Bafana Bafana Afcon ‘08 Squad…

Hello everybody! Or as we’d say in Mzansi, Heita da! My name is Andreas and I’m pleased to be joining Naeem in talking all things South African football. While Naeem will focus predominantly on news and current affairs leading up to 2010, I will be looking primarily at the football.

Right, let’s start with some credentials. I’ve worked as a television presenter for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. I would like to take this opportunity, if you live in South Africa, to beg you to pay your television license because it’s the right thing to do, even though we are forced to endure sub-standard programming, terrible presenting, awful adverts and some official languages that none of us even understand. Apologies, I’ve gone off on a tangent…

Anyway, I’ve also worked for several leading publications including Soccer-Laduma newspaper, SoccerLife magazine and the Sunday Times so I feel I am qualified to comment precisely on South African football and all the hilarities and horrors that surround it.

When it comes to South African football I try to be as positive, optimistic and patriotic as possible. However, our soccer administrators do their best on a daily basis to discourage me. So being in a positive, optimistic and patriotic mood I am going to give you a breakdown of our African Cup of Nations squad that was recently announced by Carlos Alberto, I earn more than the President of South Africa, Parreira.

Goalkeepers

Rowen Fernandez – Arminia Bielefeld (GER)
Moeneeb Josephs – Bidvest Wits
Itumeleng Khune – Kaizer Chiefs

Under CAP Rowen Fernandez has established himself as the number one keeper for Bafana Bafana. Having only recently tasted action in the Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, and not having the best of starts admittedly, Fernandez still remains our best bet in goal, and his world-class distribution will be a vital weapon in our cavalry. His weakness is aerially, predominantly when it comes to high crosses, but he will play a huge role in Ghana.

Having impressed in the Premier Soccer League for moneybags BIDVest Wits, Moeneeb Josephs has finally dislodged Calvin Marlin from the squad and established himself as the second-choice keeper for his country. His temperament remains the biggest flaw in his game but there is no questioning his talent and if he services are called upon he won’t let the country down.

Arguably the surprise package of the Premier Soccer League this season, young Khune has become the number one keeper at Kaizer Chiefs edging out the injury-prone Emille Baron and Austrian Markus Bocsker. The young star has played a leading role for his club this season, with his penalty saving heroics the reason Chiefs won the recent Telkom Knockout Challenge against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns. Khune is in the squad to learn, and this experience will put him in good stead for future tournaments.

Defenders

Vuyo Mere – Mamelodi Sundowns
Bryce Moon – Ajax Cape Town
Aaron Mokoena – Blackburn Rovers (ENG)
Nasief Morris – Panathinaikos (GRE)
Tsepo Masilela – Macabbi Haifa (ISR)
Bevan Fransman – Moroka Swallows
Benson Mhlongo – Mamelodi Sundowns
Brett Evans – Ajax Cape Town

Finally, after numerous years of questioning why and how, veteran Cyril Nzama has at last been relieved of international duty. The best right back since the late Sizwe Motaung, the time has come for Nzama to pass on the mantle to the youngsters and Bafana are blessed to have two promising young right fullbacks in the shape of Vuyo Mere and Brett Evans. Mere will be looking to cement his place as the first choice right back while the versatile Moon will provide cover. Mere’s pace up and down the flank will be vital but his final product needs work, he has the ability to get into good positions but his crossing needs improvement.

Despite being in good form for Karlsruhe in Germany, Bradley Carnell can count himself unlucky to miss out as CAP looks to the future at left back with Tsepho Masilela and Brett Evans given an opportunity to impress. The left back role is very much up for grabs, the powerful Masilela is plying his trade in Israel and should just edge out Evans to start but it’s by no means certain. Evans can be deadly from set-pieces and this could count in his favour.

