Bafana to take step up

Aware of the impact the death of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa has had on just about every player he named in his squad yesterday, coach Shakes Mashaba will allow them to mourn and even visit his gravesite in Chesterville.

But soon after, Bafana have a job at hand as they look to clinch qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations with a win against Sudan in 10 days’ time.

A trip to Nigeria will follow four days later, and Mashaba added that it was an encounter he did not view as a possible dead rubber.

“It has been a very difficult week for us and we know that a lot of these players have been affected. Some were very close to Senzo and some were getting to know him as a friend. No one has felt the worst pain because it is all the same, so we will talk to the players when we meet on Sunday,” the coach said.

“There are mixed feelings. But we know life must go on, and we would want to honour him without a doubt. We will bring in a physiologist and a preacher to help us deal with the loss because it was difficult to have to erase Senzo’s name from the list. I know people are going to ask about our approach to the game. It is simple, we want all six points.”

Safa last week moved the clash against Sudan from Nelspruit to Durban – Meyiwa’s hometown – and Bafana will assemble there on Monday in preparation to face Group A’s basement dwellers.

The away fixture in Khartoum in September kicked off Bafana’s dream start to the qualification, with Mashaba’s men earning a 3-0 victory against the same opposition.

Even though the coach admitted his rebuilding phase has hardly looked like one, he bemoaned the poor finishing following his side’s goalless draw against Congo-Brazzaville in Polokwane last month, leaving Mashaba desperate for a win against Sudan.

Yesterday, he brought back midfielder May Mahlangu and striker Lehlohonolo Majoro from the cold to solve his conundrum.

“We have played well and scored goals, but then they dried up. This has been evident in our lack of finishing and killing off games, which is why we are beefing up the team in the striking department. These guys have scored goals here and there and what we will ask is that they each get one to finish off the game,” said Mashaba.

Mashaba did not announce a replacement for Meyiwa as captain and preferred to rather play his cards close to his chest. “I think we will make that decision on the eve of the match,” he said.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Darren Keet (Kortrijk/BEL), Brilliant Khuzwayo (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Mpontshane (Platinum Stars)

Defenders: Tefu Mashamaite and Erick Mathoho (both Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Sibusiso Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg Utd), Luvolwethu Mpeta (Platinum), Anele Ngcongca (Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Nhlapo (Wits University), Ntsikelelo Nyauza (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Mandla Masango (both Chiefs), Dean Furman (Doncaster/Eng), Andile Jali (Ostend/Bel), Fagrie Lakay (Santos), May Mahlangu (Goteborg/Swe), Oupa Manyisa (Pirates), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam/Ned), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Strikers: Kermit Erasmus, Lehlohonolo Majoro (both Pirates), Bongani Ndulula (AmaZulu), Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth/Eng), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Wits).