Durban – Bafana Bafana’s bizarre reversal of fortunes, home and away, is a source of constant intrigue for midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
“Previously, we’d do well at home but lose away, not even getting a draw,” Letsholonyane said in Durban on Wednesday, ahead of South Africa's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Sudan.
“It’s different because now we’re getting three points away and we’re not winning at home. Not yet anyway, but at least we’re getting a point, which is not bad.”
Eight points from their four Afcon qualifiers to date, Bafana
were yet to win, or even score a goal at home. While over the border Bafana had been prolific in front of goal.
Five goals, two clean-sheets and two victories have put South Africa in pole position in group A, where they lead Congo-Brazzaville by a point.
With the national team one win away from booking their ticket to next year’s continental showpiece, Letsholonyane said he was hopeful of a change of fortunes at Moses Mabhida Stadium against Sudan on Saturday.
“We have two games that we are left with and we’re taking each game as it comes. We have Sudan on Saturday and we know it won’t be easy. They’re not an easy team to beat.
“We are a nation that likes winning and if things don’t go our way, we sometimes become frustrated.”
Coming from Kaizer Chiefs, a club side that is used to winning and scoring goals, Letsholonyane said, like the rest of his Bafana
teammates, he was feeling somewhat anxious to score the team’s first goal on home turf.
“It’s normal to feel pressure when you’re representing 50-million plus people.
“We’re doing our best as a team to make our country proud but our supporters want what they want and we understand that.”
With much of the focus off the field, following the death of Senzo Meyiwa three weeks ago, Letsholonyane weighed-in on the team’s feelings ahead of their first game since their captain and goalkeeper’s untimely death.
“We miss him as a brother, as a teammate and as our captain.”
Earlier on Thursday, Shakes Mashaba called on his troops to honour their fallen skipper, who was shot dead while visiting his girlfriend in Vosloorus. At the same time, he said they must resist the urge to overlook the task at hand.
“As the coach has said, it has happened and there’s nothing we can do to bring him back,” Letsholonyane said.
“What’s left for us to do is to go out there on Saturday and do our best in his memory.” – Sapa