BAFANA BAFANA prepare to take on Africa'a mighty footballing nations in the qualifiers for the AFCON 2017 show piece, starting this weekend.
Currently, ranked No. 17 in Africa, South Africa would have to dig deep to produce a spectacular performance to triumph against Africa's ever improving footballing nations.
It has been a trialblazing second spell for coach Shakes Mashaba, and one that has again shown he does have what it takes to get the South African senior men's national team to the continent's ultimate country tournament.
Since replacing the disappointing tenure of Gordon Igesund, Mashaba has been able to get the former African champions to the 2015 AFCON version, though South Africa did not advance far, as had been hoped.
The early exit by Bafana Bafana in the group stages during the tournament held in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, set panic buttons, as the thought of further decline in performance and rankings in Africa and the world loomed large.
Mashaba, has over remained resolute in his stance that the best is yet to come from his boys.
Mashaba, has over remained resolute in his stance that the best is yet to come from his boys.
Further, the 1996 AFCON winning nation, did not look like anything of it's former self in Equatorial Guinea tournament held earlier last year.
And remembering that also in 1996, Orlando Pirates became Africa's most powerful club after securing the Africa Super Cup, and becoming the first southern African club in 1995 to win the prestigious African Champions Cup.
Not forgetting other Bafana Bafana achievements, like the silver medal in AFCON 1998, a bronze in 2000 and the African/Asian Cup glory in 1999.
All that, had confirmed that South Africa had arrived, not only on the African stage, but internationally as well.
Earlier Bafana Bafana, had been honoured by FIFA, with its FIFA Best Mover of the Year Award, signalling that South Africa was the best footballing country in the world in 1996.
Earlier Bafana Bafana, had been honoured by FIFA, with its FIFA Best Mover of the Year Award, signalling that South Africa was the best footballing country in the world in 1996.
Turning back to current era, a lot has changed. In fact, South Africa is not longer the most feared in Africa these days, with some soccer commentators and experts having predicted that Bafana Bafana would not make it past the group stages in Equatorial Guinea during AFCON 2015.
They were right, as South Africa came back without any signs that they were ready to turn the corner and become the dominant force they once were in the African footballing space.
A question that must be on top of the minds of South African soccer 'gods', is what is to be done to turn things around and make Bafana Bafana Africa's most powerful footballing nation again?
The South African Football Association (SAFA), responsible for Bafana Bafana, now needs to find the same magic, and at least innovation shown by the then SAFA boss Solomon 'Sticks' Morewa. when Bafana Bafana became African champions. A first bya southern African country.
To answer the question of making Bafana Bafana the best again.
To answer the question of making Bafana Bafana the best again.
Firstly, SAFA should make sure they are in the same page with coach Shakes Mashaba about what the vision is for the national team.
Mashaba must drum it in the players heads that the 'Big Plan' is for Bafana Bafana to be the last team living Russia after the World Cup in 2018, with the trophy polished and ready for display on South African streets.
And the clinching of AFCON 2017 will be part of the preparation for winning the 2018 World Cup.
Secondly, Mashaba must be given a professional technical staff, inline with the international benchmarks, consisting of at least 15 soccer coaches.
These coaches must consist of former Bafana Bafana, South African based coaches like Jeff Butler, Stanley Tshabalala, Augosto Pallocious, Clive Barker, Jomo Sono, Trott Moloto and others.
Thirdly, only the best performing players must do duty for the national team at all times, irrespective of how old a player maybe.
In other words, Bafana Bafana must never be a platform for development. Only the best players who are capable of producing a winning result must be allowed to play.
Most importantly though, is that SAFA must in the process of re-igniting the most loved sport in South Africa, broaden and widely sell the programme, VISION 2022, to all corners of the country.
This must be a process that will get all football stakeholders and lovers, be it spectators, administrators, players, coaches, sponsors etc, to come back into the game on a fulltime basis.
And in the process take the beautiful game to the highest of levels.
It can be done.
And in the process take the beautiful game to the highest of levels.
It can be done.
