Mninawa Ntloko
13 June 2008
Johannesburg — MIDFIELD strongman Macbeth Sibaya looks set to be given the responsibility of leading the national soccer team against Sierra Leone tomorrow after captain Aaron Mokoena continued to struggle with injury yesterday.
Bafana Bafana arrived in Freetown yesterday morning and team manager Sipho Nkumane said Mokoena's chances of lining up against Sierra Leone in this 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier were continuing to diminish by the day. "It is very likely that he will not play," Nkumane said.
"But the doctor (Ephraim Nematswerani) said he would keep Aaron under close observation and he might be given a late fitness test on the day of the game. But it does not look good."
Sibaya said he would not obsess over whether the armband would be given to him.
"It could still go to anyone because I am not the only senior player in the team," Sibaya said.
"Guys like Delron Buckley are also in the team and they have a lot of experience."
But sources in the Bafana camp said Sibaya would be given the armband after captaining the team against Equatorial Guinea last Saturday.
Already displaying leadership qualities, Sibaya said the whole team would have to work very hard if Bafana were to emerge from the war-ravaged nation with a result.
"It is always difficult to get a result in away matches anywhere on the continent. There are no small teams or big teams when you are playing away from home. Even the youngsters in the team will have to take responsibility, too."
The one youngster that Sibaya can count on is fast- rising Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who seems to be growing in stature with each passing game and fast becoming one of the most reliable players in the national team.
Khune should retain the No1 jersey ahead of his German-based rival Rowen Fernandez, who is believed to be struggling to deal with his newfound status as the nation's No2.
The 20-year-old Khune -- who turns 21 in a week's time -- said he was looking forward to his third cap, though he expected their hosts to make life difficult in Freetown. "It is going to be a tough match and we are not expecting it to be easy," he said.
Sierra Leone were beaten by Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in their opening qualifiers and Nkumane said their hosts were speaking about using Bafana to return to winning ways.
"The main talking here (in Freetown) is around how they will trash us (tomorrow).
"It is all they are talking about and they seem to be convinced that our team is weak enough to concede three or even four goals."
While the predictions may seem rather ambitious at best, Sierra Leone is still not expected to be an easy team to beat.
Even SA Under 23 coach Steve Komphela warned the west Africans could cause problems, especially at home.
Komphela said captain Mohamed Kallon, Sheriff Suma and Kamara could prove a handful and would need to be carefully policed by Bafana's makeshift rearguard.
Kallon -- who is arguably Sierra Leone's most recognisable player after playing in Italy and in France -- missed Saturday's defeat to Nigeria after receiving two yellow cards in previous African Nations Cup qualifying matches. But he should be available to give Bafana headaches tomorrow.
PROBABLE BAFANA LINE-UP
Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela, Bryce Moon, Bongani Khumalo, Mokete Tsotsetsi, Macbeth Sibaya, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Teko Modise, Steven Pienaar, Surprise Moriri and Thembinkosi Fanteni
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