Bafana Bafana captain Mbulelo ”OJ” Mabizela was the toast of the Free State capital on Saturday when his brace earned Bafana a hard fought 2-1 win over a gallant Cape Verde in the opening 2006 World Cup Group 2 qualifier played at Vodacom Park.
Bafana led 1-0 at half-time.
Mabizela’s second goal was one of the finest ever scored by a Bafana player: reminiscent of the goal he scored during his first match for his English club Tottenham Hotspur against Leicester City. Bafana coach Stuart Baxter’s decision to play Mabizela in mid-field instead of his regular centre half was an inspired decision.
It was Baxter’s first game in charge, and after a slow start he will be happy with the three points to launch Bafana’s 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bafana battled to find their rhythm in the opening 45 minutes. They allowed Cape Verde too much room, especially in the midfield. They were also guilty of giving away too many free kicks inside their half.
But the near capacity 38 000 crowd went wild when Mabizela put Bafana into the lead with a powerful free kick in the 42nd minute. Bafana started off casually, stroking the ball around. They wasted an early chance when Delron Buckley hit his shot over the crossbar after a defence splitting pass from Benedict Vilakazi in the fourth minute. A minute later Cape Verde defender Lolote shot wide when he had sight at the Bafana goal. Bafana keeper Hans Vonk was forced into action to prevent danger man Lito scoring with a powerful header in the 16th minute. Vonk did well 10 minutes later when he was in position to stop the same Cape Verde winger from scoring from a well-struck free kick.
Bafana striker Siyabonga Nomvete wasted a chance in the 37th minute when he completely missed a great cross from Vilakazi inside the six yard area.
There was huge excitement at halftime when the Springbok rugby team took a walk around the pitch, much the delight of the fans. The team was carrying a message saying: ”Good luck Bafana Bafana from the Springboks”. The Boks play Ireland in a Test match in Bloemfontein next Saturday.
Nomvete was unlucky two minutes after the break when he chipped a shot over the crossbar as Bafana went for the killer goal. Calo, the Cape Verde midfield star, gave Bafana a wake-up call in the 54th minute when his close range header went narrowly past the woodwork.
Vilakazi had the crowd on their feet in the 58th minute when his 35-metre pile-driver screamed past the Cape Verde post.
Then, in the 63rd minute, Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish, making his first appearance for Bafana in almost four years, did well to block a goal-bound shot from the ever dangerous Lito. Lito almost gave the Bafana supporters a collective heartattack when he managed to win the ball after a weak back pass from defender Aaron Mokoena to Vonk after 67 minutes. But he wasted the opportunity.
The magical Mabizela made it 2-0 with a world class strike in the 70th minute.
Bafana then seemed to go to sleep and a tremendous volley from Janicio from a Calo cross gave the visitors a lifeline and a stunning goal in the 78th minute. A minute later the disorganised Bafana defence almost allowed Cape Verde to equalise. Calo rounded Vonk, and with the goal at his mercy, he hit the side netting. – Sapa