Bafana repeat the two step backward dance

I did not watch the recent game against the USA. It's just as well, I would not have slept well that evening after the poor result. I keep telling myself that it's just a friendly game and the score doesn't matter for now. But I don't buy it, I believe this result is a disaster for South African soccer.

Firstly, why does this friendly result matter? It matters because this game was setup for Bafana to win, and win handsomely. And if you wondering what I mean by this, you just needed to look at the American team sheet. This was a quickly assembled team, which included only three players who were part of the USA squad for the World Cup. And to drive this fact home, these three players were on the bench against England, their most important game some would say. Pitso Mosimane on the other hand played an experienced Bafana team, with new striker Davide Somma on debut. And we lost.

The repercussions of this loss are that it makes SAFA's job that much harder in attracting quality opposition to play Bafana. We saw this happen before the World Cup and this trend is likely to continue because South Africa will not give foreign coaches a good enough test for their teams.

And finally the bit that really gets to me is the level of play our players are continuously dishing out. It's just not good enough. Now remember I never watched the game, but I did get to see some highlights, including the goal. There is one aspect of their lack of play I wish to highlight, and that's their inability or unwillingness to track the attacking player from deep (just outside the penalty area). Benedict Vilakazi made his living off such lapses for Orlando Pirates. And it how seventeen year old, Juan Agudelo punished Bafana. Carlos Alberto Parreira constantly preached organisational discipline and Pitso Mosimane needs to do the same.

But if it's one thing Bafana is good at its taking one step forward and two steps back. This dance has got to stop.

Watch the highlights and see what I mean.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5818312&categoryid=2731137

Claasen off the mark

Last week Daylon Claasen, scored his first professional goal for his Belgian club, Lierse FC. With the goal Lierse FC earned a 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers AS Eupen.

For Claasen the goal represents a successful rebirth in his career. Having joined Ajax Amsterdam from Ajax Cape Town the then eighteen year remained in the Amsterdam giants reserve team. Frustrated with the lack of opportunity the youngster to a gamble and left for the newly promoted Lierse FC.

The gamble has paid off in spades, with Claasen becoming a first team regular in the midfield. The youngsters’ development has also been boosted by the arrival of fellow Bafana Bafana players Siboniso Gaxa and Lance Davids at the club. In fact all three players have become regulars for Belgians.

As if auspiciously, the Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane was there in the stands witnessing his players produce a performance to make their country proud. Siboniso Gaxa received the ball while running to the opponents’ by-line and then cleverly cut back his pass to find Claasen in the penalty area. The youngster made no mistake with a neat pass to the bottom right hand corner, beating the opposition goalkeeper. Arms raised, Daylon Claasen is off the mark.