Fate and favouritism robbed Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos of a chance to assemble the best team for the recently-completed African Cup of Nations tournament held in Morocco.
Bafana Bafana played like minnows there; like the proverbial poor cousins who actually didn’t deserve to be at the occasion but had been allowed to attend after their richer cousins had begged the host of the occasion to let them in.
Their approach was so apologetic, pathetic and toothless to the point that watching them was very painful indeed.
Hugo Broos is to blame for Bafana’s lacklustre approach, but it must be pointed out that fate and favouritism robbed him of a chance to assemble the best team for the tournament.
Due to favouritism at Sundowns, Fawaas Bassadien has been warming the bench ever since he was brought to the Brazilian team because the coach there prefers other players in that left back position, so there was no way Broos could select a bench warmer for the tournament.
And due to fate Themba Zwane and Thapelo Morena could not be selected as they were reportedly not match-fit after long spells of injury.
The aforementioned Sundowns players are Broos’ favourites.
At Pirates favouritism led to Tito Maswanganyi suddenly not being fielded any longer, meaning Broos could not risk roping him into the Bafana setup, while fate denied Broos a chance to pick Kamogelo Sebelebele as he was reportedly injured.
These two players are Broos’ favourites at Pirates.
Now my advice to Broos is that when he is told that so and so is injured, he must not believe it until his own Bafana Bafana doctors conduct their own tests on the said player.
Another advice from me to Broos is that if he prefers a certain player, he must pick such a player even if the player is not being fielded at their teams due to the hatred that their club coaches have for them.
As a parting shot, I would like to tell Broos that as he goes to the World Cup, he must remember to also take along with him the very young and the very old players.
I am referring here to old players like Themba Zwane and Percy Tau.
And I am also referring here to young players like Camren Dansin(20) and Siyabonga Mabena of Sundowns (18).
Football history indicates that the very young and the very old players at the World Cup perform better because they don’t play under any sort of pressure as they have nothing to prove.
The old ones are past their peek and don’t worry about disappointing anyone.
And from the young ones not much is expected so they will enjoy themselves and take risks which may be beneficial to the team.
Look at what Cameroonian legend Roger Milla did at two different World Cup tournaments at the age of 38 and 42.
And also look at what Pele did in his first World Cup tournament at the age of 17.
After seeing the World Cup draw, I can confidently say we will at least qualify for the knock-out stages.
Even if we get beaten by hosts Mexico, we must easily beat South Korea and a team from Europe that will qualify after “best third place tournament.”
If Bafana don’t qualify for the knock-out stages this time around, then I will start thinking that the team has been bewitched.
I rest my case!
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