Bafana face moment of truth
Bafana Bafana's players are determined to bounce back tomorrow and grab a victory over Burkina Faso at FNB Stadium that would keep South Africa's 2018 Fifa World Cup dreams just about alive.
Bafana Bafana during training at FNB Stadium (Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix)
Stuart Baxter’s side are reeling after two defeats in September to Cape Verde, results swiftly followed by Fifa’s decision to order a replay of their Group D “victory”over Senegal last November.
With just one point from three matches, Bafana are rock bottom of the group, while Paulo Duarte’s Burkina Faso are on top, with six points from four games.
Only the group winners will go to Russia, and somehow Bafana are still in the mix, but would need to beat the Stallions tomorrow, and beat Senegal home-and-away next month, while also hoping other results go their way.
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Bafana’s home game against Senegal has been rescheduled for November 10, again in Polokwane, with the away match on November 14.
“I think the most important thing, especially for us as players after what happened in the previous games, is that the one we play on Saturday is a must win for us. For this coming game we need to be positive and redeem ourselves by collecting three points. It is not going to be easy for us, but we are looking forward to making things happen,” said Bafana leftback Sifiso Hlanti this week.
This sentiment was echoed by Bafana central defender Morgan Gould.
“The game on the weekend is mammoth,” he said.
“The only way to fight back when your backs are against the ropes is to go out and get a good result.”
Gould is likely to start tommorow’s game, as he did in Durban against Cape Verde last month, with Erick Mathoho still out suspended and regular captain Thulani Hlatshwayo now injured. It is quite a transformation for the veteran defender who was originally brought into the squad by Stuart Baxter as cover.
“Only 11 can play on the field and if I get the opportunity to play I am going to do that, whether I am cover or not. Just being called up is an honour, and I will definitely wear the shirt with pride and give the best I can to motivate and get the energies going so we can get a good result.
“It is going to be a juicy affair because every country on the continent wants to go to the World Cup,” added Gould.
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