The ugly: Corruption
Andrew Muchineripi
South Africa scaled new heights this year by competing in the World Cup for the first time and achieving results that compared favourably with those of previous debutants in the football showpiece.
A heavy loss to hosts and eventual winners France in the opening Group C game on a cold, windy night in Marseille was followed by deserved draws against Denmark and Saudi Arabia in warmer climes.
Equality with the Saudis was achieved through a last-minute penalty kick converted by Shaun Bartlett and it enabled Bafana Bafana to finish third behind France and Denmark in the pool standings.
Only the top two advanced to the knockout second phase and South Africa were left to reflect on what might have been had a late Quinton Fortune drive not cannoned off the Danish crossbar.
This was the match that saw Benni McCarthy create history by scoring the first South African goal at the World Cup – a shot between the legs of the legendary Peter Schmeichel.
McCarthy has idolised Manchester United since his childhood on the Cape Flats and he can hardly have experienced a greater moment in his rapid rise to fame than beating the Red Devils’ goalkeeper.
The kid from the Flats epitomised all that was good about South Africa this year as he rewarded the faith shown in him by national coaches Jomo Sono and Trott Moloto.
He also played under Philippe Troussier, but it appeared more a marriage of convenience than love at first sight, with the fiery Frenchman once again revealing a dislike of anyone threatening to steal the spotlight from him.
There was no questioning the coaching ability of Troussier, whose impressive record in Cte d’Ivoire, South Africa (Kaizer Chiefs), Morocco, Nigeria and Burkina Faso earned him the nickname of “White Witchdoctor”.
But his man-management skills seemed to draw heavily on the teachings of Pol Pot. The mental and physical abuse of local footballers at training camps triggered a hostile media reception that dogged the coach throughout.
Perhaps the great unanswered question of the year will be whether South Africa could have reached the second round under the African Nations Cup partnership of Sono and Moloto.
Defending champions Bafana Bafana exceeded the expectations of many South Africans by reaching the final again, where they succumbed to Egypt after conceding two soft goals within 12 minutes of the kick-off.
After draws with Angola and Cte d’Ivoire in Bobo-Dioulasso, South Africa overcame Namibia, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo and seven-goal McCarthy was the guiding light.
South Africa rose to second place on the monthly rankings compiled by world govering body Fifa during the year only to finish fifth behind Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Zambia.
Add Cameroon, Cte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Nigeria and you have the best national teams on the continent with South Africa capable of beating all at home, but still largely untested away.
Next year sees Bafana Bafana attempting to qualify for the 2000 Nations Cup. A late Bartlett goal brought victory over Angola and matches against Mauritius (away) and Gabon (home) should ensure nine points at the halfway stage.
There is also speculation about a friendly in Denmark during April which will assume enormous psychological importance as South Africa try once more to secure a first victory over European opposition.
What 1998 did prove was there is abundant life after the “Barker Boys”. Only two – Mark Fish and Philemon Masinga – started against Egypt and the future looks bright with McCarthy and Fortune leading the lighties brigade.
Sundowns were the club of the year, winning the Castle Premiership by five points from Kaizer Chiefs and the Bob Save Super Bowl following a penalty shoot-out with Orlando Pirates.
Kaizer Chiefs retained the Rothmans Cup – the richest domestic competition in Africa – after a controversial triumph over Sundowns in a repeat of the first final.
Joel “Fire” Masilela appeared to put Sundowns 3-2 ahead with 60 seconds left of extra time only to be ruled offside by an assistant referee. Slow-motion TV replays confirmed that “Fire” was well onside when he received possession.
Nigerian striker Raphael Chukwu from Sundowns took the individual honours, topping the Premier Soccer League Player of the Year poll and sharing the Players’ Player of the Year award with team-mate Themba Mnguni.
Keryn Jordan from Manning Rangers was the overall leading scorer with 19 goals and big George Koumantarakis – whose move from Rangers to SuperSport United opened the door for Jordan – led the Premiership chart with 14.
If McCarthy represented the good and Troussier the bad this year, the ugly award must go to those in and on the fringes of the game who view soccer as a route to self-enrichment.
Forgive my cynicism, but I believe the Motimele commission barely opened the lid on the can of worms that is corruption in our football. Almost daily one hears stories of missing gate money and match- fixing by referees.
They cannot all be unfounded rumours.