Mild weather and even a comfortable Moroccan-themed hotel had Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘‘Shakes” Mashaba believing the football gods might be smiling on his side for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo at the Stade Municipal today.
Bafana were greeted on their arrival on Thursday evening by humid, but overcast and bearably warm weather as opposed to the searing heat that was predicted – conditions that continued into yesterday.
They found a Pointe Noire that, while not likely to be anyone’s top tourist destination, certainly seems to have developed from the hell-hole Bafana encountered in their infamous 1997 defeat here.
Bafana’s Hotel de Fez is situated in a comfortable strip of developments near the city’s beaches. And it’s even Moroccan-themed, which Mashaba joked might be a good omen on the road towards Morocco 2015.
More important is the overcast weather, which the coach hoped would continue through to today.
“I’ve been saying the gods of football are smiling on us. When we left home people were saying you’re going to play in scorching weather. We’re here and it’s nice and mild. But those are things we don’t have control of, tomorrow it can change,” Mashaba said.
“But if it stays this way, especially playing on an astroturf, that will be good.”
A concern for Bafana is the artificial surface in a game at 3.30 pm Congo time (4.30 pm SA time) that absorbs heat and causes player’s boots to become uncomfortably baked.
It might have been a mild reception so far but Bafana can expect things to heat up once they enter the gates to the stadium today, where there will be a hostile reception.
“With my experience travelling in these countries, there’s nothing we can do,” Mashaba said. “As for Congo, they are a good side. We cannot take them lightly.”
Diables Rouges (the Red Devils) top Group A after a shock 3- 2 away win against Nigeria and 2-0 home defeat of Sudan. This after only reaching the group stage because Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
“One thing we have to guard against is these people came in the back door,” Mashaba cautioned. “Being where they are they might have discussed that this is their second chance.
“And beating Nigeria gave them the encouragement they can do it. So it’s going to be a tough game.”
Bafana have a good record against Congo – P8, W4, D3, L1. Mashaba was also the first SA coach to beat the Devils, 1-0 at FNB Stadium in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in October 1992.
And a young South Africa have been buoyed by a good start of their own in the group, beating Sudan 3-0 away and drawing 0-0 against Nigeria at home to be in second place.
Mashaba said these two games against Congo – Bafana meet the central Africans in Polokwane again on Wednesday – can be make or break for their chances of qualifying.
Bafana to put up fight
Bafana were greeted on their arrival on Thursday evening by humid, but overcast and bearably warm weather as opposed to the searing heat that was predicted – conditions that continued into yesterday.
They found a Pointe Noire that, while not likely to be anyone’s top tourist destination, certainly seems to have developed from the hell-hole Bafana encountered in their infamous 1997 defeat here.
Bafana’s Hotel de Fez is situated in a comfortable strip of developments near the city’s beaches. And it’s even Moroccan-themed, which Mashaba joked might be a good omen on the road towards Morocco 2015.
More important is the overcast weather, which the coach hoped would continue through to today.
“I’ve been saying the gods of football are smiling on us. When we left home people were saying you’re going to play in scorching weather. We’re here and it’s nice and mild. But those are things we don’t have control of, tomorrow it can change,” Mashaba said.
“But if it stays this way, especially playing on an astroturf, that will be good.”
A concern for Bafana is the artificial surface in a game at 3.30 pm Congo time (4.30 pm SA time) that absorbs heat and causes player’s boots to become uncomfortably baked.
It might have been a mild reception so far but Bafana can expect things to heat up once they enter the gates to the stadium today, where there will be a hostile reception.
“With my experience travelling in these countries, there’s nothing we can do,” Mashaba said. “As for Congo, they are a good side. We cannot take them lightly.”
Diables Rouges (the Red Devils) top Group A after a shock 3- 2 away win against Nigeria and 2-0 home defeat of Sudan. This after only reaching the group stage because Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
“One thing we have to guard against is these people came in the back door,” Mashaba cautioned. “Being where they are they might have discussed that this is their second chance.
“And beating Nigeria gave them the encouragement they can do it. So it’s going to be a tough game.”
Bafana have a good record against Congo – P8, W4, D3, L1. Mashaba was also the first SA coach to beat the Devils, 1-0 at FNB Stadium in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in October 1992.
And a young South Africa have been buoyed by a good start of their own in the group, beating Sudan 3-0 away and drawing 0-0 against Nigeria at home to be in second place.
Mashaba said these two games against Congo – Bafana meet the central Africans in Polokwane again on Wednesday – can be make or break for their chances of qualifying.
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