Bafana recently achieved the rarest of feats by their standards; finishing the Afcon qualifiers on top of their group and unbeaten. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
With Orlando Pirates seemingly finally caught up with perennial South African domestic league winners Mamelodi Sundowns, and the national team Bafana Bafana making waves in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), it is only fair that South Africans start dreaming about another African “star”, isn’t it?
That Afcon title Bafana won in 1996 has really lost its shine, as has that 1995 Caf Champions League gong the Buccaneers won in Abidjan.
It would be a serious shame if the same fate were to befall the Brazilians’ 2016 Champions League title.
As we speak, Bafana recently achieved the rarest of feats by their standards; finishing the Afcon qualifiers on top of their group and unbeaten.
Who would’ve thought...Meanwhile, Pirates and Sundowns are deep in the Champions League as the Sowetans welcome Egyptian Giants Al Ahly on Saturday afternoon and the boys from Mamelodi are Morocco-bound to FAR Rabat on Saturday night.
Stellenbosch FC is another side playing continental football but to be fair, it would be too much to expect them to bring home any silverware at this stage. So for now, they must just enjoy the ride and collect all the lessons that come with playing at that level.
It has always been said that playing in Africa is no child’s play, so yes, coach Steve Barker and his kids may be holding their own inside domestic borders, but no they are not yet African “star” contenders.
It will benefit South African football if all these teams thrive in the Confederation of African Football (Caf) competitions as that comes with video assistant referee (VAR) experience.
It really does not look good when our players become victims of the technology in the Afcon finals. It is tempting to say “and the World Cup”.
Well, at this very moment, World Cup qualification is really promising, but one must not get carried away, at least not yet.
For now, an African “star” really is on the horizon and no nay-sayers can tell us otherwise. So, good luck to our boys in the Caf competitions.
Cape Times
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