Bafana Bafana Chapter for Brazil 2014 is closed

I have been quietly perusing many readings about so called 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil revived hope for Bafana Bafana following FIFA investigation on Ethiopia for the Shenanigans and depravity acts of fielding an ineligible player Minyahile Beyene, who should not have played against Botswana on June 8, 2013 as he was on two yellow cards.

Some local soccer fans are now calling FIFA our friend whilst many fans are now calling the national team “’Bafana ba Blatter”. The following message which inspire confidence caught my attention “’whether its back door, front door, main door, sliding door, trellidor, heaven’s door, trap door, bunker door, Joshua doore, Bafana is going to Brazil. Really?

The panacea of Ethiopia deceitful act will by a lawful docking of 3 points by FIFA and those docked 3 points are going to be given to Botswana not Bafana. I have read some misleading report that 3 points will be given to Bafana to top the group A but the truth is that, Bafana doesn’t benefit from the looming Ethiopia docked points. Ethiopia will still be leading the group by 10 points which are 2 points ahead of Bafana with a game left.

Frankly speaking, Bafana is not in a good position to qualify for Brazil 2014. We failed with distinction to dominate the group made up of minnows and continental underachievers. Bafana unimpressive record reads 2 wins, 2 draw and 1 lost against scrawny sides such as Botswana, Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia.  Indeed the playing field in Africa has been leveled. Remember South Africa and Egypt failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea against minnows Niger and Sierra Leone… with dark horse Niger actually winning the group.

Ethiopia last game will be against the hopeless, exasperated, bottom of the log, frail, dead and buried Central African Republic who are not prepared to stand on the way of Ethiopia victory due to its political animosity with South Africa. The victory is imminent for the well organised Haille Sellasie boys. The qualification to Brazil 2014 is beyond South Africa control now. We failed to do ourselves a huge favour and we can’t expect CAR to do us any favour whilst Ethiopia will continue to do themselves a huge favour by collecting another maximum points at the forthcoming game against CAR.

Despite unsatisfactory performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualification games, I have noted a positive and fighting spirit amongst our boys. For the sake of continuity to build a strong and competitive team, Gordon Igesund should be retained as a head coach to strengthen his foundation as we are now losing with pride intact.

The fighting spirit demonstrated by our boys is an enough justification for the bright future under the guidance of Igesund. Going forward, it’s no longer about planning but reinforcing Igesund existing tactical plans. However, we must start playing competitive and strong friendly games against big African teams to acclimatise to an away climate as many of our friendly games are played here in South Africa which is now resulting in unimpressive away record.

Let’s take a leaf out of the Egyptian National Team’s book who rebuilt their team around young and hungry players after failing to qualify in two consecutively Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition but now they already qualified to the Brazil 2014 world cup play offs with remarkable 100% winning rate. Now they have solid, balance, dedicated, competitive and ambitious team. Going forward, Bafana also needs undivided and collective support soccer fans irrespective of the local teams they support.

The prevailing division amongst fans for blaming players of other team(s) when Bafana lost or praising certain players of certain team(s) when Bafana win is nothing but backward and barbaric actions resulting in cracks towards build a united national team.

By Owen Mundalamo

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