Polokwane – His detractors will see the win against Senegal in Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier only as a stay of execution.
But Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, the only man to beat the West Africans in eight meetings between the two sides, reflected on the 2-1 victory as a lifeline in what has been a testing few months.
True to form, the 66-year-old helped the national team clinch victory in an encounter many thought would prove too much for his men. But Senegal succumbed to defeat at the weekend, leaving SA on four points following a draw against Burkina Faso.
There were suggestions the coach would be sacked if Bafana failed to beat Senegal and although victorious over the weekend, Mashaba’s actions towards his bosses after the win still make this scenario a possibility.
In a statement released by Safa on Sunday, it was revealed that Mashaba had been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing following a ‘regrettable’ incident.
Even so, he seemed positive after the game, saying: “It’s a second lease of life. I was dead already before this game and I needed to enjoy life like any other human being. Everyday you read more or less one and the same thing (about his future).”
Earlier, the Safa hierarchy had made their way to the match venue, with president Danny Jordaan even paying a surprise visit to the team during their final training session on Friday. Mashaba had to win, a result that is significant for both him and his bosses, who are desperate to see Bafana reach a World Cup tournament through a qualification process for the first time since 2002.
“You know in life you can do things and get it right 99.9 percent of the time, but people will forget that and challenge you with the 0.1 percent mistake you’ve made,” the coach said. “It’s not a question about me having to address the doubting Thomases, but I’d say it’s a lack of respect.”
Bafana and Burkina Faso are tied with four points after two matches, with the next round of games in August next year when South Africa take on Cape Verde in back-to-back qualifiers. Mashaba bemoaned the lengthy lay-off - made worse by the fact that Bafana will not participate in the Afcon in January - which robs his side of competitive football and the ability to maintain their momentum.
“We can only hope our players get regular game time at their clubs,” the coach said. “At the time we managed to qualify for the 2015 Afcon, we were playing the matches one after the other and that helped us. But things are the way they are now and if we could have things our way we would say we need to win the two matches against Cape Verde so that by the time we go to Dakar (their final group match against Senegal on November 6 next year), we are not desperate for points. You saw them here. They are very aggressive and very arrogant, but their individual brilliance is superb.”
Bafana’s remaining Group D fixtures
v Cape Verde August 28, 2017 (a); v Cape Verde, September 2, 2017 (h); v Burkina Faso, October 2, 2017 (h); v Senegal, November 6, 2017 (a)
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno
The Star