It is outstanding news that South Africa have secured qualification to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to be held early next year in Equatorial Guinea after the oil-rich nation stepped in as eleventh hour replacements for original hosts Morocco this week. The fact that we are celebrating the qualification is in itself somewhat silly since Bafana Bafana should always play at the AFCON and I have even gone so far as to say it should be seen as a disaster if we do not reach the semi-finals every single time. But we all know that we have fallen short of this ideal in the last decade or so.
For now we we should celebrate the start of the turnaround ushered in by Danny Jordaan and Shakes Mashaba. The “cheap coach” has shown a total disregard for expensive stars and I believe this has been one of the keys to success. The likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala and May Mahlangu have found themselves frozen out for one reason or another and the South Africans now only feature players who wear the jersey with pride.
Mashaba has also shown that in his book age really is but a number. Just think of Rivaldo Coetzee! This should also not take away from the outstanding tactician Mashaba is and four clean sheets in five qualifiers is not to be sniffed at.
Of course the feel good factor around the national football team is a case of celebrating mediocrity when analysed truthfully. Imagine Germany celebrating at qualifying for a FIFA World Cup! Bafana Bafana are supposed to qualify for these things but as we know these are extraordinary times and while we should not cheer the ordinary, we certainly can be joyous at the first movement of the U-turn.
It is for this reason that I am pleased and so it is a hearty well done to coach Mashaba and his band of merry men. Go to Equatorial Guinea and make us proud. Set the tone and foundation for the future success this country will come to expect and enjoy going forward.