The central defenders virtually pick themselves. Aaron Mokoena, who will captain the side, and Nasief Morris will form our rearguard and rightly so. Even though Mokoena is deployed as a defensive midfielder for Blackburn he is a central defender by trade and leads this young squad. Morris is one of the most respected defenders in Greece with glamour club Panathinaikos. Bevan Fransman and Benson Mhlongo will provide cover but injuries and/or suspensions aside they probably won’t figure at the tournament, if either do they are both reliable at the back with Fransman certainly looking like a star of the future.

Midfielders

Kagiso Dikgacoi – Golden Arrows
Lance Davids – Djurgardens (SWE)
Surprise Moriri – Mamelodi Sundowns
Teko Modise – Orlando Pirates
Steven Pienaar – Everton (ENG)
Elrio van Heerden – Club Brugge (BEL)
Siphiwe Tshabalala – Kaizer Chiefs

And so to the future, CAP has left a lot of experience out of the midfield department with the likes of Macbeth Sibaya and Delron Buckley making way for talented, but untested youngsters. Relatively unknown in South Africa, Lance Davids has an amazing opportunity to prove his pedigree on the International stage. His versatility is a bonus but in the deep lying midfield role, where tackling and distribution are key components, Davids can shine. Virtually unknown Golden Arrows defensive midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi will also be champing at the bit for action. I predict Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Teko Modise to establish himself as one of the stars of the African continent during Ghana ’08. Modise has all the attributes required, he can dictate the tempo of play, his passing range is superb, his movement is calculated and precise and he can score goals. We’ll rely on him to unlock the opposition and create chances for our attackers. Surprise Moriri, himself an exceptional footballer, might be utilised only as a squad player such is Modise’s growing influence.

Steven Pienaar will be given the arduous task of replicating his club form, where he is playing an increasingly influential role at Everton, in the green and gold of Bafana. Pienaar will be given the wide right position and although he is more comfortable in the middle he can give us the supply that has been sorely lacking recently. Elrio van Heerden has hardly figured for Bafana of late due to injury, and while he normally plays down the right hand side his versatility could see him switched to the left. Alternatively, Kaizer Chiefs exciting winger Siphiwe Tshabalala will be looking to impress.

Strikers

Sibusiso Zuma – Arminia Bielefeld (GER)
Lerato Chabangu – Mamelodi Sundowns
Excellent Walaza – Orlando Pirates
Katlego Mphela – SuperSport United
Thembinkosi Fanteni – Ajax Cape Town

The only truly experienced attack minded player that CAP has selected is Sibusiso Zuma. Zuma can almost be guaranteed a starting role and his experience and predatory instincts will be vital for Bafana. When it comes to selecting his starting partner things get a lot trickier. Any one of the clinical Fanteni, the powerful Mphela, the exciting Walaza and the direct Chabangu can force themselves into the team. Fanteni, who will be joining Israel’s Macabbi Haifa in the January transfer window is probably the leading contender to partner Zuma upfront. Fanteni has been a constant source of goals for Ajax Cape Town but has yet to replicate his club form on the bigger stage. Katlego Mphela hasn’t been prolific in front of goal for SuperSport United but his pace and power, and experience gathered abroad in France with Strasbourg, could be well utilised. Excellent Walaza has been a revelation at Orlando Pirates since Owen da Gama took control of the club but has yet to play a competitive fixture for Bafana. Much was expected of Lerato Chabangu when he made his debut under the inconsistent reign of Stuart Baxter in 2005, his star has faded somewhat but his return to the international fold could yet prove pivotal.

Ultimately, this group of players are expected to erase the painful memories of the Egypt ’06 when South Africa crashed out at the group stages pointless and goalless. In a group containing Tunisia, Angola and Senegal progression is possible where any of the four countries can qualify for the quarter finals in a very open group.

From a 2010 perspective CAP must be given the freedom to continue to build this side with the bigger picture in mind.

From a media perspective, should the side not perform as well as expected we shouldn’t panic and call for the coach to be dismissed and replaced with Jomo Sono.

From a personal perspective please God just let us score! Even one goal will be a marked improvement on 2006!

Kosh out.