Thirty-four-year-old veteran goalkeeper Brian ”Spiderman” Baloyi received a recall to the Bafana Bafana squad for the first time in more than three years on Monday.
The selection of the Mamelodi Sundowns and former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper in place of Orlando Pirates’ Moeneeb Josephs, who has a wrist injury, was a major topic of conversation as the Bafana players assembled at a Pretoria hotel in preparation for Saturday’s diluted Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) away qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
But rivalling for attention among a group of incensed reporters was the bizarre cancellation of the Bafana press conference, which was scheduled to be addressed by coach Joel Santana — but was called off without prior notice because of the non-arrival of the Brazilian coach’s interpreter.
”Considering the current price of petrol,” wailed one Johannesburg journalist, who had made the futile journey along the N1 freeway, ”this is nothing short of a waste and a disgrace.”
And the general tone made a mockery of the soothing suggestion by Bafana media officer Sifiso Cele that ”I’m sure everyone will understand what has happened is something beyond our control”.
Santana’s grappling with English has long been a bone of contention among his fierce critics — whose number is not inconsiderable — and the latest episode is sure to add considerably more fuel to the fires of discontent.
Meanwhile, Baloyi’s recall after being overshadowed at international level for much of his career by Andre Arendse and Hans Vonk has been prompted by some sterling performances since he established himself in the Sundowns goal in place of the injured Calvin Marlin.
But like Josephs — and indeed the current Bafana number one, Itumeleng Khune — his moments of brilliance are sometimes sprinkled with errors.
Cele said 17 of the 23 Bafana players had arrived at their Pretoria camp for a game in which neither side can qualify for the 2010 Afcon finals — and the remainder were expected within the next 24 hours. — Sapa