/ 9 November 2001

No 2 must try harder …

SOCCER

Ntuthuko Maphumulo

Bafana Bafana’s international friendlies under the guidance of coach Carlos Queiroz this year have not produced the results required from the professor.

The team lost to Italy in a closely fought match, then got a drubbing from Sweden. Since Queiroz took over the hot seat Bafana have won six games, drawn five and lost three.

Matters deteriorated after Bafana qualified for both the African Cup of Nations (in Mali early next year) and the World Cup in Korea andJapan next June. Under-23 coach Shakes Mashaba took over the team in the Cosafa Cup, and suffered a defeat to Malawi. As a result Bafana are no longer ranked the top side in Africa.

Queiroz’s attempts to build a formidable squad capable of taking on the best in the world next year have been undermined before almost every match through the unavailability of several key players. Things are little different for Saturday’s game against Egypt at the Johannesburg stadium.

The friendly against the Pharaohs will help boost confidence and prepare both teams for the continental showpiece next year.

Egypt seem to be having their share of problems with preparations too. Their friendly against Liberia, scheduled for Wednesday, was cancelled after just 10 Lone Star players pitched up in Cairo.

Even former world player of the year George Weah failed to arrive due to club commitments.

The September 11 attacks in the United States seem to have had an impact on the arrival of many of the Liberian players causing flight delays and problems with tickets while other players failed to get visas.

The Egyptian football association had informed the Liberian team to book their tickets early and now the Liberian delegation will have to convince Egypt not to file a complaint with world governing body Fifa in regards to the match.

Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between Bafana and the Pharaohs, with each side having won two of their previous encounters. But Egypt have the advantage in that they won the one that really mattered a 2-0 victory in the 1998 African Cup of Nations final.

In their most recent meeting, in December 1998, South Africa avenged that defeat. Bafana can also boast that they will be playing in next year’s World Cup while the North Africans missed out.

The Pharaohs lost a crucial World Cup qualifier against Algeria a game they should they have won and will use this friendly to blood new players and prepare for the African Cup of Nations.

They have roped in two under-20 players who played in the world youth championships in Argentina earlier this year.

Egypt came third in that tournament, proving they have stars of the future in their ranks.

But this is not an experimental Egyptian side. There is plenty of experience in the team, including the likes of veteran striker Hossam Hassan, who is the world’s most capped international, and midfielder Hazem ”Little Fox” Emam.

South Africa will not be outdone as they have the likes of Siyabonga Nomvete, Sibusiso Zuma, Delron Buckley and captain Shaun Bartlett.

The game will give Queiroz an opportunity to cast his eye over some of the overseas-based players who have been warming the benches at their respective clubs. But players from Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns the two South African sides involved in semifinals of continental club competitions are not available.

The Pharaohs have also left out players from the Al Ahly club, who are preparing for their African Champions League semifinal against Esperance of Tunisia.

The surprise package in the Bafana team was the precautionary replacement of Nassief Morris who it is said has malaria or smallpox by Mbulelo ”Old John” Mabizela, the former Maritzburg City player who now plays for Pirates. In less than a season Mabizela has gone from making his senior debut to the Bafana squad.

This goes to show Queiroz has finally seen that new young blood will be required in the squad if they are to regain their top spot in Africa from Tunisia.

His determination to get the best team together is also shown by his decision to call on the experience of former national coaches Clive Barker and Jomo Sono by appointing them to his technical team.