Deep in the bowels of the Estadio Nacional de Ombaka late yesterday afternoon, Shakes Mashaba walked into the press conference centre with the authority of a man stepping into his living room.
And as the Angola Foootball Federation’s media officer ushered him to the podium, the coach of South Africa’s senior national team threatened to address the gathering in Xitsonga.
“I don’t want a translator,” Mashaba said “I want to speak in my language because you guys always use your own language – even at the World Cup.”
The officer chuckled, but Bafana Bafana’s coach was not amused.
“I am not joking. Next time I will fire up in my own language whether you understand me or not,” he said as he looked across to the translator who was getting comfortable next to him.
Granted he acquiesced and engaged with the Portuguese-speaking media through the translator.
But Mashaba will no doubt want his team to display the same authoritative nature with which he handled the conference when they take on Angola this afternoon in their 2018 World Cup second-round, first-leg qualifying clash.
With this tie literally a do-or-die affair, Mashaba admitted there can be no holding back if South Africa are to qualify for the global showpiece to be hosted by Russia.
“We came here for a win. The big factor is that this is a home and away tie. If we don’t score we will be in trouble. So we would like to score as many goals as we can because 0-0 will put us under pressure. It’s either we do it or not. And if we don’t do it now, we will have to wait for four years (for the next opportunity to qualify for the World Cup).”
Mashaba is anticipating the match to be highly competitive and is willing his team to be up to the task.
“It’s going to be a high-tempo match. They are an attacking side and I suspect they will try to push forward with their fullbacks. You have to make sure you attack them from the word go.” - Cape Argus