Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said part of his reconstruction process is to bring pride back to the Senior Men’s National Team which he said had been dented of late.

South Africa walloped Sudan 3-0 in their opening CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers raising the nation’s hopes again after years of below par performances by the national team.

Friday’s win comes in the backdrop of the U20 qualifying for the CAF Youth championships which will be played in Senegal next year after beating African powerhouse Cameroon 2-1 in Polokwane to complete a 3-2 aggregate win.

Mashaba said for an absolute change of culture, Bafana Bafana as the torchbearers had to lead the way.

“Of late, Bafana Bafana had become a laughing stock and had lost credit within the football standing and we need to restore that acclaim. We must bring back the pride to our national team and I am glad with the 3-0 win away from home. It is a beginning of that rebuilding process,” said Mashaba.

The Bafana Bafana mentor who left the U20 position to concentrate on the Senior Team said the 3-0 win over Sudan was a great platform to build good things.

“Once we weathered the storm in the opening minutes in which they pumped long balls upfront, I knew we would achieve our goal of coming away with three points. And the boys stuck to the script.

“In the second half, we completely dominated the game and with clinical finishing, the scoreline could have been 6, 7 or 8. But the 3-0 win is quite encouraging and we need to maintain the momentum.”

Although Dean Furman and Andile Jali controlled the midfield with aplomb, while upfront Sibusiso Vilakazi who came in a second half substitute for Tokelo Rantie scored two important goals, Mashaba refused to single out any individuals for praise.

“I think the entire team played well and it will be unfair to single out individuals. It was a great team effort and I think all players deserve praise.”

Bafana Bafana arrived back in the country on Saturday morning and proceeded straight to Cape Town to start preparing for the game against Nigeria scheduled for Wednesday at Cape Town Stadium.

“We are meeting our nemesis but my gut feel is that all that (losing against African champions) is about to change. Wednesday should be a defining moment,” he said.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Cape Town- Two-goal hero in the Bafana Bafana versus Sudan game last Friday, Sibusiso Vilakazi has praised the new-look squad as a group of youngsters hungry for success and who work as a collective.

Talking after Bafana Bafana had beaten Santos 3-1 in a practice match at Athlone Stadium on Sunday afternoon in which he contributed with a thunderous second goal, the Bidvest Wits captain said the current crop of players would go places if they keep their feet on the ground.

Other scorers during the practice game were Themba Zwane and Keagan Dolly.

“We just need to keep our feet grounded and the rest will follow. The players know what it means to represent one’s country; they know that behind their backs that they are carrying the hopes of 52 million people.

“That is one philosophy coach Shakes Mashaba has been drumming home now and again and I am seeing the attitude of players has tremendously changed. They are prepared to die for a just cause, work for each other and want to bring pride and happiness to the country. That is the type of task any responsible citizen needs to carry to make a difference in society,” emphasised Vilakazi whose teammates call him Vila.

He said the match against the Super Eagles,, who were stunned 3-2 by Congo on Saturday was a defining encounter.

“We know our history against Nigeria but we are determined to change all that. History is always there to be rewritten and I am confident that come Wednesday, we will put smiles on most South Africans,” he added.

Captain Senzo Meyiwa said with the type of vibe currently being exuded in the Bafana Bafana camp, the Super Eagles will face a Herculean task to come here and steal maximum points.

“Yes, they say in soccer certain teams have their hoodoo side but we are ready for the Nigeria match. We are all determined to change the course of history and everyone cannot wait for Wednesday,” he said.

The Orlando Pirates goal-minder said they were not worried about Nigeria’s internal strife and the fact that they are still smarting from a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Central Africans.

“The fact that they lost to Congo has not affected our preparations and determination; we are just concentrating on our task at hand and that is to beat them at Cape Town stadium on Wednesday.

“My only appeal to Capetonians is to buy tickets and provide an electric atmosphere. Cape Town people have never disappointed and I know they will provide that extra motivation when we trot into the pitch on Wednesday,” said Meyiwa.

Wednesday’s match kicks off at 20h00.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi together with Local Government and Human Settlements MEC Collin Maine urgently intervened in Boikhutso following the killings of two young people informed by gangsterism acts that were terrorising the community.

Both MEC’s called an urgent meeting with the stakeholders of Boikhutso and SAPS at Lichtenburg Police Station. The meeting was also attended by the Ditsobotla Executive Mayor Lesego Holele and some the councillors.

The urgent intervention was prompted by the killings of two people and the disruption of schools by a mob of young people in Boikhutso who also barricaded the roads on Friday morning. The community of Boikhutso refused to support their march and that frustrated the group.

On Friday, 05 September morning, the mob marched to the schools in Ward 2 and 3, while learners were busy writing the mock examinations.

 Upon their arrival they found the school gates locked. Some jumped the fence and others broke down the gates forcing entry into the school. They then ordered school managers to release the scholars to join them on an illegal march and proceeded to classes to terrorise the scholars, and some were even beaten up.

For some time Boikhutso was turned into a Hollywood, with action on the streets of around thirty young people. It is alleged that these young people use drugs which makes them to lose their senses and live in their dream world. The meeting raised a number of issues with regard to gangstarism in the community and that they demand to be hired at the Municipality. Further they want the contractors in their wards to employ only people who are members of the gang. Both MEC’S agreed that the law enforcement agencies should deal harshly with lawlessness in the area.

MEC Molapisi emphasised that all the cases opened against the gangsters and of the killings should be investigated without any hesitation. Heavy police security is deployed at Boikhutso and arrests have been made.

He urged members of the community to actively participate in Community Safety Forums (CPFs) and should not be reactive.

Molapisi said that the community cannot be held hostage by a group of young people who does not have respect for anybody. “Community must stand up and defend their freedom, Boikhutso which means peace must be peaceful and stable. Safety is everybody’s business and thugs must not set the agenda for them,” he said.

A broader meeting which is inviting all the communities in Ward 2 and 3 will be held at Ward 3 sports ground on Monday, 8

th September 2014 at 14H00. The meeting will seek to find a lasting solution for the problems in Boikhutso and will again be attended by MEC Molapisi and Maine.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_