Mninawa Ntloko
25 June 2009
Johannesburg — FACED with the biggest match of his short international career, embattled national team coach Joel Natalino Santana admitted yesterday that he was hoping that his charges' audience with former president Nelson Mandela earlier in the day would inspire them to a famous victory over Brazil in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup tonight.
Few give Bafana Bafana much of a chance against the South American aristocrats but Santana -- whose 30- year coaching career has taken him to more than a dozen clubs but is only in his 12th month as a national team coach -- said the meeting with Madiba was so inspirational that he sincerely believed that his players could surprise the world at Ellis Park.
"I never thought that I would get the opportunity to meet Mr Mandela in my lifetime and it happened (yesterday)," Santana said.
"The sight of the man gave me goose bumps and I am sure that the players felt the same way. He wished each and every member of team good luck and that was very special."
Bafana will need a little more than the Madiba Magic to get past the holders. Santana said he was well aware that he would have to change his tactics against his native Brazil.
Santana has been criticised for persisting with defensive tactics and said yesterday he could not employ his preferred conservative formation against a team that has supremely gifted forwards who can breach even the most miserly of defences.
"We are not going to play defensively because it is not possible to defend against Brazil for 90 minutes," Santana said yesterday.
"How on earth can I tell my players to defend? How can I tell the hosts of the Confederations Cup and the World Cup next year to defend?
"I have no right to do that. I might lose against Brazil tomorrow but I will do it while playing honest football. We have to play with pride and determination and for that to happen, we have to take the game to Brazil. No one likes to see defensive football."
Santana's sudden change of heart will come as a surprise to many as he has steadfastly refused to play anything but defensive football since the start of the tournament. The Brazilian said his loyalties would not be divided when he leads his charges onto the Ellis Park turf and he intended to plot his countrymen's demise without so much as a second thought.
"After working for 30 years as a club coach, SA gave me the opportunity to be at the helm of a national soccer team in the Confederations Cup and in the World Cup.
"I even know some of the Brazil players personally but if we beat them (tomorrow), it will be a very gratifying moment for me. So I support my team first and foremost ahead of my country in this game without question."
Brazil coach Dunga said while the misguided perception persists that the star-studded South Americans will have an easy day at office, nothing could be further from the truth. "Every game is tough at this level and we do not expect SA to be any different," Dunga said yesterday.
"We should not forget that SA got to the semifinals of this tournament while others have already gone back home. So they definitely have to be respected. The reality is they have been improving with each passing game and they are going to be tough."
Midfield strongman MacBeth Sibaya is suspended for this encounter and Santana admitted that he has spent the past few days agonising over the players that will go toe-to-toe against the might of Brazil.
Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena -- who was a member of the Under-23 side that beat Brazil 3-1 in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games -- said he told his team-mates that the South Americans are not invincible and can be beaten. "I told the guys that our victory at the Olympics proved that anything is possible in this sport."
Mokoena and his fellow defenders can expect a busy night as they have to find a way to prevent the likes of Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Kaka from finding a route to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune's goalposts.
Santana will be crossing his fingers that striker Bernard Parker -- who scored the two goals that Bafana have managed so far in the tournament -- passes a late fitness test this morning after pulling out of training with an injury yesterday morning.
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