IF recently appointed coach Jomo Sono is to be believed, finishing first or second in a group including Paraguay, Slovenia and Spain is an achievable goal.
”I cannot divulge my secret to achieve that goal, but a lot of people will be surprised. Underestimate Bafana Bafana (The Boys) at your own peril,” warned Sono, one of the greatest footballers produced by South Africa.
The temptation to dismiss the 47-year-old known as the ‘Black Prince’ during a long and illustrious career is strong given that Bafana Bafana have won just once against European opposition, and that was away to minnows Malta.
And the 1996 African champions have never overcome South American rivals, although a second-string side gave a gritty display when holding Ecuador goalless in Spain this month.
It was easily the best result of a build-up that included a 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in Italy, a 4-1 hiding for a virtual full-strength team in Georgia and a 0-0 regional championship draw in Botswana.
Still to come are Madagascar in the Indian Ocean city of Durban on May 12, matches against Scotland and Turkey in Hong Kong, and a warm-up with an undisclosed local club in the Japanese city of Ueno.
That, at least, is the plan, because with Sono in charge, life is never short of surprises. When Bafana Bafana were paired with Madagascar in the Southern Africa championship, he demanded new opponents, a call that has so far fallen on deaf ears.
The larger-than-life coach also came in for domestic media criticism when he skipped the Ecuador match, preferring to watch Paraguay crumble 4-0 to England in Liverpool.
Not that criticism is ever going to concern a man who, on hearing that South African club side Orlando Pirates were trailing by two goals in a key match, dashed from his wedding reception to the ground and came on to inspire a famous victory.
Although he has never won a trophy as coach of Jomo Cosmos, a Premier Soccer League club he also owns, Sono performed a mini-miracle in guiding Bafana Bafana to the 1998 African Nations Cup final.
Put in charge less than two weeks before the tournament and permitted just one warm-up match, his team made a slow start before falling to a couple of early goals from Egypt.
When Mozambique-born Carlos Queiroz was fired as coach after South Africa made an uninspiring quarter-finals exit against hosts Mali two months ago in the latest edition of the African event, Sono was a popular replacement.
Many South Africans believe his in-your-face approach is desperately needed after the more laidback, professorial style of Queiroz had little impact on a team visibly short of passion.
After initially hinting he would ring the changes for the World Cup, Sono seems set to rely heavily on the ‘old guard’, with long-absent defenders Mark Fish and Lucas Radebe poised for comebacks.
Fish did not win favour with Queiroz while a succession of lengthy injuries appeared to have ruled Radebe out. However, a recent comeback with Leeds United reserves has raised the hopes of the former Bafana Bafana captain.
Sono needs the experienced pair judging by the alarmingly leaks against Georgia while goalkeeper Hans Vonk is assured of his place and is also a candidate for the captaincy.
If Fish and Radebe get the nod, they could be joined by fullbacks Cyril Nzama of Kaizer Chiefs and Jacob Lekgetho of Lokomotiv Moscow at the back in a 4-4-2 system.
Sibusiso Zuma of FC Copenhagen and Delron Buckley of German second division side VfL Bochum are strong contenders for the wide berths in midfield while Sono may retain faith in perennial underachiever Quinton Fortune of Manchester United inside them.
Who completes the midfield quartet is anyone’s guess. There has been mixed news for Sono in attack with Benni McCarthy of FC Porto showing a welcome return to form, but leading scorer Shaun Bartlett of Charlton Athletic is struggling to overcome an injury. – Sapa-AFP