Mixed views on chaotic Bafana

By Kushatha Ndibi and Matshidiso Nkokou

Still in shock at Bafana Bafana's appalling performance in Egypt, some experts believe that the lack of continuity and not coach Ted Dumitru - they blame the South African Football Association - was behind the shambles while others called for his head and proposed the way forward.

Jo-Anne Solomon (Former Banyana Banyana player):

We need to get rid of the coach. He made a joke of our national team. Then the likes of Benni McCarthy and Benedict Vilakazi must follow him. They don't deserve to be in the national team. We need to assemble a new squad. Let's get a new coach from former successful players like Lucas Radebe and Phil Masinga.

Augusto Palacios (Orlando Pirates development manager):

We need to stop blaming coaches for everything. One of the problems we have in the Premier League is a congested calendar. We have too many cup games which often clash with the national team's fixtures. We also don't have continuity in the national team. At the moment we only have about two players in the Bafana squad from the Under-20s; that is Benedict Vilakazi and Joseph Makhanya. What happened to the others?

Daniel Mudau (Former Bafana player):

Let's get an experienced person from outside to help the coaching staff and players. We cannot blame our performance on Ted Dumitru because he didn't have much time to prepare. Clubs must also come on board and release players for national duty on time when they are called upon to do so.

Portia Modise (Banyana striker):

We must start a development programme as soon as possible. We only have four years to 2010 and that's not a lot of time to correct our mistakes. We need experienced players in the national team. Utilising inexperienced players blew up on our faces. It was obvious we needed the likes of Godfrey Sapula and Cyril Nzama in the squad. If we don't do anything now, we will end up spectators in 2010 despite being the hosts.

Owen da Gama (Silver Stars coach):

I think there are many factors that made it impossible for us to win. Players' contracts were not finalised before they left for Egypt. Our players must be patriotic. They should die to put on the Bafana jersey. We must get people who have contributed to South African soccer to put us back on the field.

Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper):

How did Safa expect players to provide good results after only one-month preparation? But I feel that even if they had had six months to prepare, they would not have made it because we are not on the right track. The problem lies with Safa. How could they employ a new coach just before a big tournament? If you look at the Under-17 coach and all the way to First Division team coaches, you will find that they all have different strategies and they don't get along. We need to swallow our pride and get the best management in place.

Khabo Zondo (Golden Arrows coach):

We have a big problem with development of our soccer. If a player like Benni McCarthy gets injured, do we have any other players to take his place? Our soccer is going down. During our games in Egypt, we had quite a good combination but it still wasn't the right team to win us any games. It was very unclear as to what we wanted to achieve.

Pollen Ndlanya (Former Bafana player):

Former players must be brought on board to improve the level of our soccer. They know more about the pressures of being soccer players. They would also command more respect from the team. It's time that the class of 1996 players who brought us glory come together and form a committee that can work hand in hand with Safa.

Clive Barker (Former Bafana coach):

I think that Safa should convene a meeting to ask all players to give their opinions on the way forward. I knew from the onset that the team selected wouldn't win because some good players were left behind. If you look at the development team, you will find that they are coached by a person who has never coached any team before. They should be led by successful coaches.