Commitment — and not reputations — will be key to Bafana Bafana selection for their desperate, reputation-saving game against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Durban on October 8.
This was the emphatic comment from Bafana coach Stuart Baxter on Monday, who left no doubt that ”players who are not 100% behind the national team will not be required”.
Although South Africa remain well-placed to qualify for next year’s African Nations Cup — despite tumbling out of contention for the World Cup finals in Germany — it would appear a draw against the DRC could still be required to ensure a place in the tournament in Egypt.
And while Baxter revealed he will be monitoring the form and fitness of players such as Quinton Fortune and Bradley Carnell, who have been non-starters for South Africa’s most recent matches because of injury, the Bafana coach said it is not his intention to pander to anyone who is either ”not fit enough or keen enough to give 100% for his country”.
The strong stand by Baxter seems to indicate a subtle switch in approach, probably because many of the more-vaunted and renowned players failed to deliver the goods in the heartbreaking countdown to World Cup qualification.
Only the top team in each African qualifying group will earn a place in next year’s World Cup in Germany — with Ghana now a strong favourite to be the chosen team from the segment that includes Bafana — but the three leading teams in the group will book a passage to Egypt.
To make certain of filling one of these places, Bafana will have to draw with the DRC — but the Durban game is also designed to restore a semblance of pride and prestige after the string of defeats against Ghana, Iceland, Burkina Faso and Germany.
And a win for Burkina Faso in their final qualifying game against Uganda, allied with a defeat for Bafana against the DRC, could produce the ultimate ignominy.
A Bafana star hailed as the potential guiding light towards Germany but who made little impact in recent international games is Benni McCarthy.
”I watched McCarthy in action for his club, Porto, in a Portuguese League match on Sunday,” said Baxter meaningfully, ”and the indications are he was carrying extra weight.”
One thing Bafana will not need against the seasoned, tough-as-teak Congolese is extra baggage.
”No one will be in the squad on reputation alone,” said Baxter, ”no matter how inflated the reputation might be.” — Sapa