The reality of Bafana Bafana facing Algeria in their Africa Cup of Nations opener without Mulomowandau Mathoho sets in tonight.
But South Africa’s likely last line of defence – goalkeeper Darren Keet – believes the towering defender is replaceable.
Mathoho is serving a one-match suspension and, aware of having to fill the void, coach Shakes Mashaba has been toying with a few combinations in the build-up to the clash against the continent’s number one side at the Estadio de Mongomo. Keet is confident the Bafana back four will not fall apart without Mathoho.
“It’s not such a big issue. In football everyone is replaceable. Of course he was an important player in the qualification. He was always a mainstay in our defence and did fantastically well and I think he got a few man-of-the-match awards leading up to the tournament. He’s done exceptionally well for the team,” Keet said.
“But we also have players like Anele , Rivaldo , Tyson and we have brought in Ayanda . I think we are completely covered in defence. It is actually a matter of players fighting to get a chance in the team. I’m sure whoever doesn’t get to play will be disappointed because I think we all deserve to be here. We have all proved ourselves and everyone knows what we are capable of.”
Keet watched the two Bafana warm-up matches against Cameroon and Mali, a 1-1 draw and 3-0 victory played in Libreville, Gabon, from the bench and thought Mashaba’s men were convincing and would be equally as good when they face Algeria tonight. It looks like the coach will pair 18-year-old Coetzee with Hlatshwayo, who scored against Mali, in central defence.
“We have been solid and there are no issues about that. It is just a matter of keeping clean sheets,” Keet said. He also trusts his teammates to shield him from Algeria’s danger man and BBC African footballer of the year, Yacine Brahimi, who plays for Porto FC.
“I am not concerned at all,” the Bafana goal minder said. “I’ve never been the type of person who wants to focus on big names. We have some videos of Algeria and have some idea of their players and we know them from the World Cup. What they have done for their clubs has not really bothered us or me too much. What will concern me is how we will stop all of them as a team, because that is what got them here.”
Meanwhile, team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said Coetzee, strikers Tokelo Rantie and Bernard Parker, who were rested in Bafana’s final warm-up game against Mali last week due to suffering knocks, were all fit to endure 90 minutes against Algeria.
Mathoho blow no big deal
But South Africa’s likely last line of defence – goalkeeper Darren Keet – believes the towering defender is replaceable.
Mathoho is serving a one-match suspension and, aware of having to fill the void, coach Shakes Mashaba has been toying with a few combinations in the build-up to the clash against the continent’s number one side at the Estadio de Mongomo. Keet is confident the Bafana back four will not fall apart without Mathoho.
“It’s not such a big issue. In football everyone is replaceable. Of course he was an important player in the qualification. He was always a mainstay in our defence and did fantastically well and I think he got a few man-of-the-match awards leading up to the tournament. He’s done exceptionally well for the team,” Keet said.
“But we also have players like Anele , Rivaldo , Tyson and we have brought in Ayanda . I think we are completely covered in defence. It is actually a matter of players fighting to get a chance in the team. I’m sure whoever doesn’t get to play will be disappointed because I think we all deserve to be here. We have all proved ourselves and everyone knows what we are capable of.”
Keet watched the two Bafana warm-up matches against Cameroon and Mali, a 1-1 draw and 3-0 victory played in Libreville, Gabon, from the bench and thought Mashaba’s men were convincing and would be equally as good when they face Algeria tonight. It looks like the coach will pair 18-year-old Coetzee with Hlatshwayo, who scored against Mali, in central defence.
“We have been solid and there are no issues about that. It is just a matter of keeping clean sheets,” Keet said. He also trusts his teammates to shield him from Algeria’s danger man and BBC African footballer of the year, Yacine Brahimi, who plays for Porto FC.
“I am not concerned at all,” the Bafana goal minder said. “I’ve never been the type of person who wants to focus on big names. We have some videos of Algeria and have some idea of their players and we know them from the World Cup. What they have done for their clubs has not really bothered us or me too much. What will concern me is how we will stop all of them as a team, because that is what got them here.”
Meanwhile, team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said Coetzee, strikers Tokelo Rantie and Bernard Parker, who were rested in Bafana’s final warm-up game against Mali last week due to suffering knocks, were all fit to endure 90 minutes against Algeria.
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