The odds are heavily stacked against New Zealand’s ‘All Whites’, but Bafana Bafana still have a score to settle with them, writes Phathisani Moyo
Nickname: the All Whites, which stems from their predominately white uniform
World Cup appearances: one, in 1982
Confederations Cup appearances: two in 1999 and 2003
OFC Cup winners: 1973, 1999, 2002, 2008
Star Player: Ryan Nelson (Blackburn Rovers)
Coach: Ricki Herbert
Captain: Ben Sigmund
Bafana Bafana face New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 17 in their second Confederations Cup, not knowing what to expect.
Finding a needle in a haystack is probably much easier than looking for positives in this New Zealand side affectionately known as the “All Whites” back home. Their appearance in this festival of champions stems largely from being the lopsided qualifiers of the Oceania Football Countries (OFC) region.
No disrespect to the Kiwis, but competing against obscure names such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga does not inspire much confidence in football circles.
The All Whites have also capitalised on Australia’s departure from the Oceania region in 2006 to join the Asian Football Confederation. It has left New Zealand as the dominant force.
Revenge element
It is not surprising that the late OFC president Charles Dempsey remains the only Kiwi who rings a bell in South African football circles.
Dempsey is remembered for not casting a vote at a 2000 Fifa meeting to decide which country would host the 2006 World Cup.
Although Oceania had indicated support for South Africa to host the tournament Dempsey defied his association’s explicit orders to vote for South Africa. As a result, Germany won the bid 12 to 11. Prior to Dempsey’s disappearing act Fifa president Sepp Blatter had pledged to hand Africa its first finals with his tie-breaking vote.
It was a painful moment for Africa and a country that had filled the streets in anticipation of a positive bid. Even South Africa’s most famous son, Nelson Mandela, argued the continent’s case, saying that “it is Africa’s time”.
Nine years later Bafana come face to face with a country the Scottish born Dempsey calls home.
Bafana, barring complacency, should not find exerting some measure of revenge very difficult.
The reigning OFC champions are the Confederations Cup representatives in a part of the world that is a closed book. With a small population of just more than four-million, football has struggled for recognition in a nation more inclined towards rugby and cricket. The All Whites, on paper, are the weakest team in Bafana’s group, but it will interest many that the New Zealanders have had relative success with the round ball once or twice.
Remembering 1982
The All Whites achieved their most revered moment with the beautiful game when they qualified for the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain. They followed that with two appearances in the Confederations Cup and their imminent arrival in South Africa will be their third. The All Whites played in the 1999 and 2003 tournaments staged in Mexico and France respectively.
But it was in 1982 that the sport really got the country buzzing. For the first time the national football team, which included their current coach Ricki Herbert, were feted as heroes.
It is alleged that this period is so cemented in New Zealand’s psyche, that when you say “82”, people know exactly what you are referring to. Not even the baptism of fire in a group, where they lost all of their three games (Scotland 2-5, Soviet Union 0-3 and Brazil 0-4), can burn out this proud moment.
Domestic league
Sadly, football has not improved in New Zealand, despite “82” or its OFC wins in 1973, 1998, 2002 and 2008. This can largely be attributed to the domestic league’s establishment only in 2004 and it is still semi-professional. The Wellington Phoenix, also coached by national team mentor Herbert, is the only professional club in the country and competes in the Australian A-League.
Bright spots
The All Whites are thus understandably a little thin on quality. They will pin their hopes on individual performances to see them advance further than the first round — an exit record suffered in the 1982 World Cup and both their past Confederations Cup appearances.
Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelson is their most decorated player by virtue of plying his trade in the competitive Barclays English Premiership. He will square up against club team-mate Aaron Mokoena.
Nelson and Benni McCarthy were both on target for Rovers’ 2-0 win against Wigan a fortnight ago, in a result that went a long way to sealing their place in the Premier League for another season.
Perhaps New Zealand’s strength lies up front with Glasgow Celtic’s forward Chris Killen — who was on loan to Norwich City — and German striker Shane Smeltz. This combination could form a decent strike force.
Killen joined City in January but found the going tough and returned to train with Celtic in March after being restricted to only four appearances. Smeltz, on the hand, is a more motivated player. He has been crowned OFC Footballer of the Year in two successive seasons and he has been widely recognised for his sterling performances in the All White colours after he banged in eight goals in the Oceania champions 2010 World Cup campaign.
Herbert and his charges have no illusions about the pedigree of their team. They have organised two warm-up matches before their tie against Bafana.
The All Whites will play Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on June 3 and meet Botswana in Gaborone three days later — hardly world-class opposition. Although the opening match against Iraq is not easy to call, nothing short of a Bafana victory against rank outsiders New Zealand should be accepted.