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Acid test looms for Bafana
03/06/2007 20:52 - (SA)
Johannesburg - In the Congo, West Africa's one-time French colonial jewel, it is often advisable negotiating a motor vehicle through the veld because it is less hazardous this way than driving on the pothole-infested roads.
With the soccer pitches similarly indented and dangerous to life and limb, it would seem the acid test in Bafana Bafana's African Nations Cup qualifying campaign looms ominously on the horizon in 12 days in the away encounter against the resolute Congo combination.
It will also be a revealing test for coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, with his honeymoon baptism now at an end following two routine victories against a 133-ranked Chad team who would find it difficult holding their own in the Mvela League.
Sandwiched between the Chad games was the ignominious 1-0 defeat at Ellis Park against Bolivia to bring matters into some sort of perspective, with the South Americans recording their first away win in 11 years in the process.
And although Bafana would now appear comfortably placed to secure a place in next year's Nations Cup in Ghana with a three-point advantage over second-placed Zambia in Group 11, the situation could turn on its head if South Africa falter in the Congo - remembering, of course, the teams played out a goalless draw at FNB Stadium earlier in the qualifying rounds.
Rekindle a chance of qualifying
Zambia simultaneously have a home game against hapless Chad and seem assured of three points, which would make their game against South Africa in September a veritable decider no matter what happens in the Congo.
And despite their 3-0 defeat against Zambia on Saturday, the Congo would rekindle a chance of qualifying for the African Nations Cup in what is for them a do-or-die game against Bafana.
Injured first-choice Bafana midfielders Steven Pienaar and Godfrey Sapula, who missed Saturday's 4-0 win over Chad, are both unlikely to be fit for the testing Congo encounter - with Parreira already stating there will be a minimum number of changes to the squad that assembled in Durban.
Like a bad penny resurfacing, controversial Benni McCarthy's name has again been linked to the Congo match.
But the prolific-scoring Blackburn Rovers striker has never been enamoured with trips into deepest Africa and a somersault in his attitude towards playing for Bafana on this occasion seems as likely as winning the Lotto jackpot this week - remembering, of course, that the national lottery is presently in remission.
- SAPA
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