Johannesburg - If there is one thing that you can’t accuse Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba of lacking it is bravery.
The mentor has shown that in his selection from entrusting Senzo Meyiwa with the No 1 jersey and captaincy, something that many, including Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza,
doubted he could do. But Meyiwa led with aplomb and took the country to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. During those qualifiers Mashaba also gave a 17-year-old Rivaldo Coetzee his debut in probably the most intimidating partof the continent, Pointe-Noire where Mark Fish could write a book about having been battered in a match where they played with gun-wielding soldiers on the sidelines.
Mashaba will have to make some brave decisions this morning when he names the squad he will take on Cameroon in crucial back-to-back Afcon qualifiers where the side needs to kick-start their campaign in which they have picked up just one point in two matches. The coach will have to not only select but even start Kamohelo Mokotjo in midfield as Bongani Zungu is out injured while Dean Furman is struggling for form. Hlompho Kekana could deputise for Mokotjo and Andile Jali because of the stellar season he has had, making Mamelodi Sundowns play. Apart from the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009, where Mokotjo led Amajita’s midfield ahead of Jali, South Africa hasn’t seen the best of the Dutch-based 24-yearold. But Kwanele Kopo, who worked with him extensively at the SuperSport United academy, has.
“Kamo has proved himself in Holland in the past couple of seasons,” Kopo said. “He is rated among the best XI in the entire league, which says a lot about him in a country that has produced some great players. He has good physique and he reads the game well. He hardly loses possession. If you look at Kamo from a young age, he was always intelligent and a leader. He is a professional in behaviour. I think his presence would be a big boost for the country.” In the absence of a reliable goalscorer, midfielders will have to carry the outfit in going forward and getting goals.
Players like Thulani Serero, Mandla Masango and May Mahlangu have to step up. In assembling the attack, Mashaba also needs to make some brave decisions because Thamsanqa Gabuza has struggled for form, Sibusiso Vilakazi is injured along with Tokelo Rantie. But his problem is that almost every club in the league is led by a foreigner whether it’s Camaldine Abraw at Chiefs, Black Aces’ Collins Mbesuma, James Keene and Henrico Botes at Wits, SuperSport’s Jeremy Brockie, Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat at Sundowns and so on. The reason for that is the lack of a reliable South African striker. That leaves the coach with few options.
Ajax Cape Town are the only team boasting of such in Prince Nxumalo, who has overcome a lot, including epileptic attacks, to score 11 goals. If he hadn’t spent time out because of those attacks, that tally could have been more. Health issues stopped him from honouring call-ups for the Honduras and Costa Rica friendlies so he will need to be monitored closely.
Midfield frontrunners- Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Hlompho Kekana, Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu, Ayanda Patosi, Mandla Masango, Daylon Classen, Mpho Makola, Keagan Dolly. Wildcards – Thabo Rakhale, Ben Motshwari, Cole Alexander, Thamsanqa Sangweni.
Frontrunning strikers- Prince Nxumalo, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Dino Ndlovu, Thobani Mncwango. Wildcards – Puleng Tlolane, Bernard Parker, Bongi Ntuli and Lebogang Manyama.
The Star