Bafana Bafana’s problems

By Robin Toskin

Fierce debate rages on about South Africa’s ability to stage the Fifa World Cup yet little or nothing at all is being said about Bafana Bafana’s chances in the global football fiesta.

As late as last week, Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke was still facing a barrage of questions from European journalists on the ability of the Rainbow Nation’s organisational abilities.

To South Africans, and indeed the rest of the continent, the bigger question is; can Bafana Bafana preserve the norm of host nations getting past the group stages?

Do not believe the crap western media is spreading about the South Africa’s ability to host the world’s biggest sporting event. Indeed, the Southern Africa nation is as capable as any European country.

The facilities in Johannesburg, Pretoria (Tswane), Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Mangaung (Bloemfontein) and Polokwane are world class.

Where the concern is most is on the field of play where tactical savvy Carlos Alberto Pareirra is devoid of personnel to put into use his experience at the World Cup stage.

Others shone

South Africa still lives in the glorious 1990s when the class comprising Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga, Shaun Bartlett, Mark Williams and others shone.

South Africa’s midfielder Teko Modise and the Bafana Bafana team during the Confederations Cup last year. Photos: File

But like Argentina’s iconic Diego Maradona told his countrymen to stop living in the past, the World Cup hosts urgently need to wake up from bygone era. Africa Nations Cup hero in 1996 Williams told FeverPitch in June: "Bafana Bafana lacks players with strong backs. There are no players ready to work their socks off for the sake of this team."

That was in the aftermath of the 0-0 draw against Asian Champions, Iraq, in the Fifa Confederations Cup.

The man who bore the brunt of underachievement, Joel Santana, is long gone and his successor, another Brazilian World Cup hero Parreira has struggled with little success to breath life into the South African team.

That South Africa had to come from behind to draw 1-1 against lowly Namibia is depressing for the Bafana Bafana faithful.

Past winners

Grouped alongside two past winners Uruguay and France, and ever-present Mexico in Group A, South Africa will need players with more than strong backs.

And, on account of lack of discipline and unity of purpose in the South African side, qualification to the second round of the 2010 World Cup will be over-achievement for Parreira’s team.

Benni McCarthy is unquestionably the best striker Bafana Bafana has seen in post-Masinga and Bartlett era.

Yet, the West Ham journeyman has been a disruptive figure in spite of undeniable talent the former Ajax, Celta Vigo and Porto player possesses.

The emergence of Everton’s Steve Pienaar, who also went through the Ajax ranks may have been a happy accident, but the diminutive midfielder does not inspire the hope McCarthy did when he became the Africa Nations Cup top scorer in 1998.

Several players have since emerged like Katlego Mphela, Surprise Moriri, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thembikosi Fanteni, Teko Modise, Bernard Parker and Elrio Van Heerden, but all of them come nowhere near the class of 1996.

And Parreira’s frustration is evident in his decision to recall several players who took part in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup.

Bradley Carnell, Mbulelo OldJohn Mabizela and Delron Buckley have been recalled to shore up the defence and barring any eventualities could team up with Aaron Mokoena and Siboniso Gaxa come June 10 when they open their account against Mexico.

Less that 100 days to kickoff, the Brazilian, winner of the World Cup as player and coach, has no clue about his first eleven and even the recall of old war horses may not be the antidote for a lethargic Bafana Bafana.

It will be interesting to see what tactics Pareirra will use especially with a side that inspires little hope as South Africa.

As South Africans would say, Ke nako (It’s time) — time has come for the Rainbow nation to realise the past will remain precious memories. It is the now that counts.