Bafana set the pace, but scoring ills continue
DURBAN: The road to Brazil could be rocky for South Africa after they failed to tame the Teranga Lions of Senegal and secure a muchneeded win to boost their confidence ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
On a balmy night at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the home side enjoyed a fair amount of possession, but the final score of 0-0 left coach Pitso Mosimane no closer to solving the perennial puzzle of how to turn such an advantage into goals.
The match being a midweek friendly international meant the players spent more time on aeroplanes than the training pitch, and therefore both sides lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
The Senegalese arrived in Durban on Tuesday and had just one workout at the match venue. Although physically imposing, they were off the pace displayed by the fleetfooted Bafana Bafana.
The hosts were sharper and could have gone ahead as early as ninth minute. May Mahlangu sparked a move and a neat exchange with debutant striker Edward Manqele ended with the midfielder’s shot blocked by goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Manqele was the only uncapped player in the starting lineup, while Mahlangu made his second appearance following January’s friendly against Equatorial Guinea.
Finding another source of goals – besides leading scorer Katlego Mphela – was the reasoning behind Mosimane’s selection of Manqele, with Siyabonga Nontshinga on the bench.
With Thulani Serero, Mahlangu and Bafana captain Steven Pienaar linking well, there was no shortage of possession.
Senegal’s new-look squad included only five players from their failed Nations Cup campaign. It would have been nine, but there were a number of late withdrawals, including Newcastle United striker Papiss Demba Cisse.
With a new technical staff in charge following the axing of Amara Traore, the Senegalese promoted a batch of junior national representatives as part of a rebuilding process. Considering their late arrival and mix-andmatch squad, the result was a favourable outcome for them.
Apart from Mahlangu’s early effort, the only shot on target in the opening period came from Mphela in the 29th minute. It didn’t trouble Coundoul, who also comfortably gathered a dangerous cross into the box from Bafana left back Tsepo Masilela.
The closest the visitors got to scoring was when striker Dame Ndoye laid off the ball for Deme Ndiaye, who sliced it into the Durban night sky in the 39th minute.
A drizzle during the interval didn’t do much to freshen up the players. Like in the first half, Bafana made the first attacking thrust, but Mphela’s header off defender Anele Ngcongca’s cross was gobbled up by Coundoul.
As a second-half replacement for Masilela on the left flank, winger Punch Masenamela lived up to his first name. Several of his forays along the touchline brought the vuvuzelas to life, but his side’s indecision around the box continued.
And when one of his passes found fellow substitute Teko Modise unmarked in front of goal, the midfielder prodded the ball into the keeper’s waiting gloves. Modise tried to make amends with a power-packed drive in the final seconds, but Coundoul tipped the ball over.
Last night’s game was the last scheduled friendly for South Africa before their opening World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in June. Their other opponents in Group A are Botswana and the Central African Republic.
By then, Orlando Pirates‘ Siyabonga Sangweni, Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa should be in the mix after they were not considered for selection so as not to disrupt their club’s preparations for the weekend’s African Champions League first-round second-leg tie against Angolan side Recreativo Libolo.