Yaounde – It’s not often that away supporters form a mass around the bus of a team who’ve just given them a drubbing, but such was Bafana Bafana’s impressive performance here that they turned foes into immediate friends.
Hordes of Central African Republic (CAR) fans seemed to have deserted their beaten and bruised team on Saturday, jostling to get a glimpse of Bafana players as they made their way out of the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Saturday.
It spoke volumes of South Africa’s superb performance that, after a challenging week in fulfilling this World Cup qualifier, they could only draw admiration, having secured their biggest win in an official match for six years.
Not since Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team destroyed Chad in Ndjamena, not far from here, in an African Nations Cup qualifier in 2007 have Bafana played as impressively on the road.
Saturday’s win, courtesy of well-worked goals from Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Katlego Mashego, has put South Africa’s Brazil 2014 fate in their own hands, with three more points against Ethiopia this Sunday set to leave them top of Group A.
But as Gordon Igesund acknowledged in Yaounde, circumstances in Addis Ababa will be different. “What we didn’t have here was intimidation. CAR had the fans but most are refugees and are not fanatics. It’s not going to be the same in Ethiopia.”
Indeed this Cameroon capital playing neutral venue for this match worked to Bafana’s favour as the stadium was sparsely populated, and CAR never really got cheers from their fans because it was virtually game over by halftime.
That was thanks to Igesund’s masterstroke of going for an early kill, picking a daring line-up that had Tshabalala, May Mahlangu and Parker spearheading the attack. “I knew that because of the challenges we had coming here, we would get tired in the second half,” said Igesund.
“So the best approach was to try and win the game early. The problems we had with cancelled flights and all that nonsense meant that we trained only once. In that situation we had to finish CAR off as early as we could. That’s why we had Shabba and Parker starting on the wings. In the end it was a well-executed plan, although we could have kept the ball better in the second half.”
Bafana’s goals were products of great skill and ball movement, to which CAR’s hapless defence had no answer. It was only recently that scoring seemed a language as foreign as the French widely spoken here, but Igesund’s first two qualifiers have now produced five goals.
“This team has had many psychological barriers, hearing that we can’t score goals … we can’t win away, and so on. That has now changed because we are scoring. We are winning away. When you harp on about what you can’t do, indeed you won’t be able to do it. But there’s belief now; there’s confidence,” Igesund said.
Bafana’s new-found belief is the reason why most South Africans would back their side to emerge triumphant in Addis Ababa. But first, Igesund has to fix some flaws which, while not glaring, were evident on Saturday.
One of them was at leftback, where Ricardo Nunes was occasionally found wanting.
“Nunes did a fantastic job but I may have to consider (Tebogo) Langerman due to his pace,” the Bafana coach revealed. “We have two game plans for Ethiopia, and we’ll see what suits us. The pitch and the altitude there will be key factors; that’s why we are flying in two days before the match.”
Bafana will use the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo as a training ground until Thursday this week, before flying out to Douala, and then Addis Ababa on Friday for Sunday’s clash (2pm SA time).
HOW THEY RATED
Itumeleng Khune 7/10
Unflustered for most of the game, but the captain had to keep Bafana in it early on when he thwarted the threat of Momi. Dealt comfortably with long balls peppered into his area.
Anele Ngcongca 6
The most experienced defender on the field was as dependable as always, but seems to be restricted to defensive duties and no longer offers an attacking option down the right flank.
Thabo Nthethe 7
Another solid performance from the Bloem Celtic captain, even though Momi caught him for pace in the first half. Provided leadership and will be difficult to dislodge from his starting berth.
Erick Mathoho 7
Started his first major international and was competent throughout, tackling with assurance and clearing confidently. His combination with Nthethe was superb.
Ricardo Nunes 4
Was frequently caught for pace, although it has to be highlighted he was marking CAR’s most dangerous player, Kethevoama. Starting place absolutely under threat for next game.
Siphiwe Tshabalala 8
Excelled after winning a starting place on the right of midfield. Set up the first goal and scored a well-worked second. His skill and trickery troubled the hapless CAR defence.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane 7
Provided steel in midfield and won almost every challenge. Should have scored when clean through moments before Shabba showed him how it’s done.
Dean Furman 7
Continued to grow as Bafana’s fulcrum, holding the team together. Like Yeye, Furman won the ball cleanly and broke up CAR’s attacks, helping Bafana to launch theirs.
Bernard Parker 7
Scored his 13th Bafana goal after cleverly springing CAR’s poor offside trap. Started on the left wing but was always cutting inside to outpace CAR’s central defenders.
May Mahlangu 7
Was superb once again and one aspect of his game which is improving immensely is his defensive capabilities, which were evident as Bafana came under pressure early in the game.
Tokelo Rantie 6
Hassled the CAR’s central defenders and his movement allowed Bafana’s other attackers to exploit the space. Made way for Maniysa after 57 minutes.
Substitutes
Oupa Manyisa 6
Replaced Rantie and did more than what was required from him, setting up Mashego for the third goal.
Katlego Mashego 6
First contribution after coming on for Parker was to get himself a needless booking, but atoned for that with a headed goal, only his second at this level and first in seven years.
Thandani Ntshumayelo 6
Brought on for the obvious reason of ensuring Bafana remained solid in midfield, and he acquitted himself well. – The Star