CHAN qualifiers ‘not just some games’ for Bafana coach

07 July 2015 - 14:07 By Mazola Molefe

It doesn't have to be so complicated. This was Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba’s view of the ongoing club-versus-country saga that is likely to drag on in October when the national team face Angola in another African Nations Championship (Chan) two-legged qualifier.The Premier Soccer League is yet to release its fixture list for the upcoming season‚ but there has been no mention of making provision for these two Bafana matches. Mashaba endured tough preparations ahead of his side’s qualifier against Mauritius a little over a fortnight ago in Johannesburg when he was forced to cancel two training sessions due to not having enough players.However‚ Bafana beat the lightweight islanders 3-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium and also thumped them 2-0 in their own backyard at the Stade Anjalay at the weekend. Mashaba stressed the weight of the less-glamorous Chan tournament‚ which is meant for players active in their domestic leagues.“They are not just ‘some games’‚ they have an impact on the nation‚” the coach said on Monday. “Look at it this way‚ the league plays the whole month‚ but Bafana play once. If we lose‚ the mood in football changes. We can only hope that with the support [certain clubs] have been giving us now‚ they will continue to help us with players.”Mashaba said his employers‚ the SA Football Association‚ shouldn’t have to “negotiate” for players to feature in the tournament as has been the case over the last three weeks. “That is such a strong word‚” he explained. “It [the competition] is something that is in our calendar and everybody knows about it. Why do we have to negotiate? People must understand the dates. I can understand if the club says they have a situation‚ but can offer one‚ two or three players and then we get the rest from other clubs to go forward.“But there’s no need to negotiate because everybody has got the dates of these competitions.”In his 18-man squad that faced Mauritius on Sunday afternoon‚ Mashaba‚ to avoid clashing with some PSL coaches‚ did not select players from Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Bidvest Wits‚ SuperSport and Kaizer Chiefs‚ with the exception of Itumeleng Khune and Mandla Masango‚ who were still contracted to Amakhosi when Safa issued call-up letters last month.“People are quick to forget. We have only been in the job for less than a year and we have always said we want to widen the base for selection‚” Mashaba said. “We can’t sit down and moan that this player is here and that player is not here. We want every player we select to already have a feel of what it’s like to play for this team.” – The Times..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.