Bafana under strength for Burundi clash

Herald Correspondent

Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana go to Bujumbura’s Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium on Sunday needing just a point against home side Burundi to ensure their 2004 African Nations Cup qualification.

It has been a difficult qualifying campaign for the 1996 African champions, but their 2-1 victory against the Ivorians in Polokwane two weeks ago has gone a long way towards easing their path to Tunisia 2004.

The job’s not quite complete, though, and it’s still not all smooth going as it looks as if Bafana will be missing some key players in Bujumbura.

Their midfield sensation from Ajax Amsterdam, Steven Pienaar, is believed to be in Spain resting an injured knee and has no contact with the Bafana camp. Manager Stanley Tshabalala is still hopeful, but it seems the chances of Pienaar playing are remote.

The same goes for Celta Vigo striker Benni McCarthy, who is apparently on holiday in the US and also has made no contact with management.

One player who is definitely out of the game is Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett, Bafana’s all-time leading marksman with 26 goals and the man who scored the first goal in Polokwane.

Bartlett is on holiday with his family in Switzerland and has informed the Safa he will not be available.

Left back Bradley Carnell is another who will definitely miss the game, having originally been called up.

Bafana have called up Orlando Pirates’ striker Lesley Manyathela to beef up their depleted strikeforce.

It now seems that Sibusiso Zuma, the FC Copenhagen winger who has just helped his club retain the Danish championship, could be used up front to partner Udinese’s Siyabonga Nomvete.

This would free Stanton Fredericks to continue his promising recent Bafana form on the right side of midfield. McBeth Sibaya is back from suspension and will anchor the Bafana midfield and it looks as if in the absence of Pienaar he may well resume his World Cup partnership with Teboho Mokoena.

Burundi have not scored a point after three qualifying games, but their home-ground advantage must be a factor for the South Africans, especially as the Ivorians managed only a narrow 1-0 win in Bujumbura.

Burundian goalkeeper Aime Kitenge has spent almost a decade playing in the South African Premier Soccer League, currently campaigning for Dynamos, and he will pass on a few tips to his team-mates about the strengths and weaknesses of the Bafana players.

In the end, Bafana’s goalkeeper, Andre Arendse, and his solid defence may well hold the key to Bafana’s fortunes. They have conceded just a single goal in three Nations Cup qualifying games and know another solid defensive effort will guarantee their passage to Tunisia.

“We go there with the attitude that if we keep a clean sheet we go to Tunisia – that’s first and foremost on our minds,” Arendse said yesterday.

South Africa’s bid for the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be reaching fever pitch at the time the Nations Cup comes round and they can ill-afford their national soccer team not making it to the continental showpiece.

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