Bafana Bafana’s derided, makeshift squad may have exited the Gold Cup in a tense quarterfinal penalty shoot-out against Panama on Monday morning, but the players are walking with their heads held high in Houston after regaining their pride — and the respect of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.
This is the view of general manager Stanley ”Screamer” Tshabalala, who said in a telephone interview that the reputation of South African soccer has sky-rocketed in the United States in the past 10 days.
”Players who were unknown at international level, like Phil Evans, Lungisani Ndlela and Calvin Marlin,” added the Bafana general manager, ”are now pursued in the streets in Houston by kids seeking their autographs. It’s amazing.”
But Tshabalala said the most impressive aspect of Bafana’s revival was the manner in which all the players had moulded into an effective, professional unit despite the unavailability en masse of local and overseas-based top players.
”In four games we were only shaded once — and that was in a penalty shoot-out,” said Tshabalala, ”and we held our own in each outing with Mexico, Jamaica, Guatemala and Panama in turn. It was almost as though by magic.”
And if magic indeed was behind the Bafana revival, the sorcerer in question who took on the role of Merlin the magician and transformed a derided squad almost overnight was the equally under-fire coach, Stuart Baxter.
What the British-born Baxter has achieved in the US under immense pressure was worthy of the highest accolades, yet he remains under fire from a group of zealous conspirators who are in no way qualified to criticise the dedicated, knowledgeable and professional Bafana coach.
Baxter, himself, is bitterly disillusioned by a campaign that will negate all he has achieved for South African soccer. But those who have seen other internationally respected coaches such as Phillipe Troussier and Carlos Queiroz treated in a similar manner are hardly surprised.
The squad are due back in South Africa on Friday, with Orlando Pirates’ four Bafana squad members, Lucky Lekgwathi, Lucas Thwala, Thabang Radebe and Gift Leremi, eligible for the Vodacom Challenge final against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban on Sunday — if required after an arduous journey across international datelines.
As for Merlin, the wolves will assuredly continue to bay at his door, in spite of his magic and what has been achieved in the US. — Sapa