/ 11 June 1999

The soccer show must go on

Andrew Muchineripi Soccer

They say there is no rest for the wicked, and it looks like we can add Bafana Bafana to the list, despite the fact that I have no knowledge of any misbehaviour by the national soccer squad.

A tough African Nations Cup battle with Mauritius has just passed and there will be precious little time to rest tired and bruised bodies before the call for further action is sounded.

South Africa have a date with neighbours Zimbabwe at FNB Stadium next Wednesday to mark the inauguration of Thabo Mbeki as president of our big and beautiful land.

The Madiba magic has worked wonders for Bafana Bafana and let us hope the Mbeki muti will prove equally effective as we constantly strive to scale new heights in international football.

Zimbabwe are sure to prove tough opponents, if only because their national coach, Clemens Westerhof, has a few points to prove to some success-obsessed South African supporters.

At the end of the Zimbabwe match, foremost in the minds of most South African footballers will be rest, followed by more rest and then some more rest. But instead of resting, they will be on a plane to Luanda.

Although South Africa qualified for the 2000 Nations Cup finals by defeating Mauritius last week, they only complete their Group 4 programme next Sunday at the Citadela Stadium.

Much as European-based professionals like captain Lucas Radebe and striker Philemon Masinga love the game, they must be growing just a little tired of the sight of footballs.

Super sub Benni McCarthy faces an even more hectic schedule as he flew to Togo on Friday morning to play in a 2000 Olympic Games qualifier on Sunday. He returns home on Wednesday morning to join the senior squad.

Radebe, McCarthy, Masinga and other members of the Foreign Legion enjoyed virtually no end-of-season break last year because they were busy preparing for and playing in the World Cup.

Not that local-based members of the national squad were lazing about either. The 1998/1999 season finally came to an end on Wednesday night with the last Castle Premiership matches of the season.

This humble member of the Muchineripi clan does not envy the modern footballer, even if some of them earn more in a week than most of us gather during a year of earnest toil.

There just seems to be no end to the football fare, and I say enough is enough for footballers, fans, officials and even scribes. There are only so many angles to a football story, you know.

The squad named by coach Trott Moloto for the Zimbabwe and Angola encounters is powerful, with midfielders Quinton Fortune and John “Shoes” Moshoeu the only notable absentees.

Fortune has not been released by Spanish club Atletico Madrid and “Shoes” is still sporting a shiner below his right eye courtesy of a wayward Mauritian elbow at King’s Park.

They are replaced by Papi Mbele from Vaal Professionals and Junaid Hartley, who is on loan to Seven Stars from French club Racing Lens. John Moeti returns after missing the Durban match because of a suspension.

Zimbabwe have always proved tough opponents, and former Nigerian World Cup coach Westerhof brings wounded pride to South Africa following his unhappy departure from Sundowns three years ago.

No one enjoys leaving a ground crouched in the back of a police van and that sad fate befell the Dutchman after the Brazilians crumbled 4-0 to QwaQwa Stars in a BP Top 8 cup tie.

Sundowns later told Westerhof they could not guarantee his safety and he returned to Holland a richer, but obviously unfulfilled, professional.

Defeating Bafana Bafana in their backyard would be pleasant indeed.

Angola may be down and out of the running for the Nations Cup finals after losing 3-1 in Gabon, but Luanda remains an intimidating cauldron for even the best national teams in Africa.

Bafana Bafana beat the Black Panthers 1-0 at FNB Stadium in 1996 and 1998, and drew 0-0 in Bobo-Dioulasso last year in a stormy African Nations Cup clash where McCarthy saw red and almost received a red card.

The Angolans are a physical bunch, and if there is any consolation from a disappointing Nations Cup campaign it would be to embarrass the 1996 winners and 1998 runners-up.

As one who still harbours slight reservations about the mental toughness of some Bafana Bafana players following a draw in Mauritius and a loss in Gabon, I await Luanda with considerable interest. Then I look forward to a long rest.