Cape Town - It was probably a bit unfortunate that the result of the 22nd edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge friendly international on Tuesday night was of secondary importance but that, after all, is the nature of sport.
Uppermost in the minds of many was to see how Bafana Bafana would go, in light of the realisation that it could well be Shakes Mashaba’s final match as coach of the South African national football squad.
Bafana emerged victorious 1-0 over Egypt at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night, and the immediate question was whether the team had done enough to save Mashaba’s job.
There was no doubt some improvement, especially in the first half. But, overall, there wasn’t all that much to enthuse about. It was same old, same old and, for the most, Bafana offered nothing new or fresh to suggest that Mashaba should be retained.
Safa are in the process of agonising over whether it’s time for a new Bafana coach. To compound matters, they won’t be feeling too happy with the dismal crowd attendance.
Though the match was played in Orlando, in the heart of football support, it would appear that fans voiced their dissatisfaction by their absence. And the response from the association that runs the South African sport should soon be forthcoming with regard to status of Mashaba.
How Bafana fared against Egypt
The Nelson Mandela Challenge event is to honour the legacy of the former president, with the proceeds going to charity. It’s a wonderful celebration, but the football hardly lived up to the occasion. While there were flashes of inspiration, in general it was just a tight and cagey affair, with little real entertainment for those who had bothered to make the trip to stadium.
After last Friday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Mauritania in their final Afcon 2017 qualifier, Mashaba made four changes to the team to take on Egypt. Keagan Dolly had recovered from a hamstring strain, while there were also starts for Clayton Daniels, Dean Furman and Mandla Masango.
The Egyptians got into gear early with their trademark slick passing style and they should have taken the lead in the sixth minute, but Ahmed Hassen’s weak effort was easily dealt with by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. Immediately after Khune’s save, though, play swung to the other end, and Masango dashed clear to cross for Mpho Makola to head in and score what was ultimately Bafana’s winning goal.
The game was characterised by a compact and unyielding atmosphere, with space, especially in midfield, hard to come by. But the South Africans were, at times, in the mood and the early goal gave them a bit more confidence.
Bafana beats Egypt, but can it save Shakes?
Stung by the heavy criticism in the wake of the Mauritania result, there was a bit more intensity and spirit about their approach.
Egypt, though, were in the ascendancy in the final 10 minutes of the first half when their patient build-up work finally created a few openings, but the Bafana defence held firm, with Daniels called on to make a few crucial interventions.
Unfortunately, that opening 40-minute improved spell was it for Bafana. They fell away in the second half as the Egyptians took control of possession and territory.
The hosts were content to sit back and defend their advantage, and allowed the opposition to come at them. It was a dangerous ploy and they were lucky not to concede as Mohamed Salah went close on two occasions.
It was victory to Bafana, but the result will more than likely just play into the perception that the team only does well when there’s nothing at stake, especially in friendlies such as these. When it comes to the crunch moments, when Bafana have to qualify for major events, they are let down by a fragile temperament.
And so, as it is, the result doesn’t really matter. The ball is in Safa’s court. Stick with Mashaba or not? And, judging by the overwhelming weight of public opinion, and that of experts and critics alike, perhaps we have just seen the last of Shakes.
Cape Times