Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba might sometimes say all the wrong things – the bear of a man is emotional and expressing himself is not always a strong point.
But one cannot deny the 1970s Orlando Pirates defender knows how to get a result when it matters.
Last night he steered Bafana Bafana through a tricky tie against Angola into the group stages of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Bafana were not overly convincing in their 1-0 second leg victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. But they did their job efficiently, preserving and adding to the 3-1 lead they engineered in an inspired performance in Benguela, Angola, on Friday.
A 67th-minute own goal by Angola midfielder Manucho Diniz separated the teams last night, making for an ultimately convincing 4-1 aggregate scoreline for the 75th-ranked South Africans against 98th Angola.
The South Africans, as can be the case latterly, were not as full-flowing – or perhaps rather, opportunistic – as they had been in Angola.
They initially frustrated a Palancas Negras (Sable Antelopes) side always chasing the game, then pressurised them, resulting in an opening goal.
Ultimately, Bafana did a job in a professional manner. With a continued chance at the ultimate objective for any national team of these two side’s stature – World Cup qualification – at stake, that was as much as one could ask for.
For Bafana the satisfaction of reaching the group stages and fighting another day. For Angola, the disappointment that for another four years they have no chance of emulating their remarkable 2006 qualification.
Mashaba made three changes from his team in Benguela. Thulani Hlatshwayo replaced injured Anele Ngcongca at right-back, man-of-the-match Dean Furman came in for red-carded Andile Jali in defensive midfield and Mpho Makola came in for a benched Thulani Serero on the left.
Angola counterpart Romeu Filemon made eight changes.
It might have been a slightly frustrating first half for Bafana, who could not get a shot on goal. But it was far more so for Angola, who could not achieve their desperate ambition of breaching a polished SA defence.
It did take a superb overhead intercept clearance from Rivaldo Coetzee in the 15th minute, with Gelson cocked and ready to shoot, to suppress an early nervous moment.
There would have been cries of anxiety across Angola when Gelson broke free in the 57th, the challenge of Mulomowandau Mathoho only steering the striker wide as, with Bafana keeper Jackson Mabokgwane stranded, the striker attempted to roll the ball in but hit the left upright.
Mashaba brought on Serero for Makola. Minutes later the Mandla Masango’s cross was headed down by Mathoho into the awkward space between defence and goalkeeper Antonio, and Diniz’s attempt to clear only squeezed into the midfielder’s own net.
Bafana tame Antelopes
But one cannot deny the 1970s Orlando Pirates defender knows how to get a result when it matters.
Last night he steered Bafana Bafana through a tricky tie against Angola into the group stages of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Bafana were not overly convincing in their 1-0 second leg victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. But they did their job efficiently, preserving and adding to the 3-1 lead they engineered in an inspired performance in Benguela, Angola, on Friday.
A 67th-minute own goal by Angola midfielder Manucho Diniz separated the teams last night, making for an ultimately convincing 4-1 aggregate scoreline for the 75th-ranked South Africans against 98th Angola.
The South Africans, as can be the case latterly, were not as full-flowing – or perhaps rather, opportunistic – as they had been in Angola.
They initially frustrated a Palancas Negras (Sable Antelopes) side always chasing the game, then pressurised them, resulting in an opening goal.
Ultimately, Bafana did a job in a professional manner. With a continued chance at the ultimate objective for any national team of these two side’s stature – World Cup qualification – at stake, that was as much as one could ask for.
For Bafana the satisfaction of reaching the group stages and fighting another day. For Angola, the disappointment that for another four years they have no chance of emulating their remarkable 2006 qualification.
Mashaba made three changes from his team in Benguela. Thulani Hlatshwayo replaced injured Anele Ngcongca at right-back, man-of-the-match Dean Furman came in for red-carded Andile Jali in defensive midfield and Mpho Makola came in for a benched Thulani Serero on the left.
Angola counterpart Romeu Filemon made eight changes.
It might have been a slightly frustrating first half for Bafana, who could not get a shot on goal. But it was far more so for Angola, who could not achieve their desperate ambition of breaching a polished SA defence.
It did take a superb overhead intercept clearance from Rivaldo Coetzee in the 15th minute, with Gelson cocked and ready to shoot, to suppress an early nervous moment.
There would have been cries of anxiety across Angola when Gelson broke free in the 57th, the challenge of Mulomowandau Mathoho only steering the striker wide as, with Bafana keeper Jackson Mabokgwane stranded, the striker attempted to roll the ball in but hit the left upright.
Mashaba brought on Serero for Makola. Minutes later the Mandla Masango’s cross was headed down by Mathoho into the awkward space between defence and goalkeeper Antonio, and Diniz’s attempt to clear only squeezed into the midfielder’s own net.
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