Mninawa Ntloko
18 January 2008
Johannesburg — BAFANA Bafana depart for the African Nations Cup tomorrow with a growing list of walking wounded, headed by No1 goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.
Fernandez injured his finger in the friendly international against Mozambique in Durban last weekend, and the injury was so severe the Bundesliga-based goalkeeper will have to miss Bafana's Nations Cup opener against Angola on January 23.
Sources within the Bafana camp revealed yesterday that Fernandez dislocated his finger and it had to be pushed back into place by the medical team.
The Arminia Bielefeld player was even forced to miss Wednesday night's friendly game against Botswana and his place was taken by Moeneeb Josephs.
Yet Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has decided to travel with Fernandez to Ghana and the goalkeeper will continue his rehabilitation while in camp.
Josephs is likely to get the nod against Angola as he has a bit more experience than his rival, Kaizer Chiefs greenhorn Itumeleng Khune.
Parreira has other injury concerns to worry about after captain Aaron Mokoena, Tsepho Masilela and Steven Pienaar all had injury scares this week. Mokoena was stretchered off the pitch after a careless tackle in Wednesday night's encounter against Botswana, Pienaar received knocks from the same encounter, while Masilela sat out the match after receiving too much attention from the Mozambicans.
Bafana media officer Sifiso Cele said no player would be left behind and the more serious injuries would be treated in Ghana.
Team doctor Ephraim Nematswerani is expected to make a final assessment today ahead of the team's departure tomorrow.
Despite the injury scares, South African Football Association (Safa) executive committee member Mandla "Shoes" Mazibuko -- who will also be Bafana's head of delegation for the Ghana tournament -- said Parreira had told his employers he was feeling much more confident of his side's chances than he did at the start of the camp earlier this month.
While the great majority of the nation's soccer lovers expect the worst in Ghana, Parreira said he believed Bafana could surprise a lot of people and stage a successful march to the final against popular expectation.
"After the 2-0 win against Mozambique and the 2-1 victory over Botswana in our warm-ups, the coach is confident this squad could surprise many in Ghana," Mazibuko said yesterday.
"I have been with him (Parreira) since the start and have never seen him this confident. Without putting too much pressure on the team, we (Safa) believe anything is possible in Ghana. In fact, we believe our chartered plane will not come back to SA till after February 10 (the day of the cup final)."
After Bafana face Angola at Ghana's Tamale Stadium on January 23, games against Tunisia on January 27 and against Senegal four days later will determine if SA will progress to the next stage of the tournament.
BAFANA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez, Moeneeb Josephs, Itumeleng Khune
Defenders: Tumelo Nhlapo, Bryce Moon, Benson Mhlongo, Bevan Fransman, Tsepo Masilela, Brett Evans, Nasief Morris, Aaron Mokoena
Midfielders: Kagiso Dikgacoi, Elrio van Heerden, Teko Modise, Lance Davids, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala
Strikers: Lerato Chabangu, Surprise Moriri, Katlego Mphela, Sibusiso Zuma, Thembinkosi Fanteni, Excellent Walaza
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Assistant coaches: Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal
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