/ 5 June 2000

COACHES SLAM BAFANA AFTER 4-0 LOSS

FORMER Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker slammed South Africa after a humiliating four-goal drubbing by hosts United States in the Nike Cup football tournament at the weekend. “We have been living in a dream world,” Barker said. “It is all very well defeating teams like Lesotho and Mauritius and believing we are super stars. “The United States were in a different class to teams South Africa played recently and we had no answer to their skill, strength and speed,” the most successful South African coach said. Barker guided Bafana Bafana to the African Nations Cup title and to 1998 World Cup finals qualification before quitting after a dismal showing at the 1997 Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia. Gordon Igesund, another vastly experienced coach, was equally critical of a team ranked among the top 20 in the world. “Recent victories have lulled the squad into a false sense of security. The United States epitomised professionalism and we were lucky to escape with only a four-goal defeat.” The margin of defeat equalled the worst suffered by South Africa since they were readmitted to international football in 1992 after three decades of isolation. Former Europe-based professional Igesund said national coach Trott Moloto, whose contact expires at the end of June, must consult South African club coaches before choosing his squad. Jomo Sono, who guided South Africa to second place at the 1998 African Nations Cup, was less critical, saying Moloto had generally done well and should not come under fire for losing one match.