Bafana battle through Mozambique friendly

Bafana Bafana players tried to give it a go in the absence of their beleaguered coach at the Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo.

Mozambique (1) 1

Clesio 27

South Africa (0) 1

Grobler 56

With the suspension of Shakes Mashaba hovering over their heads, Bafana Bafana players tried to give it a go in the absence of their beleaguered coach at the Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo on Tuesday night.

Mashaba had been barred from travelling with squad to honour this friendly international following an alleged act of insubordination following their 2-1 win over Senegal in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday in Polokwane.

All the talk in the build-up to this encounter was about the coach’s future in the aftermath of the debacle at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, but his assistant Owen da Gama carried out Mashaba’s wishes by making several changes to the team as Lars Veldwijk finally got to make his debut. The Dutch-born striker who has a South African father had made headlines when he was included in the 25-man squad to face Senegal and Mozambique, but was an unused substitute on Saturday. He will remember the first time he put on a Bafana jersey because of it’s significance, but his contribution was minimal and he was replaced by goal-scorer Bradley Grobler at half-time.

Veldwijk, who recently joined KV Kortrijk in Belgium, was heavily criticised by the thousands of South African’s watching on TV. The forward struggled to get on the ball in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch and was labeled “lazy” by the Bafana fans who got to see him in a match situation. And his only attempt on goal was a header that went wide after a decent cross from the right flank by defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

Grobler was able to have an immediate impact when he took Veldwijk’s place, cancelling out Clesio Bauque’s first half goal, which came in the 25th minute after a goalkeeper Ronwen Williams misjudged the speed of a long ball played in search of the on-rushing Elias Pelembe. Williams was beaten for pace by the Mozambique skipper, who initial shot came off the post and onto the path of Clesio to finish. The Bafana keeper, standing in for first choice Itumeleng Khune, will probably invite criticism for the blunder, which only served to give Khune more credibility as the national team’s No.1 goal minder.

The hosts piled on the pressure in the first half and made a Bafana team made up mostly of players that know each other from playing in the same domestic league rather than in the starting line-up work. Williams pulled off a save or two earlier until he was beaten after his misreading of the situation.

The second half was much more improved as Da Gama, who was allowed as many as six substitutes because the match was a friendly, brought in the much needed reinforcements, including goal scorer Grobler. But this wasn’t particularly the best way to end their final match of the year. Having missed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon in January, part of the reason why head coach Shakes Mashaba had been under so much pressure, the men’s football team will only be in action nine month’s from now when they travel to Cape Verde for their third World Cup qualifier in Group D. There will likely be some friendly matches arranged during that time, but it appears a new coach will be in charge with Mashaba expected to be sacked for his ill-advised reaction towards his bosses after the match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, one which led to his suspension.

The coach faces a disciplinary committee on a date yet to be confirmed by the SA Football Association.

@superjourno

IOL