It’s make or break for both Bafana Bafana and national coach Joel Santana in Port Elizabeth on Saturday when Bafana take on high-flying Nigeria in their penultimate 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Kick-off is at 3pm.
But there is a new, hard edge to Bafana. They have worked hard preparing for this crucial clash.
Former Bafana skipper and tough-as-teak central defender Mbulelo ”OJ” Mabizela, who has been recalled by Santana as one of three central defenders in line to replace suspended skipper Aaron Mokoena, is one player who underlines this new-look Bafana.
Said the Mamelodi Sundowns hard man: ”We can do it. No team is unbeatable. I accept this is a big challenge for me and the other players. We are mentally and physically fit and determined to surprise Nigeria.”
Mabizela played in the English Premiership for Tottenham Hotspur before his career went off the boil in 2005. He has mended his undisciplined ways and is determined to resurrect his Bafana career against the Super Eagles if he gets the chance to fill in for Mokoena.
Mabizela, who captained Bafana 12 times from June 2003 to June 2004, is up against SuperSport United’s inexperienced Bongani Khumalo and another player who has literally come out of the cold —Matthew Booth, who is also a former Bafana and South Africa under-23 captain.
The giant Booth plies his trade at Russian outfit Krylya Sovetov and is captain of his club. Booth has been surprisingly overlooked by various Bafana coaches for three years, but has looked strong at training.
Santana bizarrely stated he would field Khumalo, who has only played three games for Bafana, in place of Mokoena after the 2-2 draw against Australia in a friendly international played in London last month.
Mabizela has 44 caps and Booth 15. Either would be a better choice alongside Spain-based Nasief Morris at the heart of the defence. Santana cannot risk the inexperienced Khumalo for this all-or-nothing game.
Santana also cannot make the same mistake tactically that he made against Sierra Leone at the Super Stadium in June. He played two defensive midfielders in Kagisho Dikgacoi and Macbeth Sibaya in a match Bafana should have and needed to win to keep their hopes alive.
That match against the no-name brand of Leone Stars amateurs ended 0-0 and all but ended Bafana’s 2010 African dream.
Santana has promised to attack the more polished Nigerians.
He has no option. He has to go for broke. If he loses and goes down with a fight, he will earn respect, but if he sticks to his negative tactics and loses, then he may as well start booking his flight back home to Brazil. Bafana need leadership and inspiration from the coach, which have been sadly lacking. It is time for Santana and his players to stand up and be counted.
Hopefully he has done his homework. The facts are that Bafana have never beaten Nigeria in five competitive matches. They have failed to score against the Super Eagles in those five games. Add the fact Nigeria have not conceded a goal in four group four qualifiers, and that tells one the task ahead of goal-shy Bafana.
The good news is the Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy is full of beans and determined to play his socks off and upset new Nigerian skipper Aiyegbeni Yakubu.
Yakubu, who plays for Everton, is one of the best strikers in England, and he will be the Super Eagles’ key player. He takes over the captaincy from Nwankwu Kanu, who is one of four players to pull out of the game.
But local fans will want to see McCarthy and veteran Sundowns striker Sibusiso Zuma take on the Nigerian defence and end the hoodoo Nigeria hold over Bafana.
Mabizela summed it up: ”We know the records but that is history. We hope to write a new chapter on Saturday by scoring goals and taking three points off Nigeria.”
Nigeria had a number of key players withdrawing: Kanu Joseph Yobo (Everton), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) and Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins pulled out at the last minute, but that will not adversely affect the Super Eagles who, unlike Bafana, have abundance in young talent.
The bumpy pitch might be the great leveller. But the jury is still out on whether the cabbage patch will help the home side or not. But what the Bafana players are banking on is strong local support. — Sapa