On the crescent-shaped, 14-island archipelago that makes up the Atlantic Ocean’s volcanic-oriented Cape Verde Islands, Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter will be hoping no unforeseen eruptions take place in Saturday’s crucial World Cup qualifying game against the unfashionable but patently dangerous Islanders.
Not only will a defeat topple Bafana from top position in Africa’s group-two qualifying segment, with Cape Verde assuming pole position for a place in next year’s World Cup finals in Germany, but Baxter himself is sure to come under increasing pressure from a whole host of zealous detractors.
Despite his obvious dedication and professionalism, the articulate Baxter has not escaped the sniping encountered by predecessors such as Philippe Troussier and Carlos Queiroz from a group of misguided critics who seem more intent on the British-born coach failing than Bafana succeeding.
So, the heat will be on Baxter in subtropical Praia, volcanoes exploding or not, during the game scheduled for a 7pm kick-off (South African time).
In the process, the main obstacles confronting a Bafana line-up — depleted somewhat by the absence through injury of Quinton Fortune, Sibusiso Zuma, Bradley Carnell and Cyril Nzama — could be a pitch of reputedly dubious quality. A diligent, precise Cape Verde combination who are unbeaten at home in World Cup qualifying games also have the advantage of coping better on familiar terrain.
With a short-passing style akin to that of their European ancestors — indeed, the majority of their players, headed by dangerous striker Cafu, ply their trade with Portuguese clubs — Cape Verde emerged as genuine challengers alongside other group-two teams South Africa, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a place in next year’s World Cup by beating Burkina Faso in Burkina Faso.
Baxter, nevertheless, is confident of a victory that will take South Africa tantalisingly close to qualifying for Germany and declares he will not be playing for a draw, which would not be such a bad result for Bafana in any case.
He bases his optimism on having a pool of players in goalkeeper Hans Vonk, Benni McCarthy, Delron Buckley, Steven Pienaar and Aaron Mokoena with a proven pedigree in top-level European football — and what he believes is steadfast team spirit in the face of concerted criticism and some setbacks in preparation.
He also places great faith in the rehabilitation of former Bafana captain Mbulelo ”OJ” Mabizela, who is expected to fill the key midfield role vacated by the indisposed Fortune.
But intense Bafana rivals Ghana and the DRC both have home games this weekend that they are expected to win. An untimely, if not catastrophic, loss for Bafana could mean them slipping from top place in group two to an uneasy fourth position — remembering that only one team from the group qualifies for next year’s tournament in Germany. — Sapa