/ 15 July 2005

Gods smile on Bafana

Little wonder general manager Stanley ”Screamer” Tshabalala was cooing like a dove on Thursday after it was confirmed Bafana Bafana will play Panama in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament at Houston’s ultra-modern Reliant Stadium on Sunday.

The quarterfinal pairings not only ensure Bafana remain at the Houston base where they drew 1-1 with Guatemala on Wednesday, but they will be pitted against the worst-ranked country remaining in the competition.

Gold Cup holders Mexico (6th) are the highest world-ranked team remaining in the tournament, followed by hosts United States (10th), Costa Rica (24th), Colombia (25th), South Africa (39th), Jamaica (41st), Honduras (50th) and Panama, who are wallowing far behind in 98th position.

”I suppose you could say the gods have smiled on Bafana and provided us with a slice of good fortune,” said Tshabalala in a phone interview from Houston, but, for all this, it could prove disastrous under-rating the Panamanians, who have already beaten a side of the pedigree of Colombia in the current Gold Cup.

Colombia, in turn, now face a back-to-form Mexico, who finished at the top of group C after suffering a shock defeat against South Africa in their opening match.

The Mexico-Colombia quarterfinal will precede the South Africa-Panama clash at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, with the winners paired in the semifinals at the Giant Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday.

Tshabalala said the Bafana camp was buzzing with optimism and high-expectations before the match, despite a disquieting suspicion that the South Africans’ form had declined with each game since the stimulating success against Mexico.

”There was something of a fade-out in the second half against Guatemala,” said Tshabalala, ”but overall the team’s performances have exceeded everyone’s expectations”. – Sapa