Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is set to ring the changes when he names his side to play Equatorial Guinea in a vital 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Saturday.
Santana said his players would bounce back from their disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
The good news is that Santana has a full squad to select from after his injured players — playmaker Teko Modise of Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns attacking midfielder Lerato Chabangu and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune — trained in cold, rainy conditions at the Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday’s do-or-die Group Four qualifier.
But surprisingly, the Brazilian coach, who was in charge of Bafana for the first time during the lacklustre loss to the Super Eagles, is set to drop Germany-based goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez in favour of Khune, who turns 21 on June 20.
Said Santana: ”I will make a couple of changes, including the goalkeeper, for Saturday’s game.”
Fernandez, who plays for Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga, did little wrong against the Super Eagles. If anything, he was let down by poor defending and marking and was not at fault for either goal. In fact, had it not been for a couple of top-class saves from Fernandez, the defeat could have been more embarrassing.
Santana claimed that two mistakes cost Bafana the chance of a point in Abuja.
Chabangu and Modise will make a difference to a side that lacked punch in both midfield and attack, and struggled to defend set pieces.
Modise faces a fitness test on his injured toe, but the diminutive midfield powerhouse said: ”I definitely want to play. The pain has gone and I will be hoping that I get the green light from the doctor.”
Modise said while it was bad losing to Nigeria, Bafana needed to redeem themselves and get their first qualifying points on the board.
He said he would be looking to the experienced players such as skipper Aaron Mokoena to help the younger players get over the defeat.
Said Modise: ”The more experienced players in the squad have a big role to play in the build-up to the game. We will be looking to them for leadership. The Nigeria game is history. We have prepared well for Equatorial Guinea and know that playing at home in front of our fans, we simply have to get three points. All the players are going to give their best.”
Meanwhile, Santana and his technical team will be viewing Equatorial Guinea’s 2-0 win at home over Sierra Leone in the opening Group Four clash last Sunday.
”We have the tapes and will do our homework. We will have a better idea as to what to expect from them once we have viewed their more recent performances. I am determined that we fix the mistakes against Nigeria and open our campaign at home on a winning note. I am confident of three points, ” said Santana. — Sapa