Editor's Column - Joe Crann
Joe Crann
Eight years is a long time to wait to qualify, properly, for a major tournament isn't it? For the first time since I've been in South Africa, I witnessed a REAL qualification this weekend, and, unsurprisingly, it felt pretty good. We've seen firings, premature celebrations and permutations galore in recent years when it comes to Bafana Bafana, but now, as the team takes on Nigeria, they have absolutely nothing to worry about… the job is already done! The flights to the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea can be booked! Not only is qualification secured, Shakes Mashaba has managed to pioneer the team to an unassailable lead at the top of Group A, meaning that they don't even have to worry about second place. It's unheard of! I was at pitch-side for the 2-1 win over Sudan last weekend, and one thing I've noticed about South Africans is that everything is done in extremes. When people are optimistic, you will not find a more optimistic nation in the world, but when they're not, yho, it can be pretty brutal. Luckily, it is currently the former. Shakes' five-game unbeaten run has brought in a new wave of optimism about a team that has been maligned for such a long time. Even though Moses Mabhida wasn't as full as we'd hoped, the mood was obvious. People wanted a win and, for a change, were confident of getting one. The game wasn't perfect, not by a long way, and, to be honest, Sudan are a side that Bafana should be confidently beating at home, however it hasn't been the case in recent history. But a win, as they say, is a win. Moreover, the first 20 minutes of the second half was probably the best I've seen Bafana play since I made the move here. It was brilliant to watch. I may not be South African (as I am constantly reminded by some fans and journalists), but I regard Mzansi as my second home and Bafana as my second team. I want them to succeed, and I unashamedly punched the air when 'Cream' and 'TK' got the goals on Saturday as I sat metres away from them both behind the nets. I was lucky enough to spend the past few days with the team, chatting to them prior to the win over Sudan and celebrating with them afterwards, and one thing that is truly evident is the massive amount of team spirit within the ranks. There are no egos, no team cliques and no superiority complexes from the overseas-based players. Everyone is equal, and that, for the most part, is because of Shakes. One thing that never ceases to amaze me about Bra Shakes is his patience, not just with his team, but in general. Over the course of the weekend, I must have seen Shakes take pictures with a hundred different people… he always makes time. It doesn't matter if you're Jacob Zuma or a homeless man living out of a cardboard box, Shakes will take the time to have a picture taken with you, or to chat about football. He's the head coach of the national team and he knows that makes him a national treasure (especially when the team is winning), but you get the feeling that his humility extends to the way he deals with the players too. Like Clive Barker, the only Bafana coach ever to win an Afcon title, Shakes isn't that much of a tactician – he's never going to turn the course of a game with a shrewd tactical change – but he is a motivator, and he makes sure that whoever pulls on that Bafana jersey is ready to do battle, not just for him, but for South Africa. He's been around the block, he's had success at junior level and senior level and he's honest about the fact that he's not a tactical genius. He knows that's not his forte. However, every single player in this Bafana team knows that they're valued by him, and every single player eligible to play for South Africa knows that, if they do well enough, they'll be considered. One of my favourite traits of Shakes is that a player's club means nothing. If you play for Chiefs or Pirates then great, but if there's someone playing better than you at Free State Stars, or any other team in the country, then he'll get the call-up. From a journalist's point of view, things are so much nicer when Bafana is winning. As I joined the team on their lap of honour this Saturday, I could see what it meant to them, and to those cheering them on. It was electric. Happiness makes for better photos and better articles from our side… hopefully there is a lot more happiness to come. Cheers Joe
