South Africa crippled by withdrawals, but with plenty to play for in Socceroos friendly

SOUTH Africa will turn to some fresh faces against the Socceroos, as ‘Bafana Bafana’ rebuild their ailing national squad.

FIFTEEN withdrawals would be enough to leave any national team coach hopping mad — but South African coach, Gordon Igesund, can’t even do that, ahead of Monday nights friendly against the Socceroos.

Igesund, like many of his players, has fallen victim to injury, having snapped his achilles tendon, leaving him struggling to walk, with the stitches still in place from recent surgery to correct the problem.

So he will have cringed at the sight of defender — and potential captain — Thabo Nthethe receiving treatment during the teams training session at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah on Saturday.

Thankfully, Nthethe was able to rejoin the fray after a lengthy break on the sidelines, and should be able to take his place in a starting line-up that will likely contain just four overseas-based players — Ajax Amsterdam’s Thulani Serero, Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium), Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren, Belgium) and Tokelo Rantie, who plies his trade in England with Bournemouth.

“Bafana Bafana” enjoyed their golden years post-apartheid, when a team led by Neil Tovey, and featuring the likes of Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe, Shaun Bartlett, Phil Masinga and John “Shoes” Moshoeu, won the African Cup of Nations in 1996 on home soil. Two years later, they reached the final again, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

South Africa's Phil Masinga got airborne after driving the ball past the Congolese goalkeeper, to score his team's only goal in a 1-0 victory to qualify for the World cup in France in 1998.

But since then, the national team has been in slow decline — and despite spirits being lifted by the hosting of the 2010 World Cup, South Africa couldn’t rise to the occasion, becoming the first host nation to fall at the group stage.

Only two of that squad are in Australia — Ngcongca, and veteran Reneilwe Letsholonyane, the only player over 30 in Igesund’s 18-man squad. Star striker Bernard Parker, captain Itumeleng Khune, Crystal Palace midfielder, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Siphiwe Tshabalala (scorer of the opening goal of the World Cup four years ago against Mexico) — are all absent through injury.

Others, such as Teko Modise, refused the chance to return — at one stage, the South African Football Association had more officials and media booked to travel, than players. It has led to accusations of a lack of commitment and patriotism towards some of those originally selected.

But Igesund does have one player delighted to be in Sydney — striker, Siphelele Mthembu.

Itumeleng Khune, South Africa goalkeeper and captain, is out of the Socceroos clash with injury.

Mthembu, a deeply religious man from KwaZulu-Natal, was relaxing at his parents farm in the town of Melmoth when the call came to join up with the national team. With only one prior cap to his name, the Platinum Stars forward was so excited, he drove to the airport at 4am, arriving five hours before the flight was due to leave.

It’s not only his first trip to Australia (a place he admits he’d barely heard of), it’s his first of any kind outside South Africa. On Monday, he’ll play in front of 60,000, the first step — he hopes — towards securing an overseas career.

“When the call came, I was like, just let me take my stuff and go. For me it is a big chance to improve, and to fight for my country. For me, it is a privilege, and it doesn’t matter if the call up is early or late — I am always willing to play for the national team.” says Mthembu.

Igesund — whose contract expires at the end of July — must hope Mthembu’s teammates show similar desire after such a troubled build-up.

For a heavy defeat, on the back of a 5-0 hammering to Brazil two months ago, would probably see him given his marching orders. Not that he can do much marching at the moment.

Originally published as South Africa crippled by withdrawals, but with plenty to play for in Socceroos friendly