After South Africa’s 1-0 defeat to Norway yesterday it looks even more certain that Brazilian coach Joel Santana will soon be packing his bags and leaving for Rio. But I ask the question; surely the fault doesn’t only lie with the coach? These are highly skilled professional players who are letting their country down.
Seventh Loss in Eight Games
In Oslo yesterday, Kjetil Waehler’s second-half winner saw the South African visitor’s slump to their seventh loss in eight games – a shocking return for the country set to host next year’s World Cup. (And we know that the one win Bafana had in those eight games against Madagascar, was lucky).
Before the friendly, new SAFA president, Kirsten Nematandani made it clear that positive results are needed if Santana hopes to keep his job for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Nematandani Appointed a Watchdog Panel
Nematandani even appointed a three-man watchdog panel – comprising of South African coaching heavyweights Jomo Sono, Gavin Hunt and Clive Barker – to evaluate the struggling team’s form in this clash as well as in the upcoming friendly with Iceland. (They could not get visas in time for the Norway friendly but will be at the game in Iceland next week).
Bafana Bafana Coach, Joel Santana
I am Not Afraid of My Job – Santana
“I am not afraid for my job” – this was the key theme in Joel Santana’s press conference after Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo on Saturday afternoon reports kickoff.com.
“I feel that I have the full support of this group of players. I do not have any problems with any player; my players stick together for me,” the Brazilian said.
Santana and Bafana Blame the Pitch
Santana told kickoff.com that the state of the pitch also had an influence on their performance.
“This is no excuse, but some of my best technical players came to me and complained about the grass. It was really short and really wet, and the grass was also hard. It was difficult to play the ball out there.”
Oh come on, most of these boys grew up playing in the townships playing soccer with a tennis ball – they are known for their ball control and skills– to blame the pitch is just lame and may I say desperate?
The Match Score : Norway 1 – Bafana Bafana 0
Bafana Bafana never looked like a team wanting to win from the moment they ran on to the pitch. Norway was all over Bafana in a one-sided first half in which the South Africans failed to test Norwegian goalkeeper Jon Knudsen. In stead of the more attacking game that Santana promised, it was more of the same hanging around. The only Bafana player who was busier than Checkers on a Saturday morning was stopman Moeneeb Josephs who did very well keeping the Norway strikers at bay.
Although they did not play their best game, the hosts maintained their shape throughout as South Africa battled to launch any attacks of substance. Sundown’s striker Katlego Mphela threatened with a decent effort late in the game in the 81st minute and gave goalkeeper Knudsen some real work.
What Was Teko Modise Doing?
And Teko Modise – well he was, as they say conspicuous by his absence – yes, he was there on the pitch but he didn’t perform, just also just sort of hung around.
Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, talking exclusively to KickOff.com before boarding the bus after the game, bizarrely claimed they played well, though he did admit to some frustration.
Aaron Mokoena – Frustrating to Lose
“I think we played pretty well, but it is very frustrating to lose,” he told KickOff.com. “And it is very frustrating that we are not creating chances.
One needs to keep the spirits up and the spin going, but it seems as if a kind of fog has settled over the Bafana Bafana team.
I know that before the Confed Cup they worked with a team psychologist who worked with the Boks – maybe they need to get rid of this coach, get a new one and get the team psychologist in to get our boys believing in themselves again
Photo: Coach Joel Santana from football365.com
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