Bafana in crucial World Cup clash
Brad Morgan
2 June 2005
Bafana Bafana take on Cape Verde Islands in Praia on Saturday, knowing a win over the tiny island nation will be a major step towards qualifying for next year's World Cup in Germany.
No one is underestimating the islanders - who before the 2006 qualifying campaign had contested only two World Cup qualifying matches, way back in 1986. They are only two points adrift of South Africa after six matches, 12 to 10, with Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo a further point back.
Stuart Baxter's side won the first match between the teams, in June 2004 in Bloemfontein. It wasn't a convincing victory, however, as two goals by Mbulelo "Old John" Mabizela steered Bafana to a 2-1 win.
The team that day included a number of overseas-based stars, including Delron Buckley, Aaron Mokoena, Mark Fish, Shaun Bartlett, and Siyabonga Nomvete.
Bafana changes
This time around Mokoena is captain of the team, but Fish is
now retired from the international game, while Bartlett is out through injury, and Nomvete was not selected. Coach Baxter is without far more players than those, however.
Apart from Bartlett, others sidelined by injury include winger Sibusiso Zuma, defender Cyril Nzama, defender Bradley Carnell, and midfielder Quinton Fortune.
A question mark also hangs over goalkeeper Hans Vonk. The Ajax Amsterdam netminder has been struggling with back spasms. As a result, Kaizer Chiefs' Rowen Fernandez has been placed on standby to back up Vonk and Calvin Marlin.
Fortune's injury, meanwhile, might be good news for Mabizela, who could benefit at the Manchester United star's expense and get the start.
Last year, Mabizela struggled with his form and confidence following his move to Tottenham Hotspur, where he failed to hold down a regular first team place. He has since moved to Valerenga in Norway, and the World Cup clash provides him with a good opportunity to jump-start his
international career once more.
Morris' dilemma
Panathinaikos defender Nasief Morris was very nearly another one of the missing. His wife Shireen is pregnant, with the couple's baby expected to be born on Friday. That left Morris with, understandably, divided loyalties.
After discussing the matter with his wife, he decided to join the Bafana Bafana squad. He is still hopeful the baby will play a little "extra time" and wait for his return before it arrives. Morris says he doesn't yet know the gender of the child - which his wife does - and he wants to be surprised by it.
The injury problems meant that Baxter was frustrated in his attempts to get a full squad to practice as much as he possibly could. Nonetheless, he is expecting a much better performance than the one Bafana Bafana delivered against the Cape Verde Islands a year ago.
Baxter feels the team has improved much over the past year, with problem areas having been
identified and improved upon.
Preparation
He is concerned about the state of the pitch in Praia, but knows what the team can expect from the opposition thanks to the work of video analysis/research officer Jim Lawler, who has put together a dossier to help Baxter and his staff prepare for the game.
The Bafana Bafana coach is very clear in his aim for the game, saying the only outcome he wants is victory. "Nothing less is acceptable," he said.
SA captain Aaron Mokoena is expecting his side to be put under heavy pressure in the contest, and in the time leading up to the big showdown, once the squad lands in the island nation. He says pressure is the name of the game when teams play away in Africa.
Mokoena believes the testing victory over the islanders last June served Bafana Bafana well. He points out that the SA players knew nothing of the Cape Verde players then; now, they are no longer unknown.
"We will be up to the
challenge," the Bafana skipper said. "We have the experience and hunger. We badly want to qualify for the finals in Germany next year. That is our driving force."
The Bafana Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Hans Vonk (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Calvin Marlin (SuperSport Utd).
Defenders: Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Thabiso Rammile (Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (SuperSport), Mbulelo Mabizela (Valerenga, Norway), Lucky Lekgwathi (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Katza (SuperSport).
Midfielders: Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Delron Buckley (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Benedict Vilakazi (Pirates), Elrio van Heerden (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Benson Mhlongo (Wits University), Arthur Zwane (Kaizer Chiefs).
Strikers: Lerato Chabangu (Sundowns), Benedict McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal), Katlego Mphela (Strasbourg, France).
Africa Group Two Standings
South Africa 6 4 0 2 7
6 12
Cape Verde Islands 6 3 1 2 6 6 10
Ghana 6 2 3 1 7 3 9
Congo DR 6 2 3 1 6 5 9
Burkina Faso 6 2 0 4 6 8 6
Uganda 6 1 1 4 3 7 4
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