Editor's Column - Clint Roper
The Bafana versus Nigeria match-up.
The Bafana versus Nigeria match-up has become somewhat of an international derby game for both countries. Nigeria still does not recognise the one AFCON tournament win that Bafana achieved in '96 simply because Nigeria were absent from the tournament. And, if you look at what Bafana have done in the subsequent 12 games against Nigeria, maybe they have a point. Add to this that Nigeria were the defending champs at the time of the '96 AFCON, went to the '94 and the '98 World Cups and possibly had one of the greatest Nigerian national teams of all time including Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, Jay-Jay Okocha and Finidi George, and this adds even more weight to the argument. As much as I hate to admit it (and don't you dare tell any Nigerian about this column) I'm not sure that we would have been good enough to have beaten that Nigerian generation, as excellent as we were in that '96 AFCON tournament. When speaking to the legend that is Kanu a while back, he made it clear that Nigeria are not ever afraid or intimidated when it comes to playing against South Africa. They feel they have our number, and the record books make it very difficult to argue with them on that point. Kanu went as far as saying that playing in South Africa is like playing at home away from home. They feel comfortable here. It's a welcoming environment, not a threatening one. Travelling here is like going on holiday and is something Nigerian players look forward to. For want of a better phrase – and I hate stealing phrases coined by Australian sports persons, but as they are the new World Cricket champions, perhaps it's justified – we are Nigeria's 'bunny'. This was a phrase coined in the mid '90s by possibly the best spin bowler ever to play the game of cricket, Shane Warne, when he referred to South African batsman Daryll Cullinan as his 'bunny'. Basically he was suggesting that he could do whatever he wanted with Cullinan. Warne held a huge psychological edge over Cullinan that he never was able to shake. To a certain extent, it is clear that Bafana have been Nigeria's 'bunny' for more than a decade now. While we have certainly slowed the rot against Nigeria when you consider that the last three games against them have ended in draws, we still have not found a way to beat them. Even when we seem to have them on the ropes, we just can't administer the knockout punch. Sunday was the perfect opportunity to do just that. We'd outplayed them for the most part of a high-tempo, end-to-end game. Yes, they still dominated physically, but football wise we shaded them. Then we were awarded a penalty – the chance to go 1-0 up and take the match away from them… a chance to take off our bunny suit. Tokelo Rantie was never going to step up, with the wounds from the recent AFCON still raw. Up stepped Andile Jali and, with what seemed like not a care in the world, under hit a very weak penalty that was saved. Nigeria responded by putting one in the back of our net and, if not for a fortuitous goalmouth scramble, we would once again have been undone for not taking our chance from the penalty spot. If you look back, in recent history the penalty spot has hurt us. Under Gordon Igesund in 2013, as hosts of the African Cup of Nations, we lost to Mali in a penalty shoot-out. That night it was Dean Furman, May Mahlangu and Lehlohonolo Majoro who failed to score from the spot. In the most recent edition of the African Cup of Nations, it was Rantie's penalty miss against Algeria, and subsequent loss, which cost Bafana big time. And, again on the weekend, a penalty miss hurt us. The question is, who does Shakes Mashaba turn to now to take the important penalties? If you look at the names that are missing pressure kicks, they're all top players… important players… for the team. Rantie, Jali, Furman, Mahlangu, Majoro. Who does Shakes turn to? No doubt the next person that people will say should be taking the penalties will be Oupa Manyisa, but considering the emergence of Mokotjo and Zungu, one has to wonder if Oupa will be a regular? For me, a guy who is actually a regular for Bafana and is a natural goalscorer should be the one taking the penalties. Two names come to mind – Thulani Serero and Itumeleng Khune – both regulars and both great at hitting dead balls. Yet, of the two, for me it makes sense that Thulani Serero, who faces more pressure than any of our other players week in and week out, should be the one anointed as our regular penalty taker. We have more than enough players who can bury the ball from the spot when the score is 2-0 or 3-0 in our favour, but how many actually have the experience to remain calm when we are 1-0 down, or when it's 0-0 and the kick is vital? For me, 'Cream' rises to the top, and it's time for Serero to step up and say, "I've got this." Because until he or someone else does, we'll have to continue to 'blame it on the bunny'. Happy Easter all. Shapa Clint
