The riddle confronting Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira over which goalkeeper to field in next Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Chad was on Friday solved by an injury to Mamelodi Sundowns’ Calvin Marlin.
Marlin and Kaizer Chiefs’ Rowen Fernandez were named by Parreira as the two goalkeepers when he announced his Chad-bound squad on Thursday, but with Marlin withdrawing because of a nagging wrist injury, Fernandez has emerged as the automatic choice.
The South African Football Association (Safa) announced that Wits University’s Moeneeb Josephs will replace Marlin for both the Chad game and the friendly international against Bolivia that will follow four days later, but there can be little doubt that Fernandez will now retain the number-one goalkeeping position.
”Calvin was injured in the recent Premier [Soccer] League game against Santos,” explained Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund, ”and missed the Absa Cup clash against Maritzburg United in mid-week after medical opinion advised that he should have a two-week break.”
Igesund also confirmed that Sundowns reserve goalkeeper Brian Baloyi will continue to deputise for Marlin in the African Champions League second-leg game against Desportivo at the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday night — a game that will start with the teams level 1-1 after the first leg.
”We’re fortunate to have a goalkeeper of the calibre of Brian as a stand-by,” said the Sundowns coach, ”because he would be the automatic first-choice for most PSL teams.” — Sapa