/ 10 September 2008

Santana says Bafana ‘played nice football’

Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana on Tuesday tried to justify his poor record since he took charge of the national side in June.

Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana on Tuesday tried to justify his poor record since he took charge of the national side in June, after his second-string team were beaten 1-0 by Guinea in a friendly international played at the Super Stadium.

Under Santana, Bafana have played seven competitive matches, only winning against Equatorial Guinea at the same Atteridgeville venue in June.

When asked to defend his record, Santana said: ”I am building a squad to play at the 2010 World Cup finals. I am still looking for players. The rebuilding of Bafana started two years ago and I am continuing with that and will build a side to compete at the 2010 World Cup finals”.

Bafana were beaten 1-0 by Nigeria in a must-win 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier in Port Elizabeth last Saturday and followed that up with a defeat to Guinea.

The loss to Nigeria ended Bafana’s hopes of playing in the 2010 Afcon finals in Angola.

Santana said his side played well against Guinea and ”played nice football”. This comment brought howls of laughter from disbelieving members of the soccer media at the post-match conference.

Even his captain on the night, veteran Sibusiso Zuma, had the grace to say: ”I am not going to say we played well or it was a good match. But we tried our best.”

When Santana was asked to explain his philosophy, he said through an interpreter: ”My philosophy is to know how to pass the ball; be able to change direction, be able to cross the ball and to finish.”

Santana said soccer was about scoring, and not conceding goals.

Said Santana of the goal drought crisis: ”It is a big problem that crept in four games ago. I am going to have to find a solution but it is not easy finding a solution.”

”We have to improve and will play more friendly matches to help us. We need solutions but these cannot be found in one night.”

There were two positives to come out of Tuesday’s match. First was the form of debutant winger Daine Klate as well as a man-of-the-match performance from central defender Matthew Booth. – Sapa