Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
The hallmark of any good team is strength in depth – the ability to change personnel for whatever reason without diluting the overall impact. Manchester United spring to mind as the best example in soccer.
With time ticking furiously away in the European Champions League final and the dynamic duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke unable to unlock Bayern Munich, Sir Alex Ferguson had no reason to despair.
Up from the reserves bench stepped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham to score the injury-time goals that completed a magnificent treble for the Red Devils from north-west England.
South Africa coach Trott Moloto has long lauded the depth of talent available to him without achieving the results. The B team struggled in Botswana, lost in Trinidad and Tobago and drew in Jamaica.
Those results troubled this humble member of the Muchineripi clan much less than other scribes, who have been baying for the blood of Moloto since the 2-0 defeat in Port of Spain.
I accepted that experimentation was a necessary part of the Moloto plan and a loss in the Caribbean would soon disappear from our minds provided talent had been unearthed.
Bra Trott has since said that the time for experimentation is over. There are matches to be won and trophies to be lifted. South African soccer supporters are no less fickle than the majority of the media who serve them.
Fans believe Bafana Bafana have a divine right to success. Never mind that we have been back in the international fold for only eight years. Never mind that nations like Zambia have been competing much longer with much less success.
Next week South Africa travel to Windhoek for a Castle Cup Southern Africa championship quarter-final. On paper it seems a reasonably routine assignment for Moloto and his squad.
While no tactful coach would publicly revel in the trouble of another, Trott cannot be unhappy that the most influential Namibian defender, Mohammed Ouseb from Kaizer Chiefs, cannot play.
Ouseb, voted the best player of the 1998/99 South African season by Kickoff magazine, received cautions in the first round loss to Lesotho and the losers’ play-off victory over Malawi.
There may also be a question mark over the availability of physically imposing striker Eliphas Shivute, who is carving a new club career in China following a spell with Scottish Premier Division side Motherwell.
The squad Moloto named this week lacks goalkeeper Hans Vonk, defenders Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe and Pierre Issa, midfielders Shoes Moshoeu, Helman Mkhalele and Quinton Fortune and strikers Phil Masinga and Benni McCarthy.
So Trott finds himself flying north-west to the ground where Bafana Bafana suffered a shock 3-2 loss in the same competition last year with only three first-team regulars in Joel Masilela, Thabo Mngomeni and Shaun Bartlett.
Does Moloto have the strength in depth to make Bafana Bafana serious contenders for the Castle Cup, the Afro-Asian Nations Cup and the African Nations Cup? Windhoek should answer many questions.
The coach must also find a new captain as first-choice Radebe is preparing for the new English Premiership season with Leeds United and reserve John Moeti is out of favour after receiving a free transfer from Orlando Pirates.
Probable third-choice Fish is back in England, reportedly seeking a new club after Bolton Wanderers fell at the final hurdle in their challenge for Premier Division status.
There is no obvious choice with Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, Sundowns defender Themba Mnguni, Pirates midfielder Mngomeni and Sundowns striker Daniel Mudau possible candidates for the armband that signifies leadership.
I’m not sold on a goalkeeper captain, Mnguni needs to concentrate on winning over critics who claim he is not international material, and the same applies to veteran Mudau.
That leaves dreadlocked Mngomeni – the only player to feature in each match since Moloto assumed authority last October. He has been the find of the Trott reign and appears the most qualified candidate.
It will not be an easy mission as South Africa are on a hiding to nothing. A win will be taken for granted while a defeat will once again see the media bloodhounds trying to rip Moloto apart.
A clearly inferior Swaziland team eliminated Zimbabwe from the Castle Cup last weekend while Angola battled to overcome Lesotho. I wish Trott the best of luck -he is going to need it.