Bafana..Pienaar and Teko's chance

Good day!


Its internationals week thus by default all nationals should be supporting the national teams. 


And that includes us South Africans. To be honest Bafana has been enjoying some of the best support seen in many years. And that is thanks to the recent World Cup held in our back yard. From a footballing point of view the WC has aided in improving the support from the Nation at large even none footballing people.


Bafana are in a training camp with the usual hick-ups. Players coming late (Mdledle) and some being declared unfit by their clubs. This is the initial squad as called-up by Pitso.


Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs, Darren Keet
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Bongani Khumalo, Innocent Mdledle
Midfielders: Siphiwe Tshabalala, Teko Modise, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Steven Pienaar, MacBeth Sibaya, Andile Jali
Strikers: Katlego Mphela, Surprise Moriri, Bernard Parker, Sthembiso Ngcobo




Already Steven Pienaar has been declared unfit by his club Everton. I do smell a rat with this one but I shall wait and see if Pienaar miraculously becomes fit just after this week of internationals. Its a known trick by some established players colluding with their football clubs to snub their countries.  Sad because this is quite a critical game for us and Pienaar's influence would have been helpful. I will sit here and hope it doesn't escalate to the Benni/Bafana love - hate story. 


I am of the opinion that as this is a qualifier and Pitso having said he won't call a replacement, Pienaar should be made to travel with the squad. If he is truly injured, fine, don't play him at all, not even train. We obviously want to maintain a good working relationship with players' clubs and make sure that players' careers are as well managed by National Associations as are their clubs. 
I understand how critical Pienaar is to Everton, he is equally critical for us. And Pitso with SAFA needs to work out a plan which involves not calling some of the players for silly unnecessary friendly games. That becomes very important as well once you talk about developing players and extending the depth of you squad.

But Pienaar being there with the boys playing or not, would prove to be a huge morale booster for the rest of the team. Argentina did the same recently with Lionel Messi. They actually called him for a friendly game citing that just his presence will motivate others even when injured.


Anyway, Pienaar's injury presents a glorious opportunity for Teko Modise to play himself back into the squad. He been at the receiving end of some booing at his club. I was also at the Bafana Bafana vs Ghana game, and there were some three idiots sitting two isles behind me who started booing Teko when he came to warm up. Me being me, I totally called them off and admonished them for that. They were supporters of the other team.


Booing players does no good to the player, not even to the team. Its senseless, instead what we should be doing is encouraging him to try harder. He can still be helpful to both his club and Bafana Bafana. Good luck to him in Sierra Leone, I personally hope he has a good game.


I am not going to complain with Pitso's selection. Am just sad he didn't call Keegan for this one. He did have an awesome game against Pirates over the  weekend, shackling Mabalane for the better part of the game. Pirates fans will tell you otherwise, and that is what makes football.


Cheers and see you soon!