Bafana Bafana’s squad disbanded yesterday towards a galaxy of European destinations, with reason for cautious optimism following Friday evening’s 1-1 draw with Morocco in Agadir.
Promising results in friendlies are not reliable gauges for how a team will perform when faced with more important hurdles – a 1-0 defeat of World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana in 2010 under Pitso Mosimane was followed by an embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
And if Gordon Igesund led Bafana to a creditable 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Sao Paulo in his first game in charge, he could not get them to the 2014 World Cup finals in that country.
In Igesund’s case there is the oft-repeated truism that the World Cup failure was not entirely his fault, coming in as he did two games into the qualifiers. Igesund won three of his four qualifiers in charge, as well as getting Bafana to the quarters of the 2013 Nations Cup.
He should, unless Safa president Danny Jordaan’s trigger finger is unreasonably itchy, get a chance at a full campaign to get Bafana to Morocco for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
And on the evidence of Friday night’s friendly against Morocco, which in the absence of a World Cup to fight for is all the evidence we have, he might just succeed.
Bafana, containing a mixture of experience and young blood, were splendid in the first half at the christening of a new stadium.
They played so well that a boisterous home crowd began to turn on their own before the break, cheering Bafana’s every pass and booing the home side off at half-time. Morocco came back to level the game in the second half, as Bafana rather lost their attacking verve, but this was, in Igesund’s defence, amidst substitutions to give other youngsters game time.
In the end, Igesund could point to a creditable draw away from home, promising displays from younger players like Siyanda Xulu, Daylon Claasen and Tokelo Rantie, and international baptisms for Sibusiso Vilakazi, Ayanda Patosi and Kgosi Ntlhe.
“I am not happy with the result, I think we deserved more,” said Igesund after the game. “(But) I am happy with what we did out there … I said in Johannesburg last week that this was an opportunity to see some young players.”
Igesund reserved particular praise for Claasen, the 23-year-old Lech Poznan midfielder excellent on the right hand side of midfield, setting up Rantie for Bafana’s 9th minute goal and showing dazzling skills along with plenty of energy.
“I though Claasen was outstanding… I compared (Ayanda) Patosi with Steven Pienaar earlier in the week, I think he is actually more like Pienaar,” said Igesund.
“I am happy with his performance; he has quick feet, and an engine, and he gets in good areas. Tokelo got a great goal, it was a goal we needed. We scored at the right time; it gave the guys confidence and the first half was outstanding.
“I need to have a look at the video, but I think we could have been two or three up at half-time. (Sibusiso) Vilakazi had a great opportunity.”
Vilakazi, on debut, could certainly have done better four minutes before the break, sent through by Bernard Parker’s brilliant pass, but instead of firing across the goalkeeper, he went near post, and his effort was saved.
Bafana’s next international date, in November, will be used by Igesund to prepare for the African Nations Champion-ship (CHAN), a tournament for only locally-based players.
He may only get one more chance to call on his full squad, an international date in March, before the Nations Cup qualifiers begin.
Time is tight for the Bafana coach, but this was a promising start. - Sunday Tribune