With coach-in-waiting Carlos Alberto Parreira looking on impassively as an observer in the presidential suite, Bafana Bafana were dealt a disturbing, if not mortal, blow of qualifying for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals in a goalless draw against Congo-Brazzaville at the morbidly deserted FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Although dominating play territorially in a Group 11 qualifying encounter with no less than 61% possession, the finishing of a lacklustre Bafana front line was little more than powder-puff, and the plaudits of the occasion clearly belonged to a Congo team who demonstrated their delight by performing a jig after gaining an invaluable away point.
Bafana did manage to get the ball into the net in the 73rd minute from a deflection off substitute Benedict Vilakazi following a cross from Dillon Sheppard, but TV replays after the game indicated the wily, industrious Orlando Pirates midfielder had indeed been fractionally off-side.
And what might have been as disturbing as anything for Parreira as the former Brazilian national coach watched Bafana for the first time was the meagre size of a crowd of approximately 8 000 for a key game involving the national team.
His misgivings, no doubt, will be shared by Fifa as it looks ahead to the 2010 World Cup.
Voted as man of the match afterwards was Dillon Sheppard, who could rightfully be judged Bafana’s most productive player. But, by the same token, the award was clearly a ”home decision”, with the honours undoubtedly due to a Congo goalkeeper who performed a succession of superlative saves and a defence that thwarted no fewer than 13 Bafana corners.
Bafana’s best chance of the game landed at the feet of Katlego Mashego only seconds before half-time, but the inexperienced striker failed to control a Vuyo Mere cross when only 5m from goal — and was then substituted immediately after the interval.
Other inviting opportunities were squandered by substitute Abram Raselamane and Aaron Mokoena, but mainly the promising build-ups from the likes of Steven Pienaar and a foraging Mere came to nought.
And unless Bafana manage to perform heroic feats in the next qualifying away game against Zambia, Parreira will take over in January with Bafana already behind the starting line in the context of African Nations Cup qualifying. — Sapa