Aware of the backlash that followed Bafana Bafana’s 3-1 defeat away to Mauritania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier two months ago, coach Shakes Mashaba yesterday gave the impression he was a man on a mission ahead of Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Angola.
Mashaba knows the harsh reality is that the national team is under immense pressure to deliver in back-to-back qualifiers against the same team – they play Palancas Negras next Tuesday as well.
Although Mashaba briefly spoke about Bafana’s tour to Central America in October, where his men held their own in friendly matches against Costa Rica (1-0) and Honduras (1-1), he preferred to discuss the next opposition instead.
“It’s going to be a mission. When we were there some time ago we were told that from Luanda to Benguela (where Bafana will play) it’s another 600km – like from Johannesburg to Durban. Fortunately, the travelling has been made easy,” the coach said.
He, along with his technical team, had been lambasted for being lethargic in their homework ahead of the trip to Nouakchott where they were outplayed by one of Africa’s minnows.
Mashaba was confident of a win, arguing Bafana’s away record was an impressive one. The coach also pulled out statistics to support the claim that his side was ready to participate in any tournament.
“I don’t know if there are people who still doubt this team,” Mashaba said. “Let me make you aware of our record. We have played 25 games. Do you know how many we have won? We lost seven and we drew four. And the rest is what we won ... tell me if that is a record that will make you doubt if this team is doing well. We are definitely still going to cause havoc. When we started, no-one thought we would beat Nigeria (in the qualification campaign for the Nations Cup in January this year). That brought confidence for our boys.”
He went on: “We beat Angola 2-1 (in a friendly played in Cape Town five months ago) and they were not very happy about that. With the team that we have now, I think we are again going to surprise them. We know that everybody gives their best because there’s an extra motivation when playing away from home as well.”
Ombaka National Stadium, where Friday’s crucial World Cup qualifier will take place, is not an artificial pitch as was the case in Mauritania, and was one of the venues when Angola hosted the Nations Cup in 2010. That should delight Mashaba, who said his players would have a slight advantage on a quality pitch. “Give us a good pitch to play on and you will see us at our best,” Mashaba quipped.
Bafana will be without a key member of their team in injured goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, team doctor Thulani Ngwenya confirmed yesterday. Mashaba said he was not too concerned about his absence.
Brilliant Khuzwayo was called up to replace Khune, but could not join the squad due to a family commitment. By late yesterday, the coach was yet to announce who would take his place. - The Star