The Cosafa Cup semifinal against Zambia at Mmabatho Stadium on Saturday presents Bafana Bafana with an opportunity to cement a self-proclaimed, if shaky, reputation as the regional soccer super power.
But for coach Stuart Baxter, a more urgent priority might be to see how the match will help him assemble the most effective squad for the vital World Cup qualifying game against Burkina Faso early next month.
Baxter has seemingly delayed until Saturday the announcement of his squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Iceland — touted as a dress rehearsal for Burkina Faso — in order to determine which overseas-based players will be available and to have a final assessment of talent against Zambia.
It is a delicate undertaking for Baxter as he eyes what might be termed a tale of two teams — if not one of two cities.
In a nutshell, the Bafana coach must evaluate the players who performed beyond all expectations in the recent Gold Cup tournament in the United States, many of whom will be on show against Zambia, and those based in Europe who are traditionally recognised as South Africa’s top talent.
Then he has to perform a juggling act by blending the best of both into a single unit.
Time is not on Baxter’s side for a game in Burkina Faso that Bafana dare not lose if they are to retain any hope of gaining a place in next year’s World Cup Finals in Germany — with blood-thirsty wolves waiting at his door in case he slips up.
Zambia, in the meantime, cannot be dismissed lightly, even though they have been depleted significantly by the unavailability of a host of their top players.
And winning the Cosafa Cup for a second time would be a timely boost for morale, particularly as the three other semifinalists, Zambia, holders Angola and Zimbabwe, have all annexed the Southern African regional title on more occasions than Bafana. — Sapa