Bafana Bafana claimed the Nelson Mandela Challenge yesterday by beating the Ivory Coast 2-0 – but the biggest winner was coach Shakes Mashaba who grew his reputation as a classy tactician and an even better motivator.
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan recently wrote of Australian coach Darren Lehmann: “His ability to make people view cricket as just a game is his strength. He makes a player, even during pressurised situations, feel as though he is playing for his club on a Saturday afternoon. He knows it is more important than that but he makes you feel relaxed.”
Vaughan may well have been speaking about Mashaba.
The eagerness of these players was astounding and at no point did they feel that they were given “fong kong” version of the Bafana jersey.
The teams fielded much stronger lineups than the last time they contested this challenge, which they shared after a 1-1 draw in Port Elizabeth in 2011, but this was a much more entertaining spectacle.
The players expressed themselves more freely and they took the defenders on whenever they could.
Zungu scored Bafana’s first goal with a sweeping finish in the 31st minute, during a move when the players stopped being individualistic in trying to impress Mashaba.
Less than 10 minutes into the second period Chippa United forward Zulu put right the ratio between on-field dominance and the scoreboard. It must have been a nice swipe back at his doubters for the player whom many never thought was worthy of a Bafana jersey.
He had waited long enough for this debut. He was patient, too, during the match and he waited for the opportune moment to strike. He never forced things, as one with a point to prove is wont to do.
Ivory Coast had a chance with 19 minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish to the contest when Sangre Ibrahim lobbed for Diomande Sory Ibrahim, who shot remorsefully into goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane’s palms.
Shakes does the trick for Bafana again
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan recently wrote of Australian coach Darren Lehmann: “His ability to make people view cricket as just a game is his strength. He makes a player, even during pressurised situations, feel as though he is playing for his club on a Saturday afternoon. He knows it is more important than that but he makes you feel relaxed.”
Vaughan may well have been speaking about Mashaba.
The eagerness of these players was astounding and at no point did they feel that they were given “fong kong” version of the Bafana jersey.
The teams fielded much stronger lineups than the last time they contested this challenge, which they shared after a 1-1 draw in Port Elizabeth in 2011, but this was a much more entertaining spectacle.
The players expressed themselves more freely and they took the defenders on whenever they could.
Zungu scored Bafana’s first goal with a sweeping finish in the 31st minute, during a move when the players stopped being individualistic in trying to impress Mashaba.
Less than 10 minutes into the second period Chippa United forward Zulu put right the ratio between on-field dominance and the scoreboard. It must have been a nice swipe back at his doubters for the player whom many never thought was worthy of a Bafana jersey.
He had waited long enough for this debut. He was patient, too, during the match and he waited for the opportune moment to strike. He never forced things, as one with a point to prove is wont to do.
Ivory Coast had a chance with 19 minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish to the contest when Sangre Ibrahim lobbed for Diomande Sory Ibrahim, who shot remorsefully into goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane’s palms.
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