With Senegal now added to the long list of Bafana Bafana matches in the coming weeks, coach Shakes Mashaba yesterday said the busy schedule had made him much more aware of the burden of having to find a winning combination.
The national team will play eight games spaced out over three months and begin with a trip to Mauritania in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday. Mashaba welcomed a tough roster that will see Bafana also take on Costa Rica, Honduras and neighbours Angola four times – twice in an African Nations Championship first round clash, then home and away in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
SA kicked off their Afcon qualifiers with a disappointing goalless draw against Gambia in June.
“You ask me if I am excited to play these matches and my answer is that there is no excitement, only pressure,” said Mashaba after he had confirmed that Bafana would host Senegal in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at Orlando Stadium next Tuesday.
“People know just how tough it is to be on the road in these qualifiers, so I am happy when we get to play a number of games because it keeps us on our toes.”
The coach has in the past bemoaned a lack of preparation for crucial games and reiterated that his job would be even harder if friendly matches against decent opponents were not arranged.
“There is no point in playing now and then again six weeks later. I am happy to have a regular programme because you can only pick up momentum if the team is playing regularly,” Mashaba explained.
He promised to win the Mandela Challenge against Senegal, triggering a question about whether he was biting off more than he could chew.
Mashaba said it was in his nature to avoid being a pessimist: “My approach is to be positive and to have a champion’s mind. When I venture into something, I won’t ever take it lightly. If it does not work then we try and rectify our mistakes.”
The SA Football Association is yet to announce any further plans to schedule matches. Dennis Mumble, Safa CEO, said it was tricky to commit the national team too far ahead.
“We always want the team to be involved in useful matches, especially in light of the qualifiers. But we are committed to making sure we always target the top 20 in the world and make use of the option to play friendly in between qualifiers, which are often played over a four-month period,” said Mumble.
SCHEDULE
September 2015
Saturday, 5th v Mauritania – Afcon qualifier (A)
Tuesday, 8th v Senegal – Nelson Mandela Challenge
October 2015
Thursday, 8th v Costa Rica – International friendly (A)
Tuesday, 13th v Honduras – International friendly (A)
Saturday, 17th v Angola – CHAN (to be confirmed)
Saturday, 24th v Angola – CHAN (A)
November 2015
Friday, 13th v Angola – Fifa 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers (A)
Tuesday, 17th v Angola – Fifa 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers (Durban)
Shakes men in the wars
The national team will play eight games spaced out over three months and begin with a trip to Mauritania in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday. Mashaba welcomed a tough roster that will see Bafana also take on Costa Rica, Honduras and neighbours Angola four times – twice in an African Nations Championship first round clash, then home and away in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
SA kicked off their Afcon qualifiers with a disappointing goalless draw against Gambia in June.
“You ask me if I am excited to play these matches and my answer is that there is no excitement, only pressure,” said Mashaba after he had confirmed that Bafana would host Senegal in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at Orlando Stadium next Tuesday.
“People know just how tough it is to be on the road in these qualifiers, so I am happy when we get to play a number of games because it keeps us on our toes.”
The coach has in the past bemoaned a lack of preparation for crucial games and reiterated that his job would be even harder if friendly matches against decent opponents were not arranged.
“There is no point in playing now and then again six weeks later. I am happy to have a regular programme because you can only pick up momentum if the team is playing regularly,” Mashaba explained.
He promised to win the Mandela Challenge against Senegal, triggering a question about whether he was biting off more than he could chew.
Mashaba said it was in his nature to avoid being a pessimist: “My approach is to be positive and to have a champion’s mind. When I venture into something, I won’t ever take it lightly. If it does not work then we try and rectify our mistakes.”
The SA Football Association is yet to announce any further plans to schedule matches. Dennis Mumble, Safa CEO, said it was tricky to commit the national team too far ahead.
“We always want the team to be involved in useful matches, especially in light of the qualifiers. But we are committed to making sure we always target the top 20 in the world and make use of the option to play friendly in between qualifiers, which are often played over a four-month period,” said Mumble.
SCHEDULE
September 2015
Saturday, 5th v Mauritania – Afcon qualifier (A)
Tuesday, 8th v Senegal – Nelson Mandela Challenge
October 2015
Thursday, 8th v Costa Rica – International friendly (A)
Tuesday, 13th v Honduras – International friendly (A)
Saturday, 17th v Angola – CHAN (to be confirmed)
Saturday, 24th v Angola – CHAN (A)
November 2015
Friday, 13th v Angola – Fifa 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers (A)
Tuesday, 17th v Angola – Fifa 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers (Durban)
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