Just over four years ago South Africa lost 4-1 to Iceland in an international friendly but just one member of that Bafana Bafana starting line-up is set to feature on Tuesday night.
That man is captain Aaron Mokoena and it is a mark of the volatility of the South African game that there are no other survivors from 2005. Stuart Baxter was in charge in Reykjavik on that day and since then Ted Dumitru, Pitso Mosimane and Carlos Alberto Parreira have come and gone through the South African Football Association's revolving doors.
The current incumbent's plight is well documented and a statistical overview of Joel Santana's post-Confederations Cup tenure makes for grim reading.
Santana's side have played five friendlies since August and have won just once. During that spell Bafana Bafana have scored twice and conceded seven goals which has piled the pressure on the Brazilian boss.
The 2010 hosts were underwhelming in Saturday's clash with Norway and most worryingly of all, didn't look like improving on their woeful scoring record. The strike force on Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker were isolated up front and Teko Modise again failed to prompt any meaningful forays into the final third.
But with Steven Pienaar ruled out with a knee injury, Santana's attacking options in midfield are limited to Elrio van Heerden, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Modise and Franklyn Cale, who made his debut on the weekend.
It's a similar story with the forward line as although Richard Henyekane offers pace, he and Mabhuti Khenyeza and Sthembiso Ngcobo lack the international wherewithal to trouble international class backlines.
However, Santana and the technical team will be buoyed by Moeneeb Josephs' display in Oslo and could therefore keep faith with the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper rather than give Rowen Fernandez a run. The third shot-stopper in the squad, Emille Baron, has recovered from a hand injury and has been passed fit while first choice Itumeleng Khune, who didn't even travel with the squad and Matthew Booth injury absentees.
Although the hosts have a relatively lowly FIFA ranking, they possess seasoned professionals like Eidur Gudjohnsen, Grétar Steinsson and Heidar Helguson and will offer a stern test for Bafana in the Icelandic capital.
"All the matches that we have played so far with the big countries are away, so they have been difficult," explained Santana. "I saw a video of Iceland in action and I must say they looked strong but we will go in there and fight."
Santana and South Africa will need to avoid a repeat of the drubbing they received in 2005 and would probably be content with a draw - the same result they achieved against Iceland way back in 1998.
But either result probably won't be good enough for Santana to redeem himself or salvage his job.





Post A Comment!
Be the first to post a comment on this story