Algeria friendly, Bafana strikers time to shine

Bafana Bafana have shown glimpses of promise under Gordon Igesund , but have yet to hit the form that is required to genuinely consider themselves as a 2013 Afcon contender. Bafana’s quality has yet to come through with most of the blame being shifted towards the front men.  

Bafana Bafana’s strikers remain the national team’s scape goats going into the teams international friendly clash against Algeria tonight.  Massive pressure has been placed on the shoulders of the likes of Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker who have yet to come alive in front of goal for the green and gold under Igesund. Igesund has defended his strikers furiously through the course of the week and has filled his quota, it’s now the strikers turn to fill theirs.

The Algerian side are ranked 19^th in the world and will be more than worthy opponents, but Bafana might find some fortune in the fact that Algeria’s defence is not their strong suit. The fennec foxes back four average an age below thirty and is very inexperienced as a unit, Bafana’s Thuso Phala will also be able to exploit the wide areas of the pitch considering Algeria’s leftback  Djamal Mesbah struggles to perform against faster opponents.

Bearing the inexperience of the Algerian backs in mind, one can only think that chances will come more often, and that is exactly what Bafana Bafana need. Tuesday nights clash showcased exactly how much the South Africans struggle in front of goal with numerous chances squandered; our strikers were left red-faced as effort after effort went astray.  Mphela is set to make his 50^th appearance for Bafana come kick off. The Sundowns striker faces stiff competition and will be more than determined to cement a starting place in a squad that is full of attacking power. Mphela was lacklustre on Tuesday night and looked like a striker without confidence and one feels that if he starts tonight and fails to impress he will have to make himself comfortable on the bench come the start of 2013 Afcon.

 Bernad Parker and Kaizer Chiefs teammate Lehlohonolo Majoro currently lead the PSL scoring charts and both will be raring to get on the score sheet tonight. Parker has been in superb form scoring 9 goals in 16 games for Chiefs this season with Majoro chipping in with a healthy tally of 8 goals. Mphela looks to be the main man under Igesund  as was the case with Mosimane and Parreira. He certainly has all the qualities and he has shown us what he can do in front of goal. But with the Kaizer Chief duo and Tokelo Rantie breathing down his neck. Mphela will bring up his half century tonight knowing that he will have to perform to not only keep himself in the starting 11 but also keep the faithful fans of his back. 

Bafana clearly have all the attacking potential and all the guns in the arsenal to fire their way to Afcon glory. The road to victory starts tonight with the ball in the striker’s court, it will be interesting to see if they can finally find the net.

Capetonians outraged by 2013 Afcon exclusion

Cape Town Stadium, more commonly known as Greenpoint Stadium recently hosted an international friendly between South Africa and Norway. Last year it was announced that the stadium wouldn’t host any 2013 African Cup of Nations games, so it was the Capetonians last chance to flock to the stadium to watch Bafana Bafana in action before the continental showpiece kicks off in Johannesburg on the 19^th of January.

Walking into Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night to watch Bafana take on Norway one couldn’t help but feel that only a few would pitch to watch a third string Norway side battle Bafana Bafana. Only a few fans were scattered around the stadium an hour before kickoff and under attendance that has been such a problem across the country seemed imminent come kick off.

By kick-off, when both teams lined up for their respective national anthems, over 35 000 people had gathered to watch the game, despite the recent problem of under attendance faced by South African football it was a welcome sight for football enthusiasts across South Africa, with the biggest smile reserved for Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula. World Cup fever returned to the Mother City as fans sang along to their favourite 2010 World Cup songs in what was a festive atmosphere. The Fans were vocal throughout the game, especially extravagant whenever Bafana neared the opposition’s penalty area. The fans sprit was slightly dampened by Norway’s goal in the 41^st minute but they were still extremely vocal as they cheered on their beloved Bafana Bafana. The atmosphere was especially special because of the beauty of the stadium and the way the stadium enhances audio through its magnificent architecture. Cape Town Stadium is nestled between Table Mountain and the world-renowned Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The stadium forms part of its beautiful surroundings that is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

Capetonian Bafana fans are clearly passionate about their team, their eagerness to watch their team succeeded was clearly visible throughout the Norway match. With the signature chants and hand signals making its way through the crowd on a regular basis. One couldn’t help but feel proud to be a South African while sitting inside the iconic stadium, and its sad that the Capetonias who are such wonderful ambassadors for our country are excluded from the continental tournament.

 Besides hosting a number of 2010 FIFA World Cup Games, including the semi-final between eventually runners-up Netherlands and Uruguay, the stadium has also hosted concerts.

The absence of 2013 Afcon games in Cape Town is an underserved blow for a huge community. Cape Town has continuously produced good crowds, making it likely that an 2013 Afcon game held there would have been well-attended. Through the course of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Cape Town Stadium had an average attendance of over 60 000 spectators. Cape Town has a huge football community, but the national side has only played there five times in the past 19 years.

According to Mbalula, Cape Town was not awarded any Afcon games because the organisers wanted the venues to be close to each other.

It didn’t take long for fans to voice their frustration at this exclusion. They criticized the South African Football Association for using the friendly against Norway as a sort of cover-up.

According to Major Pezisa, “[SAFA] are blinding us with this game (Bafana v Norway) and making us think we have enough for now.”

Ingrid Daniels said that “the Western Cape is part of South Africa, [and] Cape Town has a big soccer-supporting community, so why are we being ignored?”. Siyabonga Gwexe echoed her frustration. “It is unfair towards Capetonians. Clearly we love soccer and support Bafana, so why don’t we get any games?”.

Other fans emphasised that Bafana Bafana would still need Capetonian support to stand a chance of winning the Afcon trophy for the second time. “Of course it’s sad that we won’t have any Afcon games here in Cape Town, but it’s more important that people go to the stadiums and support Bafana,” Vincent Carolissen said. John Linden agreed: “It is unfair to us as Capetonians, but there is nothing we can do about it. Let’s just hope Bafana fans from other part of the country will flock to the stadiums.”  Linden added: “This is a beautiful stadium, the fact that it is being underused is unfair.”

One fan was especially vocal and outraged by Cape Town’s exclusion: “Look at all the supporters gathered here tonight, we feel betrayed, it is sad that we don’t have any 2013 Afcon games,” Chris van Zyl said.

Cape Town has proven that it has a more than worthy football supporting community, the effects of excluding the Western Cape from 2013 Afcon might be felt after the tournament has concluded.

As the fans finally left the stadium clearly saddened by their teams performance one can feel that a big part of the sadness was the fact that they will be limited to their TV screens come 19 January.