Bafana Bafana's Mobara does not watch football but is an intelligent footballer

There is a touch of genius to the soft-spoken Abbubaker Mobara.

It’s in his ability to play almost anywhere in the bottom half of a football field‚ from centre-back to right-back to defensive midfield. Only an intelligent footballer can be so adaptable.

It’s in the way he speaks to the press‚ with brief‚ cool‚ confident answers.

It’s in the way he’s been able to adapt to playing as a centre-back – the Ajax Cape Town 22-year-old’s favoured position – even though he’s only 1.8m tall‚ through the shrewdness of his positional play and anticipation.

It’s in the way the defender‚ almost certain to start for Bafana Bafana in Saturday’s Cosafa Cup quarter-final against Lesotho on the artificial surface of Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek‚ doesn’t bother to watch football‚ which seems to somehow mark him out as unusual and headed for greatness.

“I never watch football. I’m not sure why. I never watch the replays of myself playing against another team‚” the defender replied this week‚ asked if he had watched any of the Cosafa group stage matches on TV.

“I haven’t even watched any of the current Euro 2016 games. Analysis of course is different. When I’m going to play against a left wing or striker I have to study their movements. But in general‚ football I don’t watch.”

Mobara and Ajax teammate Rivaldo Coetzee‚ 19‚ have formed one of the youngest centre-back partnerships in PSL history.

It is Coetzee who has received the most attention so far. Taller‚ with a greater presence‚ Coetzee has already become a regular in coach Shakes Mashaba’s senior team having become the then-youngest Bafana player a few days shy of his 18th birthday in the 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win against Congo in 2014.

Mobara‚ perhaps because he is smaller‚ and possibly partly due to his versatility‚ has had to wait for senior international recognition.

Even in this Cosafa he has been selected as part of the mostly U-23 team representing Bafana as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games in August.

At the eight-nation Caf U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal in December‚ where SA finished third to reach Rio 2016‚ Mobara was utilised not so effectively at right-back in an at times alarmingly porous defence.

This when Da Gama’s obvious option would have been to partner Mobara with Coetzee in the middle. It remains to be seen where the Ajax utility man will be played against Lesotho.

Da Gama is likely to want to have a look at Lamontville Golden Arrows call-up Thembela Sikhakhane next to Coetzee.

And‚ with the U-23 coach having stated that defence is where he is likely to place the three overage players allowed for the Olympic Games‚ it does seem likely Kaizer Chiefs’ Mulomowandau Mathoho will be called up for that purpose.

So for now Mobara might have to be content to continue on the right. Wherever he is played‚ the Ajax prospect sees the need for serious improvement at the back from the U-23s‚ who will meet a far more technical‚ clinical and precise challenge from the attacks of Brazil‚ Denmark and Iraq at the Olympics.

“There is a lot that can improve‚” he said.

“Possibly it was the central defence that we had problems with in Senegal‚ and their pace. But with the likes of Rivaldo and his experience we shouldn’t need that much pace.”

The presence of three overage players in Brazil means there are only 18 places from the final 21-man squad available to U-23 players.

“Nobody’s guaranteed a position here‚ and there’s plenty of competition‚” Mobara said.

Having gone to the Cosafa seeking stern tests on the path to Brazil‚ South Africa might be disappointed to be facing Lesotho in the quarters.

But the men from the mountainous kingdom have upset bigger name opposition already after winning Group B.

Lesotho followed a 3-0 opening victory against Mauritius with a 2-0 upset of Angola‚ then beat Malawi 1-0 on Thursday night.

Bafana had a bye into the quarters.

- TMG Digital