Early blow for Bafana Bafana

2008-08-27 18:52

Johannesburg - As though the foreboding task of facing Nigeria's Super Eagles in a critical African Nations Cup qualifier next Saturday did not pose sufficient problems, Bafana Bafana were struck a further body blow on Wednesday only two hours after coach Joel Santana had selected a 23-man squad for the game at the Eastern Province Rugby Stadium.

Experienced German-based goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez has informed the Bafana technical staff that his lingering leg injury has shown little improvement and doctors have ruled he would not be fit for the Nigeria game.

The news comes at a particularly disconcerting moment as the experienced Arminia-based goalkeeper was well-positioned to reclaim his place in the Bafana starting line-up after being replaced in recent matches by the mercurial, but inexperienced Itumeleng Khune.

Khune was at fault for both Australian goals when Bafana recently drew 2-2 with The Socceroos in London and a widespread view was that Fernandez's experience would have better served South Africa in the face of The Super Eagles' potent strike force - allied to the enormity of the occasion.

Now, however, Fernandez has been replaced by Orlando Pirates Moeneeb Josephs, a goalkeeper in a similar mould to Khune, who can be brilliant on his day but is also prone to glaring errors, with Santana between the devil and the deep blue sea and probably having to place his faith in the Kaizer Chiefs keeper.

Wavering form of late

The other main selection problem that confronted Bafana's Brazilian coach was in finding a central defender to take the place of suspended captain Aaron Mokoena, with a former captain of the national squad, Mbulelo Mabisela, and Russia-based Matthew Booth recalled to the squad.

And with Nasief Morris, Bafana's other central defender demonstrating wavering form of late, Santana and his technical staff will be keeping a watchful eye on both Mabizela and Booth in training - as well as other contenders Bevan Fransman and Bongani Khumalo.

However, it was common knowledge before the Australia game that Mokoena would not be eligble to face The Super Eagles and it is difficult to comprehend, in the circumstances, why Mabizela and Booth were not summoned for duty earlier.

Enigmatic top Bafana scorer Benni McCarthy has seemingly stuck by his declaration to be at the service of the national team whenever he is required and consequently features among the 23 players.

But with only McCarthy and Sibisuso Zuma listed as strikers, Bafana look thin for cover in this department - particularly as Sundowns-based Zuma is under suspension from PSL domestic soccer and has had little match action of late.

Santana, however, seemed excessively over the moon with Bafana's performance against Australia and made a minimum of changes to his squad - as had widely been expected.

The Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa and Mbulelo Mabizela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Matthew Booth (Krylya, Russia), Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos, Greece), Nasief Morris ( Recreativo, Spain).

Midfielders: Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Teko Modise, and Lebogang Mothibantwa)9 (Orlando Pirates), Lance Davids (Djugardens, Sweden), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows).

Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England), Sibusiso Zuma (Sundowns).

- SAPA