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.