarthy, who scored a hat-trick for Ajax in the Dutch league last weekend, are surely guaranteed places, leaving Shaun Bartlett, Kenny Niemach, Pollen Ndlanya and Jerry Sikhosana battling for two positions. Decisions, decisions, decisions! For all his outbursts against the media, one can only sympathise with the volatile Frenchman, who is going to upset fans and officials no matter who he chooses.

ENDS