Olympic blow as Bafana banned from u-23s

The South African Football Association seem determined to shoot themselves in the foot and their decision to prevent South African under-23 coach Shakes Mashaba from calling up players who have represented the senior side - Bafana Bafana - for the remaining two Olympic qualifiers could derail the Amaglug-glug's dreams of qualifying for the Sydney Olympics in September.

The directive last week that players who represent Bafana are not to be considered for the SA under-23 squad forced Mashaba to name a depleted 21-man squad to play Ghana in the penultimate Olympic qualifier at Vosloorus on March 12.

There is no Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune, Aaron Mokoena, Siyabonga Nomvete, Bradley Carnell, Delron Buckley or any other player who has played in the senior team in the squad named on Monday by Mashaba.

"I'm still in a state of shock. I simply cannot understand the timing of the announcement. We're close to qualification for the Olympic Games and now I'm told that I cannot field my strongest team.

"It simply makes no sense," said a worried looking Mashaba when he announced his squad after the team had returned on Monday from Yaounde where they lost 2-0 to Cameroon on Saturday.

"We're playing at our peak and now we have to start from scratch," said the coach.

The bottom line is that the Sasol Super Squad have to beat Ghana at home and defeat Guinea away and hope that group leaders Cameroon lose away to Ghana next weekend if the young South Africans are to pip Cameroon in Group B and qualify for Sydney 2000.

Otherwise the only avenue remaining is that the best second place finisher in the three African Zone qualifying groups will play off against New Zealand for the final Olympic Games spot.

However, Safa vice president Reuben Mahlalela seemed bemused by the uproar surrounding the selection of the SA under-23 squad and failed to allay Mashaba's fears and answer questions put to him by the media to any degree of satisfaction.

Mahlalela stated he was attending the press conference as "acting Safa president" but his lack of background knowledge of this festering problem must have left Mashaba and team captain Matthew Booth more worried than when they arrived for what should have been a routine conference.

Mahlalela's handling of the conference and his inability to answer questions left much to be desired.

However, the Safa vice president stated that allegations that Safa are trying to sabotage the SA under-23 squad's Olympic plans were "nonsense".

But until Safa come up with a satisfactory answer to a problem they have created themselves then speculation will continue to be fuelled.

Mahlalela stated that a meeting would be held with Mashaba to "review the situation".

But since Mashaba has already announced his squad it appears that Safa are closing the door after the horse has bolted.

But again Mahlalela was vague on when the meeting would take place as most senior Safa officials are in France for this week's Soccer Expo.

"The point is I've already named my squad and it will be difficult if not impossible to change it.

"It would not be fair on the players selected.

"But I will attend this meeting with Safa and get to the bottom of this," said Mashaba.

The SA under-23 coach has made seven changes to the squad that travelled to the Cameroonian capital for next weekend's crucial showdown against Ghana, whose 2-1 away win over Guinea has seen them catch the Super Squad with seven points in Group B after four matches.

Newcomers are AmaZulu defender Musa Mntakwende, Ajax Cape Town's exciting prospect Dillon Sheppard, Moroka Swallows' Sibusiso Mazibuko, Wits's Sam Magalefa, Lebohang Kukane of Bloemfontein Celtic, Hellenic's Bradley August plus Hareaipha Marumo.

"But," said Mashaba, "there is a question mark against Marumo. I'm not sure how fit he is and we'll have to sort that out."

Marumo has reportedly been recovering from injury and has been linked to a move to Kaizer Chiefs.

Squad

Emille Baron (Lillestrom, Norway), Wayne Roberts (Orlando Pirates), Fabian McCarthy, Abram Nteo, Hendrick Gulwa, Daniel Matsau, Lebohang Marumo (all Bloemfontein Celtic), Matthew Booth (Sundowns), Nkiphitheni Matombo (Manning Rangers), Musa Mntakwende (AmaZulu), David Kannemeyer, Dillon Sheppard (both Ajax Cape Town), Stanton Fredericks, Sam Magalefa (both Wits), Jabu Pule, Patrick Mbuthu (both Kaizer Chiefs), Mzunani Mgwigwi (Bush Bucks), Sibusiso Mazibuko (Moroka Swallows), Nkosinathi Nhleko (Jomo Cosmos), Hareaipha Marumo (unattached), Bradley August (Hellenic).