In football, teams are not given nicknames such as ”Glamour Boys” and ”Bold and the Beautiful” for fun. They are awarded such praise names because of their ability to outplay the opposition at all times. But victory often depends not just on the quality of the first-choice line-up, but on the balance and depth of the squad — giving a team the ability to rise from the dead, if you like.
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were expecting a walk in the park against Silver Stars and Santos, respectively, in last weekend’s Telkom Knockout Cup. The walk in the park, however, quickly became a nightmare hike up a steep hill for Soweto’s finest. And both found that mountain too high to overcome.
Despite having line-ups featuring some of the nation’s best players, Chiefs and Pirates lost because there is little back-up for the stars when they are injured or out of form.
Pirates have had trouble finding the net lately and, with the rearguard shipping goals, they have suffered three defeats in their first five league matches. Once-lethal scoring machine, Congolese forward Lelo Mbele, is in the worst form of his life; the defence, led by Edward Malinga, is continuously caught in no-man’s land and, despite the arrival of new coaching staff, there seems to be a lack of proper leadership.
The ever-flamboyant Amakhosi fared no better. Free State-born Hareaipha ”Simba” Marumo twice capitalised on the sloppiness of the Chiefs’ defence to put Silver Stars two up, and a late rally from the Gauteng-based side yielded only the consolation of a goal scored via a deflected Shaun Bartlett header.
Lack of pace has caught up with skipper Fabian McCarthy at the back and there have just been too many changes in the line-up. Former out-and-out striker Patrick Mayo has been converted into a defender, but his inexperience is often exposed. Since Zambian goal poacher Collins Mbesuma left to try his luck in England two years ago, the team is yet to find a fitting replacement.
A cynic might say it was good that both teams lost because it lessened the number of car accidents on our roads and, as a result, the nursing staff at Chris Hani Baragwanath had a break.
But defeat for these two giants reaches deeper. It touches the heart and soul of Southern African football. Add Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Egypt in London a few days previously and it paints a dismal picture of the quality of the local game. Most depressing is the fact that all these important exponents of South African football were beaten without really putting up a fight, leaving the nation pondering our readiness for the 2010 showcase in our backyard.
However, credit needs to be bestowed when and where it is due. It is encouraging to finally see small clubs taking on the big boys.
Neither Santos nor Silver Stars played outstanding, but both showed the value of teamwork above too much reliance on a few star players. The results keep them in line for the whopping winner’s prize of R4-million.
Both proved in their victories over the superpowers of South African football that, though money can buy you quality, it cannot always buy you depth — with the exception of Mamelodi Sundowns, of course.