Port Elizabeth - Bafana Bafana are today on the verge of making FIFA World Cup albeit for the wrong reasons. (Pictured: Itumeleng Khune will not play todays game)
The underperforming team looks highly likely to be the first hosts to bow out of the first round of the global competition since its inception in 1930.
Bafana take on equally-struggling France in Port Elizabeth on the back of a dispiriting loss against South American outfit Uruguay, who, inspired by Diego Forlan, whacked Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team by three goals without reply.
In the opening match against Mexico earlier, the team seemed headed for a memorable victory but with the propensity to self-destruct, allowed the Mexicans back into the game to finish at one-all.
That has put Bafana in a precarious position they find themselves in.
A victory, which seems unlikely, could still not be enough to send the bottom-of-the-group outfit through to the next round. The only way they can achieve that is to bury France under an avalanche of goals and pray that top-of-the-group Uruguay beat Mexico by a wide margin.
Such results would see Uruguay finish top and send France packing. The all-important battle for second spot will then be decided on goal difference as both teams would have finished level on four points. In the event that the teams have identical goal scoring and conceding statistics, head-to-head would be used to determine the team that goes through. in the event that the teams are not separable, a coin will be tossed.
But the odds are heavily stacked against the hosts.
They lack firepower upfront, the lack of depth being shown by the coach having three natural strikers in his team. Kathlego Mphela has started the previous matches as the lone striker but is not yet to convince he is the real deal. Bernard Parker has come off the bench and made little, if any, impact while veteran Siyabonga Nomvete is yet to see any action.
The prospects are worsened by reliable goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who was controversially sent off in the disastrous outing against Uruguay last Wednesday.
South Africa Football Association President, Kirsten Nematandani nonetheless is wearing a brave face despite Bafana’s precarious position.
He urged the nation to continue supporting the team. The way we lost is still the way we can win. In football, anything is possible and we need that positive energy to encourage our team as we face France in our next fixture; Nematandani told The Zimbabwean.
Bafana has enjoyed unprecedented support from the nation, with record attendances in matches, fan parks and huge television viewership but this has not inspired the team to victory.
The support of the Nation is crucial at this stage, the players and the technical team are aware of the significance on our next match, and we are expecting the team to approach the match with confidence. Our team has shown great potential in all matches; unfortunately luck was not on our side when we played against Uruguay, added Nematandani.
Post published in: Football