Johannesburg - Darren Keet, even after being left out in the cold for over a year by the Bafana Bafana selectors, yesterday sang from the same hymn sheet as coach Shakes Mashaba, that experience trumps form ahead of their crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroon on Saturday and, three days later, in Durban.
Belgium-based Keet is the only one of the three goalkeepers picked by Mashaba two weeks ago who has enjoyed regular game time recently, with Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune only returning to action a day prior to his call-up after a month-long injury layoff, and Jackson Mabokgwane having to watch Shu-Aib Walters enjoy a purple patch at Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Keet was in high spirits and is not holding any grudges for being dropped to the bench after conceding three goals in Bafana’s 3-1 defeat to Algeria in last year’s Afcon. He was then not considered by Mashaba again, until now.
Keet’s return, he believes, is proof that Mashaba has kept an eye on him at KV Kortrijk, where he is the club’s first-choice keeper. The 26-year-old has played all 30 league games so far this season, but has struggled to keep a clean sheet.
“You always need experience, but I don’t think we have a goalkeeping crisis,” said Keet. “It is always what you make of the situation. Maybe that is the coach’s intention, to rely on experience.
“We have to go to Cameroon and win, and come back and still win. That is the only goal we have.”
He adds that goalkeeping coach Lucky Shiburi need not alter his methods in preparing Bafana’s glovemen for Cameroon’s strike force of Vincent Aboubakar (suspended for the first of the two matches), Christian Bekamenga and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
“No, our preparation never has to be different. I think the goalkeepers always have one job and have to be consistent at it,” Keet said. “You can have different types of players and maybe you can prepare for those things, but all in all we don’t make special preparation. No special things. We have to play our game and do what we do best.”
With Mashaba earlier in the week reiterating that he wasn’t overly concerned about Group M leaders Cameroon in the build-up to the two qualifiers, Keet might just be a valuable source of information as the Indomitable Lions’ new coach, Hugo Broos, is Belgian.
“I know a little bit about him. I know him, not personally, though, from when he was in Belgium. Most Belgian coaches are quite defensive and like to have a tactical plan and that is what I will expect,” Keet said.
“Of course we will find out a bit later exactly what they (Cameroon) are about. They have good players, a lot of them based in Europe. One of them (Sebastien Siani) plays at KV Oostende with Andile Jali.
“I think we know what they are about. Everyone knows what they are about. We have to prepare for that and know it will be a tough game and we have to plan ahead.”
“We have to prepare for that and know it will be a tough game and we have to plan ahead.”
Bafana are winless on their road to the continental showpiece in Gabon next year following a 0-0 draw against Gambia in June last year, and a 3-1 defeat away to Mauritania three months later, putting them under pressure to beat the leaders in the two upcoming matches. Cameroon, on the other hand, have managed maximum points and sit comfortably at the summit.
The Star