U23s rely on favours

THERE are three steps to follow when supporting a South African national football team in a major tournament.

The first step is, obviously, passionately root for them with the hope that the previous years of disappointment will end with this generation.

That goes okay in the first two matches where they play some enterprising football but then fail to make it count with goals.

Then you go into step two for the last group match.

That is to not only support the South African side, but also another nation which you’re hoping will do the country a favour so that they can make it to the knockout stage.

South Africa is in stage two with the national Under-23 team doing battle at the Olympics in Brazil.

After failing to make an impact in their first two games, drawing with Brazil and then losing to Denmark, they have to not only beat Iraq but hope that the Danes don’t lose to the hosts on Thursday morning.

Both matches will kick off at 3am South African time.

“It’s no longer in our hands. We now have to see how Brazil plays against Denmark. But it’s important that we win against Iraq,” coach Owen da Gama, said.

Those words have been said by almost every Bafana Bafana coach in the last decade.

The only difference would be the nations concerned, but the scenario is familiar.

Even how this Olympics team put themselves in this position is the same.

They didn’t make the most of the chances they created, hitting the post twice .

For South Africa’s Olympics team to reach the quarter-finals they have to beat Iraq and hope that Denmark doesn’t lose to Brazil.

A win for the Brazilians will eliminate Da Gama’s team even if they beat Iraq.

That’s because they would finish the tournament tied with Denmark on four points. But if Brazil lose to the Danes, they will be eliminated through head-to-head.

“We let ourselves down, no two ways about it,” Da Gama said. “We created so many chances but could not convert any of them. At some point we had the edge, we were on top of Denmark. I also think that the players need to raise their hands when called to represent their country. There were times when I felt that there was no sense of urgency.”