Plenty of problems for Pitso
Pitso Mosimane will have had serious challenges dotting down the names of the players he'll include in Bafana Bafana's first match of the season against Burkina Faso. Pitso Mosimane will have had serious challenges dotting down the names of the players he'll include in Bafana Bafana's first match of the season against Burkina Faso.
It is an international date dreaded by the coaches as much as European clubs detest the African Nations Cup due to its timing.
The first official Fifa date for international friendlies is next Wednesday and, just like some of his colleagues throughout the world, Pitso Mosimane will have had serious challenges dotting down the names of the players he’ll include in Bafana Bafana’s first match of the season against Burkina Faso.
Mosimane names his team on Tuesday and, as most leagues around the world haven’t kicked off yet, the Bafana coach will have to select his team based solely on reputation, previous experience and absolutely no form to speak of.
Why Fifa pen down their first international friendlies date for early August has always been a mystery, not least when players who’ve been holidaying suddenly have to make long-haul trips back to their countries for a midweek game and then return for the start of the official league programme days later. Exacerbating matters are player movements and transfers, which previously have seen players clash with their national teams.
Mosimane hinted last week that he’ll stick to his tried and tested players, meaning men such as Steven Pienaar and Kagisho Dikgacoi, not so long ago seen in the country for recess, must return to face Burkina Faso’s Stallions.
As next week’s friendly at Coca-Cola Park (8.15pm) is Bafana’s only confirmed fixture before they take on Niger in a Nations Cup qualifier that could book SA’s place at next year’s finals in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon, Mosimane will have to call his strongest squad possible in spite of fitness challenges besetting some of his players.
Tottenham’s Pienaar and his teammate Bongani Khumalo missed Bafana’s last outing – a qualifier away to Egypt in June – but expect both to be in the team on Tuesday. Khumalo should be settled now that he’s finally moved to Reading on loan, but Mosimane will be worried about the mental state of Tsepo Masilela and Kat-lego Mphela, who both remain in limbo after their attempts to secure greener pastures in Europe failed.
Masilela was supposed to join English Championship side Leicester City, but the deal fell through at the final moment, leaving the Bafana leftback to return home and train with Moroka Swallows to keep his fitness.
Bafana’s leading striker Mphela, who has hankered for an overseas move for over a year, failed trials at Glasgow Celtic over the weekend and it remains to be seen how another frustrating winter spent club-hunting would affect his performance.
Adding to Mosimane’s woes is that next week’s match comes just two days before the official start of the Absa Premiership. Champions Orlando Pirates open their campaign against Black Leopards on Friday, August 12, and that leaves the question of whether players such as Andile Jali, Tlou Segolela and Moeneeb Josephs would give their all for Bafana in a friendly when their club face a tough away fixture just 48 hours later.
Mosimane, however, has been here before. His first match after the World Cup last season was a clash against Ghana, which Bafana won through an Mphela goal to herald a positive start to his reign. He has already stated a win against the Burkinabe, ranked fourth on the continent, is non-negotiable.