Andrew Muchineripi in Durban Soccer
The moment of truth has arrived for Bafana Bafana after a 2000 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign that has proved more difficult than many supporters expected.
South Africa lead the Group 4 standings with seven points entering the penultimate round this weekend followed by Gabon with six, surprise packets Mauritius with five and Angola with four.
Victories for Bafana Bafana over Mauritius at King’s Park rugby stadium here on Saturday and Gabon against Angola in Libreville on Sunday would guarantee them places at the finals in Ghana and Nigeria.
It would also render the final group matches between Angola and South Africa in Luanda and Mauritius and Gabon in Curepipe over the weekend of June 19 to 20 of academic interest only.
An African Nations Cup tournament without South Africa is as unacceptable as a supermarket that does not stock my favourite maize meal, so victory in Durban is not a wish, it is a necessity.
This humble member of the Muchineripi clan shares the view of living legend Jomo Sono that South Africa should be capable of winning with something to spare against a team 28 places below us in the official African rankings. The Indian Ocean islanders have an away record in Nations Cup qualifiers that should carry a government health warning because studying it is likely to trigger severe depression.
Mauritius have managed just two victories in 28 journeys spanning 32 years, which makes their 2-0 triumph against Angola in Luanda last January all the more remarkable.
They have drawn eight matches – including a 1994 qualifier against a much less experienced Bafana Bafana at the Rand Stadium – and lost 18. Mauritius have scored a meagre 15 goals in 28 matches and conceded 45.
They have scored twice four times, once seven times and fired 17 blanks, so while Bafana Bafana dare not underestimate them, they must not try and fool the public into believing we are about to confront some African giant.
South Africa are considered the second-best national team in Africa by world controlling body Fifa, and Mauritius occupy position number 30, which means we should win with a couple of goals to spare.
National coach Trott Moloto has been experiencing mixed results on the road lately with a good 1-1 draw in Denmark negated by a 2-0 loss on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. These matches, and the 1-1 draw in Jamaica, saw Moloto ring the changes, partly through a desire to test local talent and partly through the unavailability of European- based professionals.
I have been angered by some media attacks on Moloto because there was a need for experimentation, a need to separate wheat from chaff, a need to divide those who are good club players from those who can perform on a higher platform.
That said, the time for experimenting is over, and the squad chosen for the Mauritius match reflects that, with Lucas Radebe leading an 18-strong group that includes 12 European-based professionals.
While Moloto will delay announcing his team until the morning of the match, Hans Vonk seems likely to be the first-choice goal-
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keeper and Mark Fish, Radebe and Pierre Issa the defenders assuming a 3-5-2 system is adopted.
Strikers Philemon Masinga and Shaun Bartlett did well enough against Gabon in the last home qualifier to make the starting line-up with Benni McCarthy and Daniel Mudau offering good options should Bafana Bafana struggle.
Midfield is more complicated with Moloto and assistant Sytles Phumo finding it difficult to get the balance right in a formation many believe should be scrapped in favour of a 4-4-2 formation.
Adopting a 3-5-2 system puts enormous pressure on the wingbacks, the two footballers who must convert to athletics as they attempt to fulfil the roles traditionally performed by fullbacks and wingers.
While I accept that David Nyathi and Bradley Carnell on the left side are able to defend and attack, the same cannot be said of Joel Masilela and Helman Mkhalele on the right flank.
Masilela and Mkhalele are throwbacks to a former football era when wingers ran at defenders, beat them, and delivered crosses. No matter how deep I delve into my patriotic heart, I cannot accept that Joel and Helman are defenders.
And why should I, or any other Bafana Bafana supporter, demand that they perform two crucial functions equally well. All I want “Fire” or “Midnight Express” to do is beat Mauritians and deliver Beckhamesque crosses.
Fortunately, South Africa have home advantage and the defensive frailities of the pair are less likely to be exposed than in the intimidating cauldrons of African football.
The midfield quintet should be completed by Thabo Mngomeni, who improves with each outing, John “Shoes” Moshoeu and Quinton Fortune, whose form has slipped lately and needs the morale boost of a good performance.
Bafana Bafana are on trial come Saturday. Moloto and Phumo are on trial come Saturday. It is our duty to encourage, not discourage. It is our duty to cheer, not jeer. Indiza, Bafana Bafana, indiza